Setup Installation :: Backup OS From BIOS Upon First Switch On?
Jan 8, 2013
Have just purchased this; HP Pavilion g6-2210sa 15.6" Laptop - Red Deals | Pcworld Upon hearing that I was up for the challenge of setting it up myself, the sales assistant pointed out that the very first thing I must do is back up the OS (windows 8).
I asked, 'oh, is the OS on a hidden partition?' .. and he said no, its in the BIOS. And I only have one chance to make a back-up copy, as soon as I switch on. Also; if I have software issues after that point, but haven't backed up the OS, I can't claim it under the manufacturer's warranty as an issue.
I believe that the .. key? .. is in the bios now, so I never have to worry about losing it, but apart from that .. egad.
Is there an auto-prompt, or do I need to do a regular ol' back-up .. and where do I back it up to, a separate hard drive/dvd etc?
So. I have this shiny, new, laptop. In it's shiny, new, unopened box, right now. And am starting to wonder if I should have coughed up the £50 to get 'em to set it up for me..!
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Jan 10, 2013
I installed Windows 8 x32 on my laptop. It has 3 GB RAM and the processor is x64-based. I don't use my laptop for much other than e-mail, Facebook, YouTube. Here are my questions:
Is there any point to switch from x32 to x64?
Is there any down side? I read somewhere that I won't be able to run 16-bit applications (I don't even know if they still exist)?
Do I need to do a clean install, or can I use the Upgrade install option rather than the Custom (advanced) install option?
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Jan 6, 2013
I decided to pass on Windows 8 because my laptop is not working properly with Ubuntu (When you turn on or when the charger is on and connected his laptop so restart (P.S. When a car is on and run virtual "VirtualBox" and connect the charger stays lit))
And I would like to know how can I switch from Ubuntu to Windows without using DVD / USB?
P.S. The laptop is Toshiba Satellite A300 PSAG0E.
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Feb 12, 2014
I was wanting to dual boot Win7 and Windows 8 but I just want to switch out the SDD's to this. Is this possible? Or will the secure boot thing mess up the Windows 8 installation?
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Apr 14, 2014
I have windows 8.1 installed on 120gb ssd. I also have a 1tb HDD too. So I was trying to install Hackintosh/Linux when I noticed that the System Reserved partition was on my HDD instead of the SSD. So, I used easybtc to migrate my boot files to my SSD. I deleted the system reserved partition. Now I want to convert my BIOS to UEFI. I have Z87 pro mobo.
I tried this tutorial: [URL] ....
But it seems to be geared at the C drive, where I don't have room for that 350mb as disk utility wont let me shrink it.
Edit: would downloading a third party partitioner, shrinking C about 350mb, or whatever is the minimum, and then use that new space as described in the guide work?
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Jan 6, 2014
I just got a FM2-A75MA-E35 motherboard and a installing Windows 8 on a freshly formatted SATA HDD. My BIOS see's the drive and has it second in the boot order, just after the DVD-ROM drive. It has a label with the drive serial number and everything, along with the drive being 'enabled' in BIOS. When I get up to the spot to choose what drive to install Windows to, its says 'No drives were found, please select a storage driver'. I found that it shows C: when I browse for drivers. Why this isn't working?
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Apr 7, 2014
I have a Dell inspirion 15 laptop running Windows 8.1. A while ago I decided to try Ubuntu out. I installed it alongside Windows 8.1 in dual boot configuration with its own separate hard drive partitions. This means that when I powered on my laptop a GRUB menu (Linux boot manager) would come up allowing me to choose between Windows and Ubuntu. However, Ubuntu was more pain than it was worth so I decided to uninstall it. I did this by deleting the hard drive partitions that Ubuntu was installed on using Windows Disk Management. Now when I power on my laptop the GRUB menu still comes up but there are no options to choose from, only a command line interface. I now have to type Code: exit
which exits GRUB and takes me to my BIOS Boot Manager which looks like this:
Boot mode is set to: UEFI; Secure boot: OFF
UEFI BOOT
ubuntu (ST500LM012 HN-M500MBB)
UEFI Onboard LAN IPv6
UEFI Onboard LAN IPv4
Ubuntu (ST500LM012 HN-M500MBB)
Windows Boot Manager (ST500LM012 HN-M500MBB)
I then have to select Windows Boot Manager to boot into windows.
