Upgrading from Win 8 to 8.1 created a new 472MB partition?

[dusf]

Upgrading Win 8 to 8.1 created a new 472MB rec partition?

Hi

Before upgrading I had 4 partitions for my UEFI Windows 8 install, the main partition for the system, and the three others it created during install. After upgrading to Windows 8.1 it has reduced the main Windows partition by 472MB and created a new 472MB recovery partition.

I have not yet run any Windows 8.1 updates as the drivers for my laptop are tricky and to make everything work as it should I need to install them before running updates. What I have run is Disk Cleanup, which I had remove the old Windows install.

Is it normal for Windows 8.1 upgrade to create this new recovery partition and is it going to delete it or the old recovery partition and merge it with the main Windows 8.1 partition?

 

[theog]

Is it normal for Windows 8.1 upgrade to create this new recovery partition and is it going to delete it or the old recovery partition and merge it with the main Windows 8.1 partition?

Yes, the new partition is the Windows 8.1 Repair Tools Partition.

 

[dusf]

Is it normal for Windows 8.1 upgrade to create this new recovery partition and is it going to delete it or the old recovery partition and merge it with the main Windows 8.1 partition?

Yes, the new partition is the Windows 8.1 Repair Tools Partition.

Thanks once everything is as it should be that was my main concern, that said, it seems messy to have two recovery partitions, especially with one of them to the right of the main Windows partition because if I want to resize that by shrinking my data partition that was supposed to be next to it this would mean deleting the new Windows 8.1 recovery partition. Is there a way around this?

I called Microsoft, told them I had an upgrade key that I paid for but I would like access to Windows 8.1 image so I can install it without installing Windows 8 first. They directed me to a Microsoft page where there was an option to 'Install Windows 8.1' but it would not take my recovery key, so I am guessing it needs a full product key - stupid seeing as how we should all end up with the same product. Is there anyway around this?

I know there are less legitimate places online one could download Windows 8.1 but I fear they may have been tampered with and contain malware.

 

[theog]

Take a look at those posts for more info.

RETAIL KEY ONLY.
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/18309-windows-8-windows-8-1-iso-download-create.html

How to download Windows 8.1 ISO with a Windows 8 key.
http://www.eightforums.com/installation-setup/33164-how-download-windows-8-1-iso.html

http://www.eightforums.com/installa...retail-windows-8-1-windows-8-product-key.html

You can not use the key extracted from the UEFI/BIOS firmware or a OEM key to download the Windows 8.1 ISO, you can only use the key to ACTIVATE.

The generic keys can only be used to install Windows 8.1 & not ACTIVATE or to download the Windows 8.1 ISO .

 

[genet]

this would mean deleting the new Windows 8.1 recovery partition

If you delete the new recovery partition, you can't refresh/reset Windows.

Here is info about reagentc /info and the new recovery partition:

http://www.eightforums.com/installa...ilt-asus-recovery-partition-2.html#post330641

 

[dusf]

Take a look at those posts for more info.

RETAIL KEY ONLY.
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/18309-windows-8-windows-8-1-iso-download-create.html

How to download Windows 8.1 ISO with a Windows 8 key.
http://www.eightforums.com/installation-setup/33164-how-download-windows-8-1-iso.html

http://www.eightforums.com/installa...retail-windows-8-1-windows-8-product-key.html

You can not use the key extracted from the UEFI/BIOS firmware or a OEM key to download the Windows 8.1 ISO, you can only use the key to ACTIVATE.

The generic keys can only be used to install Windows 8.1 & not ACTIVATE or to download the Windows 8.1 ISO .

That worked very nicely, I now have a fresh clean install of Windows 8.1 without having to install 8 first and I now have a single 300MB recovery partition. Thanks for that.

I think it is interesting upgrading creates a 472MB recovery partition but the clean install used 300MB (May be 350MB as I do not have that laptop right in front of my but it is definitely no larger than that)

this would mean deleting the new Windows 8.1 recovery partition

If you delete the new recovery partition, you can't refresh/reset Windows.

Here is info about reagentc /info and the new recovery partition:

http://www.eightforums.com/installa...ilt-asus-recovery-partition-2.html#post330641

Okay thanks. I am using Clonezilla for backups but I would be happier knowing all Windows utilities, including refresh and reset are working as they should. After following the guide linked above I now have a clean Windows 8.1 with one recovery partition.