Solved Recovery media for Windows 8.1

Bengie

New Member
Messages
14
One of the first things I did when I had my new PC last year was to make a set of recovery discs. Now having used the free upgrade to Windows 8.1 I would like to make a set of backup discs for this version, however, my pc say that a set has already been made and I can only make the one set.

If things stay like this, when I want to do a recovery using either the hdd partition or the discs I made, it installs Windows 8 and then I have to install what seems like a million updates before I then have to go back to the store and do the upgrade to 8.1.

Is there a way I can make a recovery dvd's for the 8.1 version ?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Phoenix H9
    CPU
    Intel i7
    Motherboard
    Formosa
    Memory
    32gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GTX 660
    Sound Card
    Asus Xonar
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Hanns G
    Hard Drives
    1 x SSD
    1 x 3tb
    3 x Buffalo external 1tb
    Keyboard
    HP
    Mouse
    Microsoft
    Internet Speed
    150mb
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Windows 8 Defender
Instead of a recovery DVD, do an image back to an external hard drive or a large flash drive. Acronis True Image (not free) or Macrium Reflect Free are good choices to do this.\

Or ---

see here if you upgraded vis the App store:

See here: How to Create a Recovery USB Flash Drive in Windows 8 and 8.1

Option Three shows you how to create an ISO using the ESD-ISO tools after you did a store upgrade.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
Will I have to enter a key?
I don't now with the preinstalled Windows 8
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Phoenix H9
    CPU
    Intel i7
    Motherboard
    Formosa
    Memory
    32gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GTX 660
    Sound Card
    Asus Xonar
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Hanns G
    Hard Drives
    1 x SSD
    1 x 3tb
    3 x Buffalo external 1tb
    Keyboard
    HP
    Mouse
    Microsoft
    Internet Speed
    150mb
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Windows 8 Defender
Thank you so much ztruker but having had a read through that lot I fear that I've left it too late in life to understand it all.
It is very complicated jumping back and forth between the different versions and retail and OEM or Pro and Home etc.
I fear I will just have to do a recovery and go through all the motions to upgrade to 8.1.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Phoenix H9
    CPU
    Intel i7
    Motherboard
    Formosa
    Memory
    32gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GTX 660
    Sound Card
    Asus Xonar
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Hanns G
    Hard Drives
    1 x SSD
    1 x 3tb
    3 x Buffalo external 1tb
    Keyboard
    HP
    Mouse
    Microsoft
    Internet Speed
    150mb
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Windows 8 Defender
If it came with Win 8 then the key is embedded in the BIOS, there is no COA sticker.

You can use the following script to get the key if you're curious.

Open Notepad. Then copy all the data in the Code box below and paste it into Notepad.

Click File / Save as and save it as "ShowKey.vbs" on the Desktop. Include the double quotes or Notepad will add .txt to the end of the name.

Right click on ShowKey.vbs on the Desktop and select Run as Administrator.

Output is in a window on the Desktop. Click Yes to save it to Windows Key.txt in the same folder Showkeys.vbs is in which in this case should be your Desktop. It would be a good idea to print that file or save it somewhere so when you need it, it's available.

Code:
Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
  Key = "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\"
  DigitalID = WshShell.RegRead(key & "DigitalProductId")

  ProductName = "Product Name: " & WshShell.RegRead(Key & "ProductName") & vbNewLine
  ProductID = "Product ID: " & WshShell.RegRead(Key & "ProductID") & vbNewLine
  ProductKey = "Installed Key: " & ConvertToKey(DigitalID)
  ProductID = ProductName & ProductID & ProductKey

  If vbYes = MsgBox(ProductId & vblf & vblf & "Save to a file?", vbYesNo + vbQuestion, "Windows Key Information") then
     Save ProductID
  End if

  Function ConvertToKey(Key)
          Const KeyOffset = 52
          isWin8 = (Key(66) \ 6) And 1
          Key(66) = (Key(66) And &HF7) Or ((isWin8 And 2) * 4)
          i = 24
          Chars = "BCDFGHJKMPQRTVWXY2346789"
          Do
                  Cur = 0
                  X = 14
                  Do
                          Cur = Cur * 256
                          Cur = Key(X + KeyOffset) + Cur
                          Key(X + KeyOffset) = (Cur \ 24)
                          Cur = Cur Mod 24
                          X = X -1
                  Loop While X >= 0
                  i = i -1
                  KeyOutput = Mid(Chars, Cur + 1, 1) & KeyOutput
                  Last = Cur
          Loop While i >= 0
          If (isWin8 = 1) Then
                  keypart1 = Mid(KeyOutput, 2, Last)
                  insert = "N"
                  KeyOutput = Replace(KeyOutput, keypart1, keypart1 & insert, 2, 1, 0)
                  If Last = 0 Then KeyOutput = insert & KeyOutput
          End If
          a = Mid(KeyOutput, 1, 5)
          b = Mid(KeyOutput, 6, 5)
          c = Mid(KeyOutput, 11, 5)
          d = Mid(KeyOutput, 16, 5)
          e = Mid(KeyOutput, 21, 5)
          ConvertToKey = a & "-" & b & "-" & c & "-" & d & "-" & e
  End Function