Why GRUB is still there even though I have deleted the Linux hard drive partitions? Also, why is Ubuntu still listed on the BIOS Boot options? And why is it listed twice?
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Mar 5, 2014
Will updating my BIOS changs the date of installation? If not, does the BIOS need to be replaced for this to occur? I am trying to apply to a job but their software is telling them my computer is too old. I've checked and the date they are showing is the BIOS date exactly.
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Jan 29, 2014
Right before I performed a clean install of Windows 8.1 x64 on my Inspiron 3520, I switched to the Legacy BIOS *facepalm*.
When I enter the legacy BIOS and enabled "secure boot", I performed a restart that gave the following message "internal hard disk drive not found, to resolve this issue, try to reseat the drive. No bootable devices--strike F1 to retry boot, F2 enter setup menu, F5 enter PSA". Of course, when I go back into the BIOS and disable secure boot, it reverts back to legacy and boots up Windows 8 just fine. What I'd like to know is, how can I revert back to UEFI so I can change the boot-up option and perform a clean install under UEFI.
Making the Switch to UEFI | sepago
[URL]
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Jul 2, 2014
It has an ASUS M2N-E motherboard with an old single core AMD Athlon 64 (I cannot remember which model specifically).
Last week, I provided him with a couple of old HDDs and 8GB worth PC-5300 DDR2 667 MHz RAM. We also installed Windows 8.1 64-bit, and other than the CPU being a single core and a bit slow, things were proceeding relatively smoothly.
He has an NVIDIA Geforce 8500 on the board, and he's ordered a PNY-made Geforce GTX 650 that's on it's way at present.
He's wanting to upgrade the CPU to the AMD PHENOM X4 9950, so we've been periodically meeting over the past couple of weeks to perform surgery on this old machine.
At any rate, we found that to update the CPU, we needed to update his BIOS from the one that was installed, which was at revision 0502. The needed BIOS revision for the CPU was 1504, but would also work with revision 1701.
After jumping through several hoops to update the BIOS, we updated it to 1701. However, since then the machine will not boot into Windows 8.1. He gets an instant BSOD. I did not see the error code, so I cannot say what it was. He told me that he's attempted to do a repair install to no avail. The repair attempt results in a constant loop of the machine rebooting and BSODing.
At any rate, here are some URLs that detail the board specs and the list of BIOS revisions for that board.
Motherboard Specs: Motherboards - M2N-E - ASUS
CPU Compatibility list: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. -Support- CPU Support M2N-E
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Oct 11, 2013
I had a bit of a problem with Malware which led me to reinstall windows 8. I had also at the time been trying to install Linux to dual boot beside it. However, upon reinstalling I got the annoying watermark saying "Secureboot isn't configured correctly." Having decided I would rather remove the watermark and having gone back into the BIOS (with a reinstall) and trying to enable secure boot I get a message - "CSM is Loaded! Disable the CSM via Setup and repeat operation after Restart".
However there is, as far a I can see no option to disable the CSM in my bios - I've tried disabling anything related to Legacy and reinstalling both Ubuntu and Windows 8 as well as wiping the drive and jumping the CMOS as well as updating the BIOS.
I've tried every permutation in the BIOS. Could possibly be an incompatibility with graphics card, but wouldn't know where to start on that end if it is.
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Sep 15, 2014
My problem is that I want to install a higher version of win 8, respectivily win 8 pro in a computer that already came with another version of win preinstalled (win 8.1). It's possible to do this in a bios that prevents csm launch.
