Need to recover windows 8 from windows 10 Help!

[steadyone]

Hi I am not sure how well I am going to explain this so please bear with me. I have a hp 15-N230us laptop 64 bit 4 gigs memory. It came with windows 8 originally. Okay well I updated to windows 10 and it has been a nightmare! I have had to do a clean install 4 times since installing it. It keeps causing missing network adapters and sound then it wont let me go to Updates and security to repair it so I cannot do a repair when this issue occurs. It is like everything malfunctions and I have to do a clean install of 10 again. I am so ticked and frustrated. I did update all the drivers before updating to 10 almost a year ago when I first updated it. Also when I did a reinstall it wiped all my hp software that came with the laptop off as well.

Ok so I want to go back to 8 which is no longer an option in recovery however I have a partition drive that has the windows 8 recovery and I have it also in my external hard drive. Is there anyway to somehow get it back to windows 8 through the partition or my external hard drive if so can you walk me through it?

Thanks so much for any help at this time.

 

[LPhoeliu]

You’ll either need recovery discs generated from your original Windows 8 machine to do a clean install of your old system, or have a system image backup.
The obvious way to to use your Windows 8 disc and activation key, it's really not exactly a simple process since you'll need to back up everything and then wipe your hard disk and start from scratch. After installing Windows, you'd need to install drivers for your hardware, then all your software, and finally your documents and all the other files and settings you backed up.

 

[TrustMe]

I found this guide on HP's website. The option you are looking for is Factory Reset. To use the recovery partition on your hard drive, turn off your computer. Then press the power button to turn it on and immediately press the F11 key. It says on some models you have to press the Esc (escape) key first, and then F11. That should bring up the Recovery Manager. Then choose Factory Reset.

HP Support document - HP Support Center

Here are some YouTube videos on how it works.

https://m.youtube.com/results?q=hp factory reset windows 8&sm=3

After saying all that, because you upgraded to Windows 10, your OEM Recovery Partition may be out of position on your hard drive. When you do an upgrade, Windows will create new partitions, which in turn will some times move your recovery partition out of place.

Hopefully pressing the F11 key or Esc, F11 works and it brings up the Recovery Manager. If it does not, there is a way to tell the BIOS (not really sure if it is the BIOS) where the Recovery Partition is located. I know it's done through the command prompt but unfortunately it above my skill level. You will have to wait for someone with more knowledge to reply. After you tell the BIOS the new location, then F11 or Esc, F11 should work.

 

[steadyone]

Thanks yes I tried f11 already it is out of place it did not show up.. Yes there is a way to reach it I just do not know how. I also have the recovery on my external hard drive as well. Thanks waiting for more help

 

[KYHI]

you will need to assign drive letters to the windows 8 recovery partition (small partition) and the recovery Image partition (10-20GB partition)
You need several files:
Winre.wim
Install.wim or install.swm(s)
Resetconfig.xml
Diskpart.txt
reagent.xml

in order to create a factory recovery drive

there is a whole lot to explain - but rather easy to do

or you could fine the needed files and then copy them to the needed partition...

I also have written a program that will apply the factory images 0 use ImageDeploy and my bootable rescue disk (link in sig below)

 

[steadyone]

Okay How do I do the following? I am a little green and so new at this.

you will need to assign drive letters to the windows 8 recovery partition (small partition) and the recovery Image partition (10-20GB partition)

You need several files:
Winre.wim
Install.wim or install.swm(s)
Resetconfig.xml
Diskpart.txt
reagent.xml


​

 

[steadyone]

I have the partition on the hard drive All I need to do is access that some how.

 

[KYHI]

from cmd prompt (admin) type
diskpart
select disk 0
list partition

then
select partition # (# being the number of the partition of the win8 restore)
assign letter=S

select partition # (# being the number for the image partition)
assign letter=r

then open file explorer to view partition contents

 

[steadyone]

It does not show any partition

 

[steadyone]

Can you write this out for me because I am soooo new at this.

 

[mrgeek]

If it's network adapters and sound drivers that are out of whack, try opening Device Manager and rolling back to earlier versions. If that fixes it, then block future updates from Windwos Update. It's odd that you say you update to 10 almost a year ago and these problems suddenly appeared. I know my HP recently updated the Realtek HD Audio driver. I updated to 10 2 days after it came out and I have had very few issues.

"Thanks yes I tried f11 already it is out of place it did not show up.. Yes there is a way to reach it I just do not know how. I also have the recovery on my external hard drive as well."
Not sure what you mean by 'out of place' but I have two HP laptops. If you are saying that you still have the original D drive with the orig HP configuration on it, then access by turning off the power via Shutdown. Then, turn the power on and IMMEDIATELY and REPEATEDLY tapping f11 which should get you into the Windows Recovery Console. Choose Advanced Options and the option to Go Back to Earlier Build or however it is worded. This should access the black HP Recovery Manager console which you see in the link in post 3.

Since you want to do a complete rollback, I would choose Factory Reset which will bring your computer back to the day you bought it and create new partitions. Obviously, BACK UP all personal files and make sure you either have or can access all software for re-install. The orig HP software and trial softwares, like Cyberlink or Power DVD will be re-installed automatically. All this assumes that you have never tinkered with the D partition other than make a copy to an ext drive. It should be approx 20gb in size.
Good Luck

 

[steadyone]

Okay let me help you understand. I can get into recovery however there is no option for a system restore/ or factory reset. The only option on there is windows 10. I do however have a partition drive with the backup recovery for 8 on it, but for some reason I cannot access it. I also have a backup recovery on an external hard drive as well as a backup. I am just hitting walls here.

 

[steadyone]

I sent recovery files from my partition drive to a flash drive will that work to recover windows 8? I do have backup boot on my external hard drive. How do I use it to recover?

 

[KYHI]

Since we can not see any of your partitions or files on those partitions - pictures would be helpful......

open command prompt(admin) and type

Diskpart
select disk 0
list partition
exit
reagentc /info

post pic of cmd windows

 

[steadyone]

Okay my question is when I open the command prompt it does not show anything not even disk 0. Here I will send a picture.

 

[steadyone]

I am having nothing but constant problems since I did the fourth boot clean install of windows 10. Every time I shut my lid down my computer wont wake up at all. I have to shut it down and restart it. This windows 10 has been a nightmare for me. I am so frustrated. I will be glad to get it back to where it was when I bought it on 8.1

 

[TrustMe]

stadyone

The picture you posted shows you are at the Diskpart command prompt. Now at the Diskpart prompt type "select disk 0" without the quotes and hit the Enter key. It will say Disk 0 is now selected. At the prompt type "list partition" again without the quotes and hit the Enter key. It will list all the partitions on disk 0. Take a picture of the partitions on disk 0 for KYHI to look at. At the prompt type Exit and hit the Enter key. You will leave Diskpart and be back at the regular command prompt. At the regular command prompt type "reagentc /info" without the quotes and hit the Enter key. Take a picture of the information it returns. Post the pictures for KYHI.

I hope that helps.

 

[steadyone]

Okay here is the first shot. Thanks for your help I was at a loss Trust me.

 

[steadyone]

Okay O tried it again yikes I am not having luck with this thing. here is another picture.

 

[steadyone]

Okay yea I go it. Here is the last picture you wanted. Again Thank you Trustme. "YOU ROCK!!"