Software from Microsoft is the most widely distributed in our country. So it will be difficult to find someone who has not heard about Microsoft and the Windows operating system. Many people know that recently Microsoft has officially stopped supporting the Windows XP operating system (hereinafter referred to as the OS), so now for PC users there are two main options for a quality Microsoft OS: Windows 7 and Windows 8 (8.1) . There is also Vista OS, but it is considered less successful, although with careful work it does an excellent job.
What the article talks about
This article is intended to help users figure out how to reinstall Windows 8 on a laptop, since this version of the OS is the latest development from Microsoft and many people want to try it out. installing systems on a laptop. Both systems work well both on desktop PCs and laptops. But it’s about the subtleties of reinstalling on laptops, as they are now gaining great popularity and distribution. If for any you do not like Windows 8 gb reasons, and you want to replace it, the article also describes how to reset the "windose 8" to "windose 7" on a laptop.
About Windows 7
Windows 7 was released in 2009 and is currently the most used system. According to research, 55% of all operating systems installed on PCs and laptops are exactly the seventh Windows. Each new version of the OS from Microsoft is distinguished by minor innovations and improvements, but in general the interface design remains recognizable. Compared to Vista, application compatibility and support issues have been fixed. It is worth noting that this version of the OS has six editions for different application specifics:
- Starter or Starter, which is usually preloaded on netbooks.
- Home Basic or Home Basic.
- Home Advanced or Home Premium.
- Professional or Professional.
- Corporate or Enterprise, which is acquired by large corporate customers.
- Maximum or Ultimate.
All editions, except for Starter, are developed in 32-bit and 64-bit versions. For the 32-bit version, the RAM limit is limited to 4 GB, and the 64-bit version supports up to 192 GB of RAM. This system is equally suitable for all computers and laptops.
About Windows 8
Windows 8 and its Windows 8.1 update are a relatively young version of the OS from Microsoft. It was released in 2012 and in terms of distribution is about 12% of all operating systems used. The main innovation of the system is the Metro interface: it appears immediately after the system starts up and looks like a set of various tiles with applications, folders or files. Metro can act as a desktop, but there is also an icon leading to the classic desktop. This OS is designed for touch control, so it is better to install Windows 8 on a laptop or computer with a touch screen, but normal use of the OS is not ruled out.
Among the new products also attract attention:
- Microsoft account and the ability to synchronize settings.
- Windows Store app store.
- The ability to roll back the system: restore and reset.
- Many other updates and new features.
Windows 8 also has editions, there are four of them:
- Windows 8 (Core).
- Professional or Windows 8 Pro.
- Enterprise or Windows 8 Enterprise.
- Windows 8 RT.
Windows 8 faced criticism of the new management method, but many quickly got used to the changed interface. It is very convenient thanks to an expanded range of features, but not everyone can easily retrain. Therefore, the system has both fans and opponents. But you need to make an opinion about her personally. So it's time to figure out how to reinstall Windows 8 on a laptop.
How to put Windows 8 on a clean computer?
The easiest way to install the system is to install it on a computer with clean memory. In this case, you just need to purchase a licensed disk with a key. And if the laptop does not have a drive, then you will need to additionally create a bootable flash drive with the system image. There are many programs for this, for example, WinSetupFromUSB and others. When the media with the system appears in your hands, you need to attach it to the laptop and start your machine. Downloading Windows 8 on a laptop will start automatically. During the installation process, you will need to select the necessary parameters, enter the license key and indicate the disk partition on which the system will be loaded. The hard disk during the installation process will need to be formatted and divided into several sections - the future Disk C and Disk D. For disk C, it is enough to allocate 80 GB and place the OS there. The remaining amount of memory you can optionally leave as one partition or split into several. This may be necessary if you want to install another system on the same laptop. After selecting a disk, the direct system installation begins. Immediately after this, the computer offers to personalize, log in to the Microsoft account, if any, or create it and configure it. When the Metro start screen appears, you're done - Windows 8 is installed. If you do not know how to create bootable flash drives, general information on this issue will be provided below.
How to replace another system with Windows 8?