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Feb 18, 2013
Late last Fall I bought a new Desktop, an HP H81414, with Windows 8 installed with the intention of installing Windows 7 on an SSD. I migrated Window 8 to an SSD, removed that from the system, installed new SSD and put Windows 7 on it. Both worked fine. I wound up with 2 SSD's. capable of running on the EFI BIOS machine with Secure Boot turned off. I later bought a new laptop with Windows 8. I found the Win 8 with Classic Shell to be very acceptable.
What I would like to do now ,if possible, is to mount both SSD's in the HP case and switch to either one of them at boot.
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Nov 13, 2013
Have a toshiba laptop with the UEFI encrypted windows 8 key. The hard drive was broken as it was dropped. No sticker on the bottom as is now microsoft policy. Download of the windows install needs the windows key. Cant get it as it's encrypted. Found generic windows 8.1 keys which worked but it said it was the wrong key for those installs. Generic windows 8 keys don't work for the download. Going around in circles and not sure what to do.
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Jan 26, 2014
I am installing Windows 8 and the Gigabyte mainboard gives three options regarding the OS
Which one to choose??
Originally Posted by BIOS Windows 8 Features
Other OSWindows 8Windows 8 WHQL
Obviously it is one of the Windows 8 options. Both will unlock a few new settings like the Compatibility Support Module (CSM) or (not visible on the screenshot) Secure Boot. But the new options are exactly the same if WHQL is chosen or not.
Originally Posted by "Gigabyte GA B85M-HD3 Manual OS Type
Allows you to select the operating system to be installed. (Default: Other OS) So, which to chose and why and what do they do?
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Jun 13, 2013
Question: How would you approach this migration?
I just bought a copy of Acronis True Image 2013 with Plus Pack. It appears that this is all I need as True Image will install the new motherboard drivers as part of the migration process. But do I stay with MBR or move to GPT?
Presently both Win7 (on a 120GB SSD drive) and Windows 8 (on a different 120GB SSD drive) are both MBR format. I don't want to start over from scratch. That's why I bought the Acronis 2013 with Plus Pack.
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Apr 21, 2012
Will it be possible to boot Windows 8 from a GPT partition using BIOS (not UEFI)? I'll be using the 64bit version.
Technically, I know it's possible as I'm doing it with FreeBSD, many Linux distros etc. Using hybrid MBR/GPT, I've read others have Win7 booting off GPT partitons as all. I'd rather not go that route.
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Jul 21, 2014
I'm trying to install windows 8.1 to an external hard disk (solid state drive 128 gb usb3).
I've tried easyUFEY WinToUS creator and AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard(Windows to go) with no luck.
My bios has UEFI option only(no legacy). On my old laptop it works just fine(I had the legacy option) but now, I cannot do that anymore.
I'm pretty sure it's a bios boot issue and I don't know how to fix it. I've tried using GPT partition instead MBR, Still nothing.
The laptop is a sony vaio duo 13 and I have no legacy option in bios
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Jan 25, 2013
I am running windows 8 pro in a Intel i5 3470 + Gigabyte B75M-D3H system with UEFI bios .
I have two drives OS drive is a SSD & a 1 tb HDD with two partitions.
I am removing the SSD & want to transfer OS to one of the partitions on the HDD , the issue is boot files on the small 350mb system reserved partition on the OS drive , not sure how to transfer this partition or if this partion in on the SSD or the HDD.
This what my drives look like , C: is SSD :
Before i installed the SSD , I was running win 7 from the HDD installed in the 170 gb partition , to install the SSD i had to remove the HDD then do a fresh install of win 8 on the SSD & connected the HDD back later ,
The 170gb HDD partition is still untouched & has the old OS files , I want to transfer the SSD partition back to this 170gb partition i.e drive F: in the above pic . I am not sure how to transfer it & what to do with the system reserved partition .
