Setup Installation :: Reinstalling 8.1 Preview In MBR Disk
Sep 29, 2013
When Win 8.1 Preview was first released it installed without issue in a second partition on my Win 7 Pro Lenovo Edge E335 and created a standard dual boot setup. A week ago something or other started causing chaos in Win 7 though 8.1 still ran normally, but as 7 is my day-to-day system I needed to get it working normally again. Three different Acronis images restored OK but then each developed the same problems, so probably a rootkit was behind it all. Unable to overcome these problems I restored to factory condition, reinstalled my software and life returned to normal.
I then set about repartitioning to install Win 8.1 Preview again but hit a first problem when the same DVD and key I had used previously failed as the key was not accepted. Undaunted I tried again with a new key I found on the internet and this key did work. However the install then failed with the message that Win 8.1 can not be installed to an MBR disk, only to a GPT disk. Now this is the same disk that installed to the same MBR HDD previously, only the key being different.
Is the only solution to this to convert the entire disk to GPT and reinstall both 7 and 8.1 again? If so, that's a bit of a problem as my Win 7 was preinstalled to an MBR disk and I'm certainly not buying it again.
The Win 8 Pro/Win 7 Ult on the left relates to a different box.
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Nov 5, 2013
Windows 8. I am fairly well versed in Windows 7 matters, but it seems with Windows 8 things have changed.
I need to find out how to install Windows 8 on a new HDD in a device that has a failed disk. I have no repair disk or ISO, and no product code.
A little background: I have a friend's Packard Bell Easynote TE11HC laptop (Win 8 x64, not the pro version) that won't boot. Typically it is about 2 months out of warranty! Having run a few tools I have established that the HDD is corrupted in a major way. Chkdsk ran for 24 hours before I cancelled it at 5% through. It reported many, many corrupted or unreadable sectors, so I felt there may be little value in fixing that disk, even if chkdsk ever managed to complete.
The disk is a Toshiba MQ01ABF050 500GB, Tosh's own diagnostic tool report a failed disk.
I have mounted the old disk in an external caddy and connected by USB, and it is recognised, I can even browse the folder structure. Maybe it's just the boot sectors that are bad.
Anyway, now that repair disks from OEMs are a thing of the past, I am wondering how to go about installing the OS on a new HDD. There are no longer labels with product codes on, so how do I go about getting the necessary info to reinstall?
I have read how to download a Windows 8 ISO, but without another machine with the same OS how do I get anywhere? And without a product code, how will I activate it after installation?
The laptop also had MS Office 2013 installed, so if I can find a license key for that it would be handy. I am hoping such info can be retrieved as the disk is still browsable.
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Oct 21, 2013
My son's laptop (Windows 8) failed, and despite F9 options to reset or refresh, and CHKDSK was unable to recover the system due to bad disk sectors. I bought a new disk , but as I had made no recovery media, and the OEM doesn't supply any, I have no way of reinstalling Windows 8.
However I did mange to install Ubuntu Linux on the new disk and the Laptop is now working fine. Out of curiosity I connected the old bad disk via a USB enclosure, and lo and behold Disk utility was able to read the OEM Recovery and Restore partitions. I have made several copies of these on a Win 7 laptop, USB and LInux partitions, and all look good (as far as i can tell).
My issue is that as the OEM recovery partitions seem fine, I reckon they should be installable onto the new disk, but I am at a loss as to how I can use this data to reinstall Win 8 onto my laptop. Most of the advice I can see assumes a working copy of WIn 8 or having a retail Win 8 ISO, which of course I do not have. Remember , unlike Win 7, WIn 8 has no product key identifiable as it is contained in the BIOS somewhere, but I reckon it should recognise the OEM's recovery partition if I only could manage to load it.
I now have a sketchy knowledge of lots of new terms (mounting , partitioning, MBRs, boot sequences etc ) so exactly what to do. [ The tutorial on this form requires a retail win 8 ISO]. I did find a Linux method involcing DD, DDRESCUE , PARTPROBE etc ) which I have tried but all to no avail - I am sure I was close though! ]
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Mar 11, 2014
So the hard drive on my computer failed. I do not have the product key for this computer and can not get it of the failing hard drive because it does not power up at all. But the computer does have the built in product key in the bios. Is there a way that I can re install windows 8 on this computer and activate with the bios key with out getting the recovery media from the manufacture.
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Jul 17, 2013
I built myself a new system and I am now on my third clean install of Windows 9 Pro. The first installation was nixed due to faulty programs and the second by faulty hardware. This installation seems to be fine, at least my event log is not showing any significant errors. I really don't won't to do another clean install so the question I have is:
Can I install Windows with UEFI without reinstalling on a new hard drive formatted as GPT?
