How to actually use Windows 8 "Remove everything"

Martini1991

Martini1991

Martini1991

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In Windows 8, we've got options such as;

Refresh.
Remove everything.

Refresh being a clean install, but leaving files intact, the remove everything being like a plain install.

On my Surface it's simple. On my Vivobook with the normal HDD it's simple.

But how would I do it on a Desktop/Laptop with SSD?

I can make a "recovery drive" via USB, but I can't actually do anything with it, I don't know how to make that recovery drive actually install Windows etc.

Anyone help?
 
In Settings > General you have the Refresh and Reset options. Once you start them you should be prompted to insert the recovery media.

Or have I misunderstood the question?
 
theheyes said:
In Settings > General you have the Refresh and Reset options. Once you start them you should be prompted to insert the recovery media.

Or have I misunderstood the question?
Click to expand...

Misunderstood.
I know how to start them, however I don't know how to make a USB disc that actually does anything with them.

A "recovery" drive only gives me some start up options, but doesn't actually allow me to do anything.

When I go to do the refresh etc, it says I haven't got the proper recovery media in.

I've tried just make a new bootable USB drive with Windows 8, I've tried making it a recovery drive and then pasting the ISO extracted, no go.


EDIT : Basically, I have an Asus Vivobook with 64 bit Windows 8.1 on.
I want to install a 32 bit Windows 8, and I can't just create a windows 8 boot drive and install, because of this UEFI crap.

EDIT 2 : Just read up, I think I need to create the recovery media when I install windows?
 
Last edited:
Windows created my recovery usb stick for me. It's bootable so I can do what I like with it. is that what you mean?

Think I went into troubleshooting and found the options in there
 
Gives me options, but since it hasn't got anything on it, the drive can't actually do anything, it only allows me to boot into recovery.
 
No, I'm just trying to install an OS as normal.

Back in Windows 7, no matter what OS you've got installed, you'd just make a Windows 7 bootable ISO and boot it up and bobs you're uncle, you can install your Windows (Formatting your HDD's or whatever too)

But I just can't do that with my Laptop for whatever reason.
 
Its hard to say without knowing the specific UEFI interface, but you will at least need to turn off secure boot if it's enabled. That's really down to the implementation though. I've installed Windows 8 on a Vivobook before now with a bootable USB. Forget the recovery drive stuff. If you have access to the ISO you can make your own. Make a bootable USB stick and just copy the ISO contents over.
 
That's how I originally did it and it worked fine, at least when there wasn't an OS on the SSD.

But it'll error and say there's a file missing, but it says the files missing in Windows/System 32 (So the SSD)

What did you do to create the bootable drive? I'll try just making a new bootable drive and throwing an extracted ISO on.
 
I've sent you a trust message because I'm struggling :p
I'm not sure what you did to make a bootable drive for the Vivobook that'll actually allow windows to install :p
 
I'm going to struggle with this a little because I'm on the mobile and doing it from memory but here goes

In the bios -

Disable secure boot
Disable fast boot
Enable launch CSM

Save changes and reboot

For the USB stick open up an admin command prompt

Run

diskpart

list disk

//make a note of which disk is your usb stick e.g. Disk 2

select disk 2

clean

create partition primary

active

format fs=ntfs quick

assign

//your stick should be ready now and all you need to do is copy the entire ISO contents to the stick. Coupled with the bios options changes above you SHOULD be able to boot from the stick
 
Okay, I'll try that when I get home.

This will allow me to install a fresh Windows install of anything right?

It's running Windows 8 64 bit pro, updated to 8.1 via the store.

I want to install fresh the 8.1 32 bit ISO onto it as a completely fresh install, will this allow me to do that?

Cheers.
 
Providing nothing else is causing a problem, yes. I rolled over the OEM Windows 8 install with Windows 7 Pro using this method.
 
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