Reinstalling windows 8.1 ,reset or normal format?

Wodgy · 27 Oct 2014 at 13:10

Hey, I made a thread in General hardware about this as I was having some annoying BSOD after sleep so I want to delete everything off my drive and reinstall windows 8.1/all programs again as I don't have much on there anyway as this is quite a new PC.
My question is simple, should I reset or do a normal format and what's the differences?
I did try a "refresh" and allowed this to complete but got a bit stuck afterwards so just turned off the PC.
This will be my first time ever doing this.
Regards.

PapaLazaru · 27 Oct 2014 at 14:13

Do a clean install of 8.1 update 1.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=27081112&postcount=2

Download that, then download this - http://wudt.codeplex.com/

Get a USB flash drive, at least 4gb in size with nothing on it you want to keep

The second program allows you to create a copy of the Windows 8.1 ISO file on a USB flash drive. Just run the second program and select the Windows 8.1 download.

Make a note of your Windows key, boot from the USB (you will have to change the boot preference in the BIOS) and you will be up and running in no time.

Wodgy · 27 Oct 2014 at 14:34

PapaLazaru said:
Do a clean install of 8.1 update 1.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=27081112&postcount=2

Download that, then download this - http://wudt.codeplex.com/

Get a USB flash drive, at least 4gb in size with nothing on it you want to keep

The second program allows you to create a copy of the Windows 8.1 ISO file on a USB flash drive. Just run the second program and select the Windows 8.1 download.

Make a note of your Windows key, boot from the USB (you will have to change the boot preference in the BIOS) and you will be up and running in no time.

Thanks for the info , however i just want to make it as simple as possible by doing it through the windows 8.1 dvd. Will this achieve the same result?
regards.

Wodgy · 29 Oct 2014 at 13:12

So, i'm actually going to be installing windows 8.1 on a new SSD. I have a thread open in general hardware but not much traffic in it.
Shall I disconnect the HDD and then install windows on the SSD , then replug the HDD and erase it then?
I guess there is corrupt data on my HDD and also windows is on the HDD too which I want to completely erase and use it as my storage device for games etc that I don't need on my SSD,
Regards.

Bursar · 29 Oct 2014 at 13:53

Yeah - I make it a habit of only having the boot drive connected when doing Windows installs. Otherwise Windows will create a small partition on one of the other drives with is essential for booting the system.

It's a PITA to move it, so it's much easier to just have the boot drive hooked up at the start, and then connect the other HDDs afterwards.

Wodgy · 29 Oct 2014 at 16:38

Also is the driver install order important with my fresh install? E.g should i install win updates first, then gpu, then mobo chipset etc and after all that is done replug the hdd and completely erase it.
regards.

Bursar · 29 Oct 2014 at 17:22

I'd do chipset and all mobo drivers first, then move onto gpu and any other add-in cards, and finally Windows Update.

Nanobot · 29 Oct 2014 at 23:44

I tend to also take a system image onto DVDRW after the drivers are installed and perhaps another after fully Windows Updated. For some reason Win8.1 only likes DVDRWs and not DVDRs and that they're erased in advance.

Wodgy · 30 Oct 2014 at 14:56

Thanks guys. Well , the "refresh" I did with the windows 8.1 disk when I was having BSODs/Problems with drivers has worked (arbeit lots of programs / drivers have been uninstalled).
Now, I actually want to completely format my HDD ( that has windows on it) so I can use it for just storage etc before I put windows on my new SSD. How do I do this? I've tried to right click, format option but because the drive has windows on it , the option doesn't allow me to do so.
Regards.

PapaLazaru · 31 Oct 2014 at 09:25

Wodgy said:
Thanks guys. Well , the "refresh" I did with the windows 8.1 disk when I was having BSODs/Problems with drivers has worked (arbeit lots of programs / drivers have been uninstalled).
Now, I actually want to completely format my HDD ( that has windows on it) so I can use it for just storage etc before I put windows on my new SSD. How do I do this? I've tried to right click, format option but because the drive has windows on it , the option doesn't allow me to do so.
Regards.

It will not let you format it as you need Windows to format it in the first place.

Power down, take the HDD out, put in the SSD, boot Windows from the disk, install onto the SSD, plug the HDD back in and then format it.

Wodgy · 31 Oct 2014 at 10:25

PapaLazaru said:
It will not let you format it as you need Windows to format it in the first place.

Power down, take the HDD out, put in the SSD, boot Windows from the disk, install onto the SSD, plug the HDD back in and then format it.

Thank you. I will do as a few people have suggested this.
Regards.

Wodgy · 1 Nov 2014 at 18:56

I don't want to start a new thread (again lol). But anyone know how to open a dmp file as Iv'e had a BSOD system thread exception not handled after waking from sleep.
Regards.