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Jan 12, 2014
I recently bought a laptop with Windows 8 and have erased the hard drive while trying to install another OS (not a good move, I know). This caused problems and now I'd like to re-install windows 8, except I have no way of doing this without knowing my product key, which I cannot access through my computer now. Is there a way to re-install windows 8 without having to purchase it again?
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Apr 13, 2014
I recently purchased an Asus X551 laptop with Windows 8 but straight the way uninstalled Windows 8 and installed Ubuntu (after creating a Windows 8 recovery drive just in case). I have since decided that I want Windows 8 back as I have found that I cannot use a lot of software on Linux. The laptop did not come with any form of recovery disk or installation disk, the only reminent of Windows 8 I have is the recovery USB that I created from within the OS.
When I plug in the USB and boot from it it brings up the recovery menu with options to reset the PC but when I click it it says something like - "Unable to reset PC. A required partition is missing".
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Jan 16, 2014
Yesterday, my Windows 8.1 preview machine decided it was going to restart every 2 hours unless I install the full 8.1. The problem is that the store install doesn't work; when I click "download", I get a message saying "something happened and the install of 8.1 Preview can't be completed." I also lost my installation disc at some point, assuming that would even work. What should I do?
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Jun 28, 2013
Windows 8.1 doesn't seem to like my 40GB IDE HDD, it won't seem to install no matter what. Upon selecting & formatting the partitions the setup just keep throwing 0x80070057 "Windows could not format a partition on disk 0" even if I reformat the HDD as per MS support article.
I rebooted into Windows 7 on my primary HDD and reformatted the 40GB HDD and attempted to install Windows 8.1, this time it gave me "Windows deployment engine could not initialize".
I tried something else, installed Windows 7 flawlessly on the 40GB HDD then proceeded to upgrade to Windows 8.1 via setup.exe. Everything went fine until the first reboot when it got stuck and hangs at exactly 77% with the fish and spinning orb. After around 30mins it reboots then asks me to 'Select Keyboard Layout" then requests which OS to select. From there I only have 'Windows Setup' and 'Windows 7'. Whenever I selecting 'Windows Setup' it ends up in black screen with the mouse cursor followed by a loop where it continuously asks me for Keyboard layout.
My Windows 8.1 x64 iso is not damaged (hashes are correct) nor is the 16GB boot USB disk that I used. What could possibly be wrong here? The HDD is a 11 year old Maxtor D540X-4D 5400RPM but it's fully functional (no errors in Windows 7 and correctly detected in my BIOS).
Fully wiping the HDD using GParted doesn't work either.
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Jun 29, 2013
I decided to make a fresh install with a iso from the download page and use the key that they provide on that same page. Windows 8.1 Preview ISO files - Microsoft Windows. I tried english 64bit...
Running from windows 8 seamed to work but i didnt have 6.8 GB free .. So I go to boot from the iso and format the partition. But got the message saying , the key is invalid ... tried my own genuine windows 8 pro key .. also didn't work.
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Jul 5, 2013
How to install Windows 8.1 Preview using a Local Account.
1. Input your email address.
2. Type anything in the password field, but not your real password.
3. The following should appear prompting you to create a Local Account.
4. Click on "create a local account now"
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Jul 2, 2013
Downloaded WindowsBlue-ClientwithApps-64bit-English-X1899605.ISO from Microsoft Site Burned Into DVD and USB Flash Using Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool After booting from DVD or USB i stuck at the fish logo !! and the screen is turned off after 2 or 3 minutes with activity in USB or DVD !!
tried it several times using different HDD with no success
Windows 8 Installation is OK without a single problem
Motherboard Gigabyte EP35-DS3L
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E7200 @ 2.53GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.5GHz
Memory: 4096MB RAM
ATI Radeon HD 3650
HDD : SAMSUNG HD753LJ , WDC WD3200AAJS-00B4A0 and SAMSUNG HD154UI
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Jul 1, 2013
After 3 days of fruitless searching and multiple attempts to install 8.1 I finally found the answer. My hardware does not have the required LAHF/SAHF support nor does it support Prefe6tchW. Why this matters now withe the 8.1 update when it does not matter with 8 is beyond me.
See here: Can't install or upgrade to 8.1 Preview - Microsoft Community
My old, reliable Dell Precision 370 is now at the end of it's long, illustrious life as far as new updates. I'll have to stay with 8.
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Aug 12, 2013
I am getting this when I am trying to install Windows 8.1 preview on my computer, The Computer already has Windows 8 Preview on it now..
