Updating or fixing problems with Windows 8.1
Updating or fixing problems with Windows 8.1
I apologize for the mix-up. My setup involves Windows 8.1 64-bit, which I originally installed after starting with Windows 7 32-bit. I bought a key from g2a.com, a reputable source, and downloaded a version for 64-bit. After upgrading to Windows 8 via the Microsoft Store, I immediately switched to Windows 8.1 using a bootable drive. I could enter my password during login and open MSConfig to enable Safe Mode, but it would crash after about 30 seconds, forcing me to restart repeatedly.
Voila! (maybe) check out this link: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-CA/windo...resh-media
I own a Windows 8 DVD, so I figured I’d get an 8.1 one to avoid installing and upgrading later if anything went wrong. Unfortunately, it came from a questionable source—probably not the official site, though they did host installation media. I tried burning the ISO to a DVD using winISO, but it didn’t work. I thought the issue was with the downloaded ISO file itself, but someone suggested following their instructions instead. I assumed this would be for a fresh ISO, not the small 1.3 MB version they were promoting. It mentions inserting a DVD or USB drive and clicking a link to create media—probably handled by some automated system. I’m hoping they’re prepared for whatever comes next. Just in case, I might try getting a proper backup later tonight!
I chose UEFI for booting, but the system displayed a low-res startup logo before going black. Using the ISO on a DVD also produced the same issue. Would it be better to restart and pick USB instead of UEFI?
Late and helpful update. I wasn’t able to resolve the problem, so I had to connect my disks to a friend’s machine and reformat them. The SSD and the 3TB HDD worked fine, but when I tried to boot their computer using the same 500GB HDD as before, Windows didn’t operate properly. It would start, display the Windows icon, desktop, and taskbar, but wouldn’t load anything else—like icons. I could still move the cursor, though nothing else functioned. As soon as I powered off and removed the HDD, the computer booted up normally again. Even before sharing this, I tested all possible disk combinations, so I thought something was wrong with any of the drives. Anyone know what might be causing this? Thanks, Chaz