Solved Need assistance on reinstalling Win 8.1

[Wrasten]

Hi everyone, I need someone that follows me in a step-by-step task since I'm new to 8.

I just registered here because I am going to set things right with my computer. I am studying Computer Science to become a game developer, so I need a fully performing machine with 100% genuine programs and no trash planted by some guest.

My computer is a HP Pavillon 500-429nl (+added wifi card) which originally had Win 8.1 x64 (don't remember if pro or specific edition, but I could retrive the Key) but I used to run a different OS (Windows 7 ultimate) wich was put by a techician.

Now I want to recover my OEM 8.1 license and optimize my workstation to run at its fullest, possibly adding some non-invasive or invalidating software to boost the performance, make a similar UI to my beloved 7 and deactivating possibly unneeded 8 features.

Is it worth to register the OS under a MS account? (since I already have one to run Visual Studio Express)

Hope someone has time to help me.

 

[Mark Phelps]

Recovering your license will do you no good if you don't have HP OEM windows media to recover your PC. Because ... that license only works with that media.

I regularly work the HP forums, so I just checked there to see if HP has recovery media for your PC, and they no longer stock it! That's not good news.

Since HP no longer provides Recovery Media for your model, a couple of other sites you should check are: HP/Hewlett Packard and Compaq Recovery CDs brought to you by Computer Surgeons - Archives for end of life computers and System Recovery and : : Welcome to RestoreDisks.com : :

You CAN retrieve your original product key by following these directions: http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/27129-product-key-find-windows-8-a.html

Good Luck

 

[Wrasten]

I found out a recovey disk I could purchase, tough I would like to ask you more details on the fact you could not recover the computer without it. I'm just new with OEM software but, wouldn't that be the same thing?

 

[Superfly]

Recovery media is only required to restore Windows 7 licence files, it's not necessary for Windows 8.

Run ShowKeyPlus to find out the OEM edition that came pre-installed on your PC, then download that version from MS with the Media Creator tool.

 

[Wrasten]

Recovery media is only required to restore Windows 7 licence files, it's not necessary for Windows 8.

Run ShowKeyPlus to find out the OEM edition that came pre-installed on your PC, then download that version from MS with the Media Creator tool.

Awesome, I was just searching for the exact edition.

EDIT: The program says my oem key is "invalid"... I wonder why... I don't even remember if I plugged it to the internet the first time I installed it.

 

[Superfly]

Recovery media is only required to restore Windows 7 licence files, it's not necessary for Windows 8.

Run ShowKeyPlus to find out the OEM edition that came pre-installed on your PC, then download that version from MS with the Media Creator tool.

Awesome, I was just searching for the exact edition.

EDIT: The program says my oem key is "invalid"... I wonder why... I don't even remember if I plugged it to the internet the first time I installed it.

That happens with some of the older Win 8.0 keys unfortunately...If you run it on a Win 8 system it should be more compatible - otherwise if you can PM it to me I'll check it manually.

BTW: What colour holographic logo sticker do you have?

 

[Wrasten]

It was a 8.1 for sure, as the spec table says, and mostly sure it was a Core edition (I lost the decals a year ago)

So basically I'll be finishing my preparations this week and clean install, using the official diver set from the weblinks and the official W8 ISO which seemed straightforwad for "8.1 (non-N) x64" (no other choiches between the architecture and the N, so presumibly I could play with the cfg file to try the single-language\multilingual versions).

@Superfly Can I count on you for some tiny tweak when the OS will be installed?

P.S: What is the best freeware for driver backup right now?

 

[Superfly]

Sure, I'll help where I can. BTW the cfg file won't help switching editions...

With Win 8 the base edition (Single Language) can be upgraded via a different key (similar to Win 7's anytime upgrade) to Core or Pro (again N-versions excluded). Core will only go to Pro, not SL - then we have Bing edition, which is another complication...good luck tho' (hope I'm just over-thinking things and you get everything installed OK)

Regarding driver backup - see here http://www.eightforums.com/drivers-hardware/58846-what-best-way-backup-installed-device-drivers.html

 

[Wrasten]

Everything works properly, the OEM key was automatically recognized and most drivers as well, the HP site is not giving the exact drivers you'll need but nothing that can't be resolved checking for the specific component. If you want my advice, don't ever downgrade a laptop because is more complicated work to do.

 

[Superfly]

Everything works properly, the OEM key was automatically recognized and most drivers as well, the HP site is not giving the exact drivers you'll need but nothing that can't be resolved checking for the specific component. If you want my advice, don't ever downgrade a laptop because is more complicated work to do.

HP seems to have history of poor support unfortunately. But I'm glad you have it working, good idea to check individual component drivers