  Function Save(Data)
          Const ForWRITING = 2
          Const asASCII = 0
          Dim fso, f, fName, ts
          fName = "Windows Key.txt"
          Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
          fso.CreateTextFile fName
          Set f = fso.GetFile(fName)
          Set f = f.OpenAsTextStream(ForWRITING, asASCII)
          f.Writeline Data
          f.Close
  End Function


Script posted by NiFu here: How do I find my Product Key?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
Sorry, missed your last post, was busy typing :)

It really isn't difficult. Just follow the steps exactly as written for Option Three.

You would really be better off doing an Image backup though. 20-30 minutes and you will be up and running with the computer exactly as it was when the backup was created. If you keep two backups, one initial that you save and another that you replace every time you do anything significant on the computer then recovery can save you a ton of post recovery work.

Think about it. I'd recommend getting an external USB hard drive.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
I've done what you have said about the key and that is now written down, so that gives me encouragement to have a go at option 3.

I have an external hard drive, so will have a go that way first.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Phoenix H9
    CPU
    Intel i7
    Motherboard
    Formosa
    Memory
    32gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GTX 660
    Sound Card
    Asus Xonar
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Hanns G
    Hard Drives
    1 x SSD
    1 x 3tb
    3 x Buffalo external 1tb
    Keyboard
    HP
    Mouse
    Microsoft
    Internet Speed
    150mb
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Windows 8 Defender
Well I've done it and there are 2 files in the folder, one = 21,373,828 kb and the other = 9 kb.

I assume that I open Macrium and click on 'Restore' should I have a problem ?

Has this backed up my MS Office as well ?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Phoenix H9
    CPU
    Intel i7
    Motherboard
    Formosa
    Memory
    32gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GTX 660
    Sound Card
    Asus Xonar
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Hanns G
    Hard Drives
    1 x SSD
    1 x 3tb
    3 x Buffalo external 1tb
    Keyboard
    HP
    Mouse
    Microsoft
    Internet Speed
    150mb
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Windows 8 Defender
Now having used the free upgrade to Windows 8.1 I would like to make a set of backup discs for this version, however, my pc say that a set has already been made and I can only make the one set.
That is a restriction set by the OEMs in allowing the disc creation while also hindering piracy of the software, they apparently figure only one set is needed by the owner of the computer.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    WinXP, WinVista, Win7, Win8.1, Win10, Linux Mint 20
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2 Customs and 12 OEM/Brands
    CPU
    AMD and Intel
Pretty poor from MS. If they are going to do this giant upgrade thing, they should provide the option to create recovery media for the average punter.

They are just encouraging folk to go fishing round the net for what they need.

I also have no idea what HP think they are doing. Meg is smarter than that surely.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Well I've done it and there are 2 files in the folder, one = 21,373,828 kb and the other = 9 kb.

I assume that I open Macrium and click on 'Restore' should I have a problem ?

Has this backed up my MS Office as well ?

You need to create a Macrium Rescue disc to restore the backup. You do this from Macrium itself. See here: Starting with the rescue CD
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
Thank you so much for your help. I have done the rescue disk as well. I will come back and let you know in a couple of weeks if all is ok or not.

It matters not if it didn't work right for me as I still have the recovery partition plus the recovery discs I burned.

I'm not being sceptical gents but at pushing 80 I've left it a bit late to learn these things, as soon as I learn one thing, another pops up and I forget the first one. :eek:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Phoenix H9
    CPU
    Intel i7
    Motherboard
    Formosa
    Memory
    32gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GTX 660
    Sound Card
    Asus Xonar
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Hanns G
    Hard Drives
    1 x SSD
    1 x 3tb
    3 x Buffalo external 1tb
    Keyboard
    HP
    Mouse
    Microsoft
    Internet Speed
    150mb
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Windows 8 Defender
Well I decided the time is right to have another play and do a recovery using all the wonderful help I received above. It all worked exactly as you said. The instruction given are on here are so clear and the posters so helpful.
Thanks a million guys.

~I know running a forum like this isn't free, you should have a donate button leading to a paypal account, you deserve some recognition~

Thanks once more, marked as solved.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Phoenix H9
    CPU
    Intel i7
    Motherboard
    Formosa
    Memory
    32gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GTX 660
    Sound Card
    Asus Xonar
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Hanns G
    Hard Drives
    1 x SSD
    1 x 3tb
    3 x Buffalo external 1tb
    Keyboard
    HP
    Mouse
    Microsoft
    Internet Speed
    150mb
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Windows 8 Defender
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