Restoring Windows 8 involves following specific steps to reinstall or repair the operating system.
Restoring Windows 8 involves following specific steps to reinstall or repair the operating system.
I built the computer about five years ago and started with Windows 7 Pro (64-bit). I upgraded to Windows 8 at launch, then later updated to Windows 8.1. I didn’t purchase a Windows 8 installation media but upgraded online. I have a recovery USB but only the original Windows 7 Pro disk, not a disk for Windows 8.1. Recently my hard drive stopped working (the Seagate Barracuda failed). I installed WD Blue and reinstalled Windows 7 Pro. Anyone know how to get back to Windows 8.1? The recovery USB only boots the version it’s set to, not the desired one. Any suggestions? Should I keep them using Windows 7? Thanks, John
I promise someone will insist on keeping Windows 7—it’s better. However, I don’t agree; you could simply use what you paid for, provided you follow my advice here. If you got a specific upgrade code, use it. Otherwise, reach out to Microsoft.
Just to clarify what I’m about to say, you probably don’t need to switch to Windows 8 unless you really require it (coming from someone who enjoys Windows 8.1 over 7). Since it’s running 7, it should qualify for a free upgrade to Windows 10 according to Microsoft. If you’d rather stick with 8.1 and wish to upgrade, here’s what you need to know. Do you still possess your upgrade key for Windows 8? This code is essential for the transition. If you have it, this guide from Microsoft will show you step-by-step how to proceed. The article is available at http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windo...7-tutorial. The instructions reference 8.1, but your Windows 8 product key should function without problems so far. I’ve tested using 8.1 with Windows 8 product keys and found no issues yet. If you lack the code, do you still have the original installation drive and can you boot from it? There are tools out there that can extract product keys from older installations, though results aren’t always consistent. Cheers!
Thanks to obsidian1200 and zlolslavez for their assistance. The disk is packed tighter than before, especially after I tried freezing it to test if it would help (it didn’t). I found the receipt in my old emails that contains the upgrade key. I was really frustrated with Microsoft when I installed Windows 8.0—it felt almost unusable. Before that, I enjoyed their products right back to MSDOS. Now I still feel let down by them for charging me NZ50 for a downgrade. Windows 8.1 is much better than 8.0 and doesn’t need Stardock. I plan to install it again since we’re used to its quirks, and I’m happy I paid for it. Appreciate your support!