Recovering a system proving difficult

NUTTER123 · 20 Oct 2014 at 14:10

Long time no post

I borrowing (for now) my dad's zoostorm until I get my new system. He obviously going to want his back but I trying (not getting very far mind) to completely factory restore. Which is proving problematic. The advice I have received so far is:

1. Keep tapping F8 on boot

2. Choose ‘Repair Your Computer’ from the Windows Advanced Start-up Menu

3. Follow the on screen prompts to log in under your username

4. Click on Reinstall Windows

5. Follow the on screen prompts

That impossible to do considering the system is a Windows 8.1 and F8 on startup doesn't even work now

I've tried using windows 8 command prompt and imagex but that proving problematic (command prompt seems to boot me into X:\ and the imstall.wim image seems to be in drive E:\

Ethan62 · 20 Oct 2014 at 14:17

Does the machine load into Windows 8.1?

If you can boot to Windows you can tell the machine to reboot in advanced start up mode which will give you recovery options.

AthlonXP1800 · 20 Oct 2014 at 14:23

If your dad's Windows 8.1 boot fine.

Here is very easy way to restore Windows 8.1 to factory settings without used old F8 method.

To reset your PC to factory settings

1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, then tap Change PC settings. (If you're using a mouse, point to the top-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, click Settings, then click Change PC settings.)

2. Tap or click Update and recovery, then tap or click Recovery.

3. Under Remove everything and reinstall Windows, tap or click Get started.

4.Follow the instructions on the screen.

NUTTER123 · 20 Oct 2014 at 14:24

Ethan62 said:
Does the machine load into Windows 8.1?

If you can boot to Windows you can tell the machine to reboot in advanced start up mode which will give you recovery options.

If I hold left shift on the power options menu and restart? I get other options

Continue: Use a device: Troubleshoot: and turn off your PC (I assume you mean that with advanced)? I get to the command prompt that way

NUTTER123 · 20 Oct 2014 at 14:29

AthlonXP1800 said:
If your dad's Windows 8.1 boot fine.

Here is very easy way to restore Windows 8.1 to factory settings without used old F8 method.

To reset your PC to factory settings

1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, then tap Change PC settings. (If you're using a mouse, point to the top-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, click Settings, then click Change PC settings.)

2. Tap or click Update and recovery, then tap or click Recovery.

3. Under Remove everything and reinstall Windows, tap or click Get started.

4.Follow the instructions on the screen.

Will I need the key though? The system doesn't seem to have the windows key on the computer at all (sticker) and it started as windows 8 but was upgraded to free 8.1

CEUOTC · 20 Oct 2014 at 14:42

Download and install Speccy, it allows you to see the current key under software tab.

8.1 is a free upgrade via Microsoft Store iirc.

NUTTER123 · 20 Oct 2014 at 14:58

I've found the key. I'll give it a go via PC Settings (if I am stuck I do have the windows 8 CD I downloaded before (not illegal) bit of a bugger zoostorm don't make it so simple just to recover though

AthlonXP1800 · 20 Oct 2014 at 16:56

NUTTER123 said:
I've found the key. I'll give it a go via PC Settings (if I am stuck I do have the windows 8 CD I downloaded before (not illegal) bit of a bugger zoostorm don't make it so simple just to recover though

So if you used Windows 8 DVD then it will caused your PC to restore Windows 8, not Windows 8.1 then you will need to upgrade again to Windows 8.1 through Windows Update, that will take long time to do it.

The best thing to do is try to create Windows 8.1 media from Microsoft.

Creating installation media for Windows 8.1

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

If above not working then try below.

Upgrading Windows with only a product key

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-8/upgrade-product-key-only

NUTTER123 · 20 Oct 2014 at 17:11

Damn wish I had seen your post now ath.

I'm resetting the PC currently as I type so far it's at 33% (Going to take a while)

NUTTER123 · 20 Oct 2014 at 20:09

Good news is that the reinstall seems to have completely worked (not lost the activation or anything) I guess the system is designed in such a way to install itself from the recovery partition (sure I going to have to reinstall 8.1 but worth the hassle) All good (even if it took a effort to find out how to do it in first place)