Error 0x0000000A when installing windows 8.1preview
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Jan 3, 2014
I upgraded my computer's OS from W7 to Windows 8 some months ago. Not long after, I upgraded to the preview of the Windows 8.1 Pro. My Windows-license is legit, bought and valid. However, when I returned from my christmas holiday, I noticed the message in picture #2. Fair enough, I thought and proceeded forth.
Clicking 'Get Windows' got me to the screen pictured at #3. Oddly enough, I am unable to click any of the buttons, including Download, Home, Your apps and Your account. I can access the links further down on the page (which aren't included in this screencap) but for some reason I can't press anything else.
When I've tried to access the Windows 8 Store before this problem arised, even before I installed Windows 8.1, I have literally never been able to access the Windows 8 Store (See picture #1).
How do I go from here? I would like to register the Windows 8.1 ...
#1
#2
#3
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Aug 23, 2013
I'm trying to find the official Microsoft licence agreement for Windows 8.1 Preview - any link?
I want to use Windows 8.1 Preview in a VM on a Windows 7 PC.
Normally for the full version of Windows 8, and I guess Windows 8.1 when the full version arrives, you'd need a separate licence for the VM installation. But does this apply to the preview version as well?
I'm trying to find a definitive link on the Microsoft website...
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Aug 18, 2014
I partitioned my hard disk into a 150GB (C) and 500GB (D) and upgraded from Win7 to Windows 8 (and subsequently Windows 8.1 after the recent updates). The OS is installed onto the C Drive.
Performed a Clean Installation of Windows 8 on my C Drive. Under the Choose What To Keep Option, I selected Nothing.
Technically speaking my C Drive would have been wiped clean but after the Windows 8 installation, my C Drive only has 5GB of space left (145GB is being used). The Windows 8 OS is not detecting any of the old programs in my C Drive and the automated Disk Clean up feature only offers removal of temporary internet files. Which brings me to one possible assumption...
The Clean Installation Failed. Windows 8 simply installed itself again on my C Drive and the remaining disk space (containing my previous Windows 8.1 OS and programs) is locked down somewhere. I suspect this had something to do with changing my HD format 3 years ago when I wiped clean my pre-loaded ASUS laptop Win7 and partitioned it to install my Windows 8.
How to remove my previous OS?
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Jan 28, 2013
Is it possible not to have the partition "recovery"?
Because if you look at the two tutorials:
- UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Forums
- UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 8 with
In the tutorial to install Windows 7 in UEFI, there is not that damn partition recovery, while in the tutorial for Windows 8, we can see it.
When I install Windows 7 (MBR mode), I avoid this partition "recovery" by creating a partition with a name before installation. I install the OS on it and everything is fine, no partition "recovery" But here, since one must delete all partitions, If I create a GPT disk with a partitioning tool before installing, is that it might be appropriate?
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Sep 15, 2014
Can I install Windows 10 Preview alongside with Windows 8.1?
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Oct 24, 2013
Does installation Id change after reinstalling Windows? In other words is it possible to use the confirmation ID I got after clean install of Windows?
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Jan 3, 2013
I am attempting to install Windows 8 (I currently have Vista) but Autorun doesn't work and when I attempt to access the disk in the CD ROM I am asked if I want to format the empty disk. I recently had to reformat the hard drive back to its factory settings (Vista O/S) for reasons I won't go into. The problem isn't limited to the installation disk.
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Dec 5, 2013
I have a hp laptop and a hp 5510 photo smart printer and when I put the disk in to install it I get the following message.
The computer does not meet the following system requirements The operating system of this computer is not supported. This software can only be installed on the computers running the following windows operating systems.
1) Windows xp with service pack 2
2)windows vista
3) Windows 7
Upgrade the operating system of this computer or install this software on another computer system.
Now before I reinstalled windows 8, I did install this disk before. and it does the same with the usb in or out, Yet it will print with the usb in but I cannot get it to print with the wireless function with the usb out,
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Jan 30, 2013
As I used to transfer for our customers Windows 7 from HDD to SSD, I used to pull the HDD out, take the SSD, make a transfer either with Acronis, Paragon or manually. Usually at home, one my own computer, simply by putting both HDDs in.
Today, I got a first Windows 8 computer to migrate. As soon as I connected the main HDD from the laptop to my computer, at boot, I got the blue screen. When I removed the HDD, my system booted OK.
What is that??? I never ever saw Windows crashing just because I put a HDD in it. I left the laptop in the company, so I wasn't able to put it back (going to do it tomorrow), but I already did the first Windows 8 setup - it's an Asus laptop.
Weird thing is, that even when connecting via USB (I have a SATA/USB3 dongle which I can use for such purposes), it first recognizes the disk, then it shows the 2nd partition (DATA), and then it also goes into blue screen. What the hell is that? Is it some new Windows 8 protection or something?
