Is the Installation Media system-independent??

cognus

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Microsoft provides an online utility for creating installation media from a running/valid Windows 8/8.1 machine.
I have a running 8.1 Pro Dell Latitude but it has issues I cannot tolerate so I'm creating the media to "start from scratch". Therein lies the rub: is it really "from scratch" or is it an image which will recreate the issues I am having?

??? Reading through Create installation media for Windows 8.1 - Windows Help it doesn't really address the question.

thx for your help
c
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1, Win 10P, Win7-all, RIP XPP, 'droid 2.2, 2.3,4.x, 5..IOS,
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    many: E5440, 430 G1, E45, G4-1117DX, X120E, DC7600, X83VB-X2, NC10, Droids, Galaxy,
    CPU
    too many
    Motherboard
    ditto
    Memory
    ditto
    Graphics Card(s)
    ditto
    Internet Speed
    30mbps
You can download the ISO its windows 8.1.1, just download the version you have a Key for core or pro 32bit or 64 bit
you can use Rufus to create the Install media from the ISO if you want. The Microsoft one seems to work good though from what I'm hearing.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro MC
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus G75VW / Z97 Pro
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3610QM / I7-4790K
    Motherboard
    Z97 Pro
    Memory
    16 GB Hyundai HTM315156CFR8C-PB PC3-12800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M (GF114M)
    Sound Card
    VIA 6.0.10.1600
    Screen Resolution
    1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256, Samsung 850 Pro 1TB
    Internet Speed
    30 down 3 up
    Browser
    Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    NIS and Malwarebytes
If you have issues, you brought them on yourself, a fully updated clean install of 8.1 Pro works perfectly :)

The answer to your question is... Yes
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Pro x64 Windows 10 Pro x64 Build 9926
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway GT5404
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 @ 2.66 GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel D945GCL
    Memory
    4GB PC2 6400 @ 800 MHz CL 6-6-6-18
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GTX660 TF3 2GB
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gateway FPD1975W
    Screen Resolution
    1440 x 900
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 EVO 120GB SSD / WD 500GB
    PSU
    Corsair HX750
    Case
    OEM
    Cooling
    OEM
    Keyboard
    Gateway KB-0401
    Mouse
    Gateway MOAKUO
    Internet Speed
    Verizon Quantum Gateway 60 / 60
    Browser
    Chrome / IE11
    Antivirus
    MSE / Defender / MBAM
It is neither. If you download the ISO it will download the version of the architecture (x86 or 64) of the PC you download it from. If you want 64 bit make sure you use a PC running 64 bit. It will not include any drivers or other software specific to your PC. Therefore if "from scratch" you mean "like when I bought it" the answer is no. To do this you would use your own recovery disks or use the "refresh" or "reset" options.

The download is certainly not an image of what you have now though so a clean install using your link plus a visit to the Dell site to get drivers for your model should do the trick. You may want to download your drivers and put them on a second USB stick before you begin as certain things may not work. For example I can't use Wifi after doing a clean install until I load apple drivers and not having a ethernet port means I can't get internet without Wifi so it is easier for me to have the drivers available off-line.

Unless the issues you are having are with a Dell driver using your link (plus re-installing drivers) should do what (I think) you want to do as it will get rid of everything else.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro Prieview x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    MacBook Pro Core2Duo
    CPU
    T7600
    Memory
    3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon X1600
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Internal
    Screen Resolution
    1440 x 800
    Hard Drives
    40GB
    Keyboard
    Apple
    Mouse
    Apple
    Internet Speed
    Varies
    Browser
    Various
    Antivirus
    Defender
Yes the media tool will allow you to do fresh clean installation of windows
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
false. dell had the issues.
I fix their issues.
If you have issues, you brought them on yourself, a fully updated clean install of 8.1 Pro works perfectly :)

The answer to your question is... Yes
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1, Win 10P, Win7-all, RIP XPP, 'droid 2.2, 2.3,4.x, 5..IOS,
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    many: E5440, 430 G1, E45, G4-1117DX, X120E, DC7600, X83VB-X2, NC10, Droids, Galaxy,
    CPU
    too many
    Motherboard
    ditto
    Memory
    ditto
    Graphics Card(s)
    ditto
    Internet Speed
    30mbps
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