clean install from software on the computer?

9mmprincess · Post by **9mmprincess** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 6:27 am

I don't have my windows 8 cd, but I want to do a clean install. Honestly for the last few years I haven't been maintaining my computer, and it's kind of a mess now, really slow, and crap cleaner wont even work, it just quits in the middle of trying to clean it. I can back stuff up so I wont lose anything.. I just really want to start fresh.

Is there a way to download windows 8.1 onto my computer and do a clean install from software ON the computer? Or do I really have to have it on a flash drive/cd?

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 7:48 am

By chance is there an OEM recovery partition? Many laptops will have a hidden partition of the hard drive which you can boot into, and kick off a wipe/reinstall process.

If not...with tools available for the home user, a bootable USB or DVD is the common choice.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... t-key-only

Downloads from above link...
Some info on the process
http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-576 ... s-8.1-iso/

9mmprincess · Post by **9mmprincess** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 6:30 pm

There's a recovery partition but it's being weird and not letting me do anything with it. I might just go buy a copy of windows today. I updated to windows 8.1 and my laptop still isn't acting right.

RaisinCain · Post by **RaisinCain** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 6:48 pm

Sounds like the HDD is going/dying. If you don't have a OEM disk for Win 7 I could give you a download link from my ftp server. Just PM me.

RaisinCain · Post by **RaisinCain** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 6:53 pm

I may be able to get a OEM 8.1 disc if you have a product key.

9mmprincess · Post by **9mmprincess** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 11:00 pm

Thanks Raisin

Let me see if I can find it.

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Sat Feb 01, 2014 9:43 am

The store update to 8.1 will sometimes break the factory link to the OEM recovery partition. If you try to do a reset or refresh you get prompted to supply your installation media. Windows only sees the small Windows recovery partition.
If you have a retail key you can download the files to create an ISO. http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/18 ... tml?filter

EDIT: If your PC came with Windows 8 pre installed from the factory your OEM key will be embedded in the BIOS. You would have to use a utility like rweverything to retrieve it. It won't be listed on the COA sticker.

9mmprincess · Post by **9mmprincess** » Sat Feb 01, 2014 10:05 am

^thanks

I got it sorted out though - my laptop is an Asus and it had it's own clean install utility, so I just used that. Brought me back to vista, but then I just updated to 8. Puter purring like a kitten now - the cooling issue seems to be a lot better too.