Trouble is, Paragon migration software I bought previously doesn't support Windows 8, so I would have to buy a new one...
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Jan 24, 2014
Quick question. I am trying to use Acronis disk imager. The second drive I am trying to use had been a primary drive, but it is not the current active partition. The "true" active drive is C...I am trying to reformat/delete everything off of that second drive so I can use Acronis and make the D drive my primary (since it's larger/faster) Disk management won't let me format D because it is showing active as well. I am not sure what to do here. It also wouldn't let me just delete the files manually. how to get around this?
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Dec 14, 2013
Basically, I upgraded from windows 8 to 8.1 a few weeks ago and since I could barely run any games, they have compatibility issues and all sorts.
I tried updating my drivers, it says they're all up to date I spent countless hours looking for solutions on how to downgrade All the solutions require me to have a disk, but I lost it I also looked up on how to set it back to it's factory setting, but it doesn't work
I was told to press F8 or F9 (can't remember at them moment) as soon as the computer turns on until the recovery screen pops up, but it never does.
I'm using an Alienware x51. Is it even possible to reset my computer without the disk? if not, then where can i get another disk that came with the computer?
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Feb 28, 2013
Woke up this morning to a frozen Windows 8 screen. Only way out was to power off. On reboot, my nightmare began.
No boot device. Long story short, I went through many attempts at a reset, repair, reinstalls, off the Windows 8 DVD, all to no avail. Indeed, when I booted into Dell diagnostics, it confirmed a failed hard drive.
(Sidebar : was there an automated patch pushed last night.....like there was for Win 7?).
Keeping calm, I know I have all my data backed, up, but I am trying to avoid having to rebuild everything from scratch. I have been vigilant in doing image and file backups for years..... But I always manage to hit a brick wall somewhere along the way.
I have summarized what I have and do not have available to me here : Recovering from disk failure
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Feb 18, 2014
I ahad updatedmy wife's laptop acer spire 5740 G from windows 7 to 8 and then updated to 8.1. She did not like os and asked me to revert back to 7. After running setup I formated the drivve C containing windows 8. But now computer doesnt boot and I tried to reinstall teh system but I cant see my hard disk- Setup runs till where do you want to install your OS and then I cant find my hard disk
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Feb 6, 2013
On January 31st, I bought a product key for Win 8 Pro paying $40. I downloaded the Windows.iso that came with the purchase. Afterwards, I burnt the Windows.iso to two separate DVD Roms, opening the ISO with Windows Disk Image Burner.
When one of the two DVD Roms is opened, the program setup.exe presents itself, together with about 9 folders and files. (Please see the attachment, showing the contents of the DVD Rom.)
Setup.exe is obviously the trigger for installing Win 8.
My question is: Will this trigger (setup.exe) install the full Win 8 operating system, using what is stored on the DVD Rom, plus perhaps elements downloaded from the internet during the installation process? Or must I have installation elements on my hard drive, downloaded during the purchase, in addition to the DVD Rom?
In other words, is the DVD Rom burnt from the ISO the "full" Windows 8, the only thing I need apart from my product key, to install Win 8?
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Jun 29, 2014
I just bought a Laptop with Windows 8.1 it does not come with an install disk and the supplier flat-out refused to provide one, pointing me to the recovery partition saying that was all I needed.
The recovery program just reinstalls, losing data and does not have Windows trouble shooting options as found on the Windows 8 install disk. How do I create a Windows 8.1 install disk.
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Jan 5, 2013
I would like to try Windows 8 Pro on my PC, I've currently installed Windows 7 Ultimate (32-bit) with SP1 on my PC which takes about 7.8 gigs of disk space. So, my question is that how much disk space does a normal clean installation of Windows 8 Pro (32-bit) takes?
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Aug 14, 2014
Before, my PC was setup like this:
- disk0: windows xp
- disk1: windows 7
Bios boot priority set to disk1.
So no boot loaders, when I (rarely) need xp, I would switch via bios
Now I wanted to try Windows 8, so I've
- download 'Windows 8.1 Enterprise Evaluation' and burnt on a dvd
- bought and connected a new disk (disk2)
- boot from dvd, installed choosing the new disk2
Now, everything works fine, Windows 8 got installed on disk2. But the strange thing is this:
- if, from bios, I choose disk2, it says the disk is not bootable
- choosing disk1, a boot loader shows up, letting me choose between win7 and Windows 8.1
(- choosing disk0, nothing has changed, xp starts like before)
So, I'm confused. I was expecting Windows 8 booting from the new disk2.
- why disk2 doesn't boot?
- would have been better physically disconnecting disk0 and disk1 before installing?
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