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Mar 19, 2013
I will be receiving a new laptop shortly, namely the Yoga 13, whose SSD is partitioned into no less than 8 partitions from the factory. I suppose the first thing I'd like to do is backup the entire drive with all its original partitions before I start messing with it. I've heard good things about the free version of Paragon, so I think I will use that with their USB boot key. Questions:
1. Would I indeed be able to restore the factory SSD *exactly* the way it was prior to backing up the entire disk, partitions and all, from an external USB drive?
2. How is a backup/restore related to the GPT table of the GPT disk? In other words, if I plan to wipe the disk and re-install Windows 8 from media, doesn't this Windows 8 install write to the GPT table? And if so, would a restore of the factory disk also restore that GPT table?
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Mar 10, 2013
Re-install windows 8 with new motherboard and CPU
I ended up managed to be able to boot into windows after i swapped out my motherboard and CPU to the new ones and everything seems to be working as it should, windows automatically installed the intel drivers and all my old programs and settings are there perfectly.
I can only boot into windows if i select my backup drive as #1 boot device in the BIOS, the SSD isnt even on the list.
The thing I don't understand lies in that, if i select my SSD as priority, where the directory of windows is installed, i get a bootmgr missing error - I've tried the various methods of recovering this using the cmd and a windows installation disc.
This isn't a huge issue but it's really tripping me out as to why this is occurring? I initially had some issues getting windows to boot so i installed a clean windows8 on this backup drive, i didnt change any settings at all. was only making sure that the SSD was being recognized and i hadn't corrupted it somehow. is it possible that the backup drive boot manager is directing it to the SSD.
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Jan 14, 2014
These are the steps I've taken-- OS Win 8, pre-installed by Acer.
1) Make recovery USB using the Acer recovery wizard, with the laptop in stock configuration.
2) Install msata as secondary drive
3) Go to Computer management and initialize the msata and format with GPT style. Format the drive, assign a drive letter. (I only see 1 partition). I did this as NTFS/default allocation size. Is this where I went wrong?
4) Remove the factory HDD (listed as HDD0 in BIOS)
5) Boot to BIOS
5a) in BIOS, disable secure boot.
5b) Go to legacy mode
5c) Set msata (HDD1 in BIOS) as #1 in boot order
6) boot to USB recovery drive, follow steps to restore from USB (clean install, make partitions as it wants)
7) remove USB, reboot.
Error message-- no bootable device. I can basically load the USB again or the BIOS.
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Jul 17, 2014
I wanted to do a fresh windows 8.1 install (i have a samsung NP500P4C-T03CL notebook with windows 8 OEM preinstalled and when i updated to 8.1 the system went slow and "faily"). So i put the CD on the drive, but for my suprise when i reboted the system to enter the BIOS the F2 key didn't do the job, nor it appeared on the splash screen on samsung. After googling a lot and under trial/error concept i could enter the BIOS via Shift+Restart.
I did some changes to the BIOS booting set-up and noticed i have 2 Windows Boot Manager, the CD, the HDD and one option called "SETUP" that has a "!" ("!3.Setup"). So i tried every combination posible with Secure boot unabled, and UEFI+CSM OS, also with UEFI disabled, and none gave me the option to enter bios with F2, or recovery with F4. I managed to install win7 on another HDD. Main thing, besides the F2, F4, F8, F9, F12 (yes i prove all of them, even ESC), is that whenever i change the boot order it's not saved, and it is restablished to:
1. Windows Boot Manager
2. Windows Boot Manager
3. Setup
4. HDD
5. CD
Also i noticed that on the password options the one for the HDD appears grayed and as "FROZEN". I entered user and supervisor password, neither cleared the HDD one. i want to keep the BIOS update as a last resort. clearly it's not hdd related as the same thing happened when i tried another hdd with win7).
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Feb 18, 2013
I purchased a new laptop with windows 8 and used the options in windows 8 to create recovery media and chose the usb drive option. I was wondering if I would be able to copy the files in the usb drive onto my external HD; then if I ever need them I could put them back onto a usb drive and reinstall windows 8. I took a screenshot of the files on the usb drive.
