Solved Trouble after installing Win8 Enterprise Evaluation

Hi! So I've bought a new laptop along with a built in (diskless) Windows 8; all drivers for the laptop were included also, I think. I've been using this for about 2 months now and even upgraded to 8.1. Yesterday, after I logging in to windows, all I got was a black screen with a movable mouse pointer. (my stupidity impulse starts here) After searching for workarounds, I decided to download the Windows 8.1 Enterprise Evaluation OS from windows and used (burned the ISO file to some CD and used that for booting) it to fully reformat my laptop then afterwards, revert it back using my built-in windows.


After I've done reformatting using the Evaluation version, I couldn't manage to reformat again using the built in OS. I tried restoring windows but it always asked for the CD I used to reformat. Now I have no drivers installed, my OS expires in less than 90 days, and I have no idea how to fix this.


Does anyone know how I can use my built in windows to reformat my laptop?

What system have you got? Did you make recovery disks or just reformat your drive without making any backups at all?

Depending on your situation you may be able to retrieve your key from the bios and use this to download windows again. Possibly. If not you'll have to ask your manufacturer for disks which you may have to pay for.

What's with all the red incidentally?

what system are you asking about? if its my operating system then im using win8 enterprise evaluation; previously i had the pre-installed windows 8.
Sadly, no i didn't make any form of back-up. This was the first time I had to do something outside applications and programs so I didn't know what preparations i needed to do before then. Not to mention my first handling of Win8.
Well, I tried poking around and I saw somewhere that I still have 4 recovery partitions. I also saw those partitions while I was reformatting and didn't do anything to them.

Pertaining to those red texts:
My earlier post was from another forum. I didn't get any reply there so I copied the texts and pasted them here.

Have you made the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?

I would recommend you making the OEM manufacturer's Recovery DVD's or USB drive.
or
You can order the Microsoft official OEM Recovery disks from the OEM manufacturer's website.

Have you made the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?

Information

We always assume you have made your Recovery Disks using the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Media Creator app the first day you had your new PC.
& made the Startup Repair CD.
Recovery Drive - Create with USB Flash Drive in Windows 8
System Repair Disc - Create in Windows 8
​

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I've encountered this solution before. Will this give me a bootable drive that uses my recovery partition/s? The "Copy contents from recovery partitions to the recovery drive" check box always seem to be grayed out. If I make a recovery drive now without checking that box, wouldn't that have my current OS installed which is Widows 8 Enterprise Evaluation and not my OEM Windows 8?

Correct me if Im wrong. I'm not quite sure what OEM mean or is but I know it has something to do with built in/ pre installed OSs.

Have you made the (Dell, HP, Fujitsu,Sony)OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?

For examlpe SONY:

Have you made the (Dell, HP, Fujitsu,Sony)OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?

Click to expand...

no, not yet. This is an ASUS laptop; x550lb to be exact. I don't have those utility programs installed on mine, or at least i think I dont.

You can order the Microsoft official OEM Recovery disks from the ASUS OEM manufacturer's website.
Essentio Recovery Software

buying something especially ordering online would be my last resort for a couple of reasons. Is any other work around for this?

You could buy the Retail version of Windows 8 core/Pro & Product key.
than
To clean install:
1) Clean the HD Drive, using Step one in this tutorial:
SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation - Windows 7 Help Forums
than
2a) Clean install with the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disk.

[DEL]2b) http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2299-clean-install-windows-8-a.html[/DEL]

2c) http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...e-firmware-interface-install-windows-8-a.html

I currently have this in my hard drive.

when I use the command "recimg /showcurrent" in the command promp, I get the error "There is no active custom recovery image. Error Code - 0x80070490". Is this relevant to my problem?

What you should have done was to use the built in factory restore function to restore your laptop to factory condition before formatting your drive. Creating recovery media before updating to 8.1 would have been prudent too. Formatting your drive has likely broken the factory Function Key link to the custom recovery partition. When you formatted your drive did you just format one partition or the whole drive? You won't be able to do the factory restore from Windows as you've wiped out all the factory stuff with your Enterprise install. Check your manual for a key press option on boot up to access the factory restore option. You might get lucky and find it works, My guess is it won't. If you can't do the factory restore your looking at obtaining installation media. Either a set or recovery disks or a Windows ISO or DVD.

When you formatted your drive did you just format one partition or the whole drive?

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No, i only reformatted drive C: and D:. I didn't touch any of the recovery partitions.

If its only a Windows 8 ISO thats needed, would using a fake copy be okay for that? Then maybe I can use my OEM(?) licence to make my copy legit? If I can find it at least.

We only deal in legitimate solutions here. Any talk of fake copies will end any support from us.

If you can find a copy of an official unaltered Microsoft ISO go for it. But like Mr. Sardonicus mentioned any talk of pirated versions or cheating is going to get you in trouble and likely banned.

My apologies for that matter.

Well I came across this:
Upgrade Windows with only a product key - Microsoft Windows Help

I tried downloading both Win 8 and 8.1 but I don't know where to look for my license key.

jgcvaleroso said:

My apologies for that matter.

Well I came across this:
Upgrade Windows with only a product key - Microsoft Windows Help

I tried downloading both Win 8 and 8.1 but I don't know where to look for my license key.

Click to expand...

You need to buy a key first.

You need to buy a key first.

Click to expand...

Can't I use the key embedded inside my chip or something?

jgcvaleroso said:

You need to buy a key first.

Click to expand...

Can't I use the key embedded inside my chip or something?

Click to expand...

NO, You need to buy a Retail key first

Formatting your drive has likely broken the factory Function Key link to the custom recovery partition.

Click to expand...

Is it possible to boot from those recovery files?

EDIT: or do a manual re-link?