I wanted to follow up my previous post with new details after a HDD failure forced me to do a fresh install. I hope this helps anyone still running 8.1x64 english (core). I mention the specifics because I'm unsure it applies to other 8.1x64 iso images on the MS site above - posts #1 and #5.
The install was fast (usb stick, created by rufus), problem free. The iso was correct for my Lenovo G50-45. It recognized the key in the bios... I had to activate later, I clicked the activation link on the system info page - just that simple. I poked the install for a bit to see if I could cause any problems, a test drive. I chose not to connect to the internet during install (explained below) otherwise it might have activated. Oh, disable secure boot in the bios if you have it enabled. A uefi install is doable, create a uefi thumb drive and leave the bios set to uefi.
One nice feature of the 8.1x64 english core iso, it had update 1 and 3 integrated. There were 32 total updates integrated - see attached image.
It just occurred to me, those who know better might notice updates they wish weren't installed?
There were 3 reasons why I didn't connect to WU during install... My connection speed is a mere 1mb (slow). Also, I didn't want WU to install patches that I might need to remove if I wanted .net 3.5 to install easily. Finally, I wanted to get a look at the install, see what updates MS integrated - see attachment. I'm sure there's something to dislike about the vanilla install, I'm pretty easy to please here, it seems to work very nicely. I don't think the iso had any vc++ packages integrated, you'll need these.
Finally, really
If you don't need .net 3.5, and you don't care much about the iso prior to updating via WU, and you want an activated system - select to connect and update during the os install, you'll get up-and-running much faster.
OTOH,
if you need .net 3.5, wait to update the os, do it after the install of .net 3.5. The easiest, no fuss method is to use the
Dism approach (imo). It's quick, no updates to remove, no features to activate. Well, it was smooth for me, on my system. The resource needed is located on the bootable usb drive (\sources\sxs), and dism.exe is on Windows.
Here's what I did (ymmv). I would expect the same results again, on functioning hardware - good ram, hdd, psu, etc...
Note: I had my charged battery installed and my laptop connected to ac.
- Adjusted time before the display goes dark, 60min to be safe. No sleep/hibernate worries, installed os on an ssd.
- Turned off autoplay - do as you like. I hate popup dialogs bothering me.
- Rebooted atleast once after new os install (any big update) - you may discover something is broke. Why move ahead at this point.
- Inserted the 8.1 bootable usb stick in a usb 2.0 port, no hubs (it may be ok, wanted to be safe).
- Opened command prompt as admin - must do this as an admin otherwise it will fail.
- Typed (cut/paste) the following command - then hit Enter... and
let the process complete.
Note: The location of \sources\sxs\ may not be drive D: for you, edit accordingly
The command to run:
Dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFx3 /All /Source:D:\sources\sxs /LimitAccess
Important: A word of warning. The process may appear to be stuck, frozen at some point, mine happened around 60.4 percent. It wasn't stuck, it was working. Point being, once you hit Enter and start the install - step away from the machine... don't be tempted to cancel. It should complete in a few minutes - let it be. You should get the message that the install was successful. Be positive
I enabled secure boot, I don't think you have to though. I rebooted again after the installation completed, just because.
I hope this helps - good luck.
