Windows 10: How to backup and clean install? Specific situation

Discus and support How to backup and clean install? Specific situation in Windows 10 Installation and Upgrade to solve the problem; Hey, guys, so I need your help. I have an ASUS laptop with pre-installed Windows 8 Home(UEFI). I've additionaly installed Ubuntu alongside. After a... Discussion in 'Windows 10 Installation and Upgrade' started by Lorantique, Oct 3, 2015.

  1. How to backup and clean install? Specific situation


    Hey, guys, so I need your help.
    I have an ASUS laptop with pre-installed Windows 8 Home(UEFI). I've additionaly installed Ubuntu alongside. After a while, I wanted to uninstall the Ubuntu and install another distribution but I wasn't sure how to do that, and the guides online just made it worse, as I formatted the Linux partitions but couldn't uninstall GRUB. So, now my HDD looks like in the attachment.
    I have the possibility to upgrade through Dreamspark to Windows 8.1 or to Windows 10, but would like to have a clean install.
    So, my questions are:
    1. Should I get Windows 10 EDU or Windows 8.1 Pro? I'm not sure W10 is ready, and having the 8.1 will give me the possibility to upgrade later.
    2. What do I need to backup and how do I do it? I don't really have an external HDD, so I can't backup all my data on the D:\ partition. How do I backup my current W activation key? Will I need the restore partition? What about the recovery? Ideally, I would like to have a clean install, formatting everything, except D:\.
    3. What is the correct way of uninstalling Linux?
    What do you think? And sorry about the mess on the HDD.

    :)
     
    Lorantique, Oct 3, 2015
    #1

  2. Unusual Situation - Datarecovery / Contact Location

    So the question is: How did you do the backup?



    Did you use a backup software? Did you just copy the PIM.VOL from your device?



    If it was a backup program, you would have to do a restore from backup.
     
    Jack Cook - aka Help_Line, Oct 3, 2015
    #2
  3. How to backup a Text Messages and how to retrive from cloud/sd card?

    Hi,



    you cannot actually store your text messages on SD card. It automatically backed up on server.



    to backup your text messages goto Settings -> backup and take a backup of text messages.

    after resetting or in any other situation your messages will be restored automatically.
     
    Akshay Shinde, Oct 3, 2015
    #3
  4. How to backup and clean install? Specific situation

    You can download Windows 8.1 install media here, http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/w...-refresh-media that will use your embedded 8.0 key. Verified it myself on my ASUS laptop that came with 8.0 Core. That will let you skip the 8.0 to 8.1 upgrade. I just backed up my user folders, Documents, Pictures etc to an external hard drive. Then I wiped all the factory partitions and did a clean install. If you boot from the install media and select custom install, you will have the option to delete any partitions you want, and create new ones. I've done it that way just leaving my Data partition. I then install Windows to the free space at the front of the drive. It then creates all the partitions it needs automatically.
    http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials...ad-create.html
    http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials...e-windows.html
    http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials...ndows-8-a.html
    http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials...ndows-8-a.html
     
    alphanumeric, Oct 3, 2015
    #4
  5. I'm currently running Windows 10 Enterprise on that same laptop. No issues with hardware etc. If you do the free upgrade from 8.1 Core your going to get 10 Home, just so you know. Once you do the upgrade and activate Windows 10, a hardware ID is stored on the activation server. You then have a Digital Entitlement for Windows 10 on that PC. When you do a clean install you just click skip when asked for a key. Then once the hardware ID is checked and verified it activates. I'm running Windows 10 Education on my desktop PC. I have an MSDN subscription so why not. It has some features Pro doesn't, namely Windows To Go. It has more features than Pro but not as many as Enterprise. IMHO if you have the option, I'd pick Education over Pro.
    https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/Wind...siness/Compare
     
    alphanumeric, Oct 3, 2015
    #5
  6. NavyLCDR New Member
    You can get Windows 8.1 for free - and the upgrade to Windows 10 Home from that for free. I would use the Dreamspark account for Windows 10 EDU which has all the features of Pro and more.

    Looking at your disk layout, if D: drive is all you want to save, I would use MiniTool Partition Wizard to erase everything after the D: drive partition, move the D: drive partition into the free space at the end of the disk. At that point, your computer should still boot into the old OS.

    Boot from whatever Windows install media you make, either the 8.1 or Windows 10 EDU, select custom install, delete all the partitions on the hard drive except for the D: drive which you moved to the end, and let Windows install to the big, empty unallocated space and let Windows install create the partitions it needs.

    If you want to see your existing Windows 8 key (which should be stored in bios and will not get erased with the hard drive), you can run showkey plus from this forum.

    In my opinion, 99% media hype. But if it concerns you then don't install Windows 10.
     
    NavyLCDR, Oct 3, 2015
    #6
  7. What about the microsoft "spying" thing?

    And I only have access to the German version of the OS. The language packs also don't include English. Would there be a possibility to install for free a language pack in the OS?
     
    Lorantique, Oct 3, 2015
    #7
  8. How to backup and clean install? Specific situation

    I won't be needing the restore partition?
     
    Lorantique, Oct 3, 2015
    #8
  9. alphanumeric, Oct 3, 2015
    #9
  10. NavyLCDR New Member
    The restore partition is used for 2 things.

    1. The factory restore partition can be used to restore the computer back to the original factory software state, including all the extra crapware they put on. If you never want that back and are satisfied with just plain Windows - than you can delete the factory restore partition.

    2. The restore partition that Windows creates allows you to reset the Windows installation back to a clean state without an external USB or DVD. Creating a Windows installation USB or DVD will also do exactly the same thing, so you don't need the restore partition if you have the installation media.
     
    NavyLCDR, Oct 3, 2015
    #10
  11. NavyLCDR New Member
    Changing languages like that from the language that came installed on the computer will require a new product key or Windows won't activate. For example, computer comes with German Windows 8, he downloads English Windows 8, the English Windows 8 won't be able to use the product key stored in bios because the stored key is for German Windows 8. Product Keys are both language and version specific.
     
    NavyLCDR, Oct 3, 2015
    #11
  12. I wasn't aware they were language specific? First I've heard of that, other than the Single Language version having its own set of keys?
     
    alphanumeric, Oct 3, 2015
    #12
  13. How to backup and clean install? Specific situation

    Thank you very much, you've been very helpful. Do language packs translate absolutely everything?
     
    Lorantique, Oct 3, 2015
    #13
  14. NavyLCDR New Member
    Using product key of english version of Windows7 to install a version - Microsoft Community

    That has carried forward through Windows 8 and 10.

    I have no experience with language packs, can't help you with that. *Zip
     
    NavyLCDR, Oct 3, 2015
    #14
  15. Hmm, I wouldn't exactly call that official confirmation. I can't prove or disprove it myself so I'll take your word for it. If I was in the OP's situation I think I'd try it anyway. You could always start over with the correct language version for that key if it doesn't work with an English ISO.
     
    alphanumeric, Oct 3, 2015
    #15
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How to backup and clean install? Specific situation

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