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Jan 13, 2014
I used to use Windows Easy Transfer to backup my settings and files before reinstalling/reimaging...etc - now that doesn't exist, and File History really doesn't cut it when it comes to apps and settings.
A system image really won't work either, as I need to reinstall windows 8.1 on a new system with different partitioning...etc.
Are there any Windows 8.1 native tools that will do it? If not, are there any freeware apps that perform the equivalent?
I have checked out Paragon Backup and Recovery (more all-or-nothing) and D7 (freeware version doesn't have automated restore - but it does create registry dumps...hmmm) but neither seems to work as simply/well as WET used to.
I have tried just saving the User profile folder, but unfortunately, that doesn't save anything that's in the registry (outlook profiles, app settings...etc).
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Jul 24, 2014
Yesterday, after many, many problems with my computer, I finally decided to reinstall Windows 8.1 Pro onto my ASUS X200CA netbook. However, after backing up and reinstalling the OS, I found that when I tried to disable "Launch CSM" in my BIOS, all of my boot options would disappear and my laptop would continually boot into my BIOS. When I re-enabled "Launch CSM", the boot options would reappear - however, it had not included the "Option #1 - Windows Boot Manager" that I had seen in my other installation.
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Nov 14, 2013
I just bought a new Gateway laptop that's come pre-installed with Windows 8.
I've just gone through the initial setup and before I use it, need to make the initial Windows 8 and system backup incase I need to restore the system should something go wrong.
I want to do this BEFORE anything (I've not even installed any anti-virus yet)...
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Jun 28, 2013
How to Backup Windows 8.1 ? I can not find the option to repair disc and system image .
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Jul 3, 2014
Yesterday, I clean-installed Windows 8 Pro x86 on an old Dell Vostro 1400 laptop which had been running Windows 7 Ultimate, and it activated and ran fine, without even a single exclamation point in Device Manager. I applied the update necessary to make the Store offer 8.1 and proceeded to install it as I've done on a couple other machines. After downloading the thing, it errored out with:
Couldn't install Windows 8.1
Contact your PC manufacturer to see if you can upgrade the System BIOS
When I clicked the OK button, it then gave me the informative and grammar-challenged error box:
Something happened and the Windows 8.1 couldn't be installed. Please try again. Error code: 0xc1900104
Try again Cancel
Ever the optimist, I clicked Try again, and of course, it proceeded to download all over again from scratch, only to error out in the same way. I then downloaded all the Windows 8 updates, although just the one had been necessary on my other machines that successfully upgraded to 8.1, and tried again, only to get the same result.
Today, I've discovered the Windows 8.1 Compatibility Assistant, which avoids the lengthy download of the upgrade every time (Microsoft, maybe you should run it implicitly before downloading 3 GB of transient data), and it tells me:
This PC doesn't meet system requirements
Contact your PC manufacturer to see if you can upgrade the System BIOS
Obviously, no BIOS updates are available, and what exactly is the problem here with my BIOS. The obvious googling turned up nothing except some people with Sony Vaios that had the same problem, which was corrected with a BIOS update, and of course, there is no information on what their BIOS update does to make the 8.1 upgrade possible.
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Sep 15, 2014
I have my Windows 8.1 setup so the display turns off in 1 minute.
I have the power options setup so that the power switch shuts the system down.
But it doesn't. If the screen is off and I press the power switch on my PC the screen comes back on. I then need to press the power switch a second time for the computer to power down.
Is there anyway to configure Windows 8.1 so that the power switch does not turn the display back on, but just immediately shuts the system down?
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Sep 11, 2013
I have a new Windows 8 laptop and have acquired Windows 8.1 RTM. The install, unlike the Windows 8 install, prompts me for a key. When I installed Windows 8, the installer simply picked up the key stored in the BIOS, as there was no prompt.
Now, however, in 8.1, there is a prompt, and of course I have no way of obtaining the actual key in the BIOS. Is there a way to either force it to pick the key somehow, or is the true way to read the encrypted key in the BIOS so as to enter that at the prompt?
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