We will figure out how to reinstall Windows 8 on a laptop, if there is already another system there. First you need to go to the official Microsoft website and register either in your account. There you should check to see if upgrading the current system to Windows 8 is provided for on your laptop model. Then you can purchase it directly on the site and run the downloaded file. If such an update is not available, then you will have to use a different method. Before performing all operations, it is important to save all the necessary data, since there is a possibility that the hard drive will have to be completely erased. When you transfer all the necessary information to an external medium (for example, an external hard drive or flash drive), you can turn off the laptop and connect the storage medium with the system to it. Reinstalling Windows 8 on a laptop will be no more difficult than a clean installation. During the download process, after choosing the language and indicating your country of residence, you will again find yourself in the settings window for the hard disk partitions (hereinafter also referred to as hard). If you don’t need the old system, you can safely select the C drive and format it, and then load the new system there. If you want to keep your old system, you will have to work with the remaining space on the hard. All information that is not related to the system is usually located on disk D, and it is he who occupies all the hard memory, except for the partition with the system.
What to do with partitions on the hard drive?
To install the second system, you need to format drive D. For this, all the necessary data was saved. And also divide it into another disk for the 80 GB system and the remaining space for an empty disk. We select the disk allocated for the system, and reinstallation of “Windows 8” continues. The subsequent steps will be similar to the usual Windows installation and will not take much time. If you set Windows 8 as the second system, then when you start the laptop a short period of time will be allocated to use the arrows to select the desired system, otherwise the version that will be the first in the list will load.
How to reinstall Windows 8 on a laptop if the system was preinstalled?
It happens that you bought a laptop with Windows 8 preinstalled, but for some reason deleted it, or it was damaged, or the hard drive itself was damaged. In any case, if system recovery is no longer possible, but you do not want to buy a new license when the old one is paid, there is a way out. The specifics is that new laptops now sell without a license key for the system, before it was glued to the back of the computer, now there is only a sticker with the name Windows 8. The key itself is wired into BIOS and activates the system automatically. Installing any downloaded Windows 8 image from the Internet is not an option. The system is not activated. To solve this problem, you need to know exactly which version of Windows was preinstalled. Most often it is Windows 8 Core Single Language. There is also Core Country Specific, but with us it is less common.
How to reinstall Windows 8 on a laptop if you don’t know exactly which system was originally installed? Download both original images, create a bootable flash drive with them, and take turns trying to install on your laptop. The "correct" version will interact with the key, install and activate. After all the settings and startup, the system will offer you to download a free upgrade to Windows 8.1 in the "Store". If you want to immediately put Windows 8.1 on your laptop, then the following information is for you.
How to reinstall Windows 8 so that you don’t have to additionally download the update to 8.1?
The apparent complexity of this task is that the key voluntarily activates only the pre-installed version. If you put on your laptop any other version of Windows 8 or 8.1, the key will not work. Finding and installing the first version, and then updating it to version 8.1 takes a lot of time. Then how to reinstall Windows 8 on a laptop while saving time? You need to find version 8.1, but the same edition as your pre-installed system. Again, with us, this will most likely turn out to be Windows 8.1 Single Language. When installing this version, the key will not automatically connect, so you will need to enter it yourself.
Where to get the key to install and activate?
Knowing the license key is not necessary immediately. You can find the installation key on the Internet that will skip loading the system further, but the system will not activate. Then it will already be possible to get the key from the BIOS, for example, using the PKeyUI utility. To do this, you need to download, install and run it by ticking the MSDM field. If this field does not appear after starting the utility, it means that the key in the firmware is either missing or not read. Then you will have to contact a professional. When a key appears in the field below, you need to copy or rewrite it, and then go to the system settings in the control panel and enter the key instead of the one used for installation. If the system is activated, then reinstalling Windows 8 was successful.
How to create a bootable flash drive?
There are many programs designed to record images of operating systems on external media. Most often, flash drives and disks are used for such purposes. It may also be an external hard drive, but it is mainly used by professionals, since they load not one or two systems on such a voluminous medium, but also other useful programs.
So, to create a flash drive with an operating system, you will need:
- Download and install one of the programs that write the OS image to the media.
- A clean, formatted flash drive.
- Required system image with .iso extension.
Usually, all recording parameters are set by default, and you only need to specify the flash drive and the location of the image in the appropriate fields. If you encounter any problems, usually on the site from which you download the program there is a short guide.
Replacing Windows 8 with Windows 7 on a laptop
If you still didn’t like the Windows 8 system, or using Windows 7 turned out to be more convenient, you can replace Windows 8 with Windows 7. If you installed the system yourself, it will be easy to replace it. It is enough to repeat the same steps as when installing Windows 8: buy a licensed disk or create a bootable flash drive with the Windows 7 system, save all the necessary data on a separate medium and start the download. In this case, reinstalling Windows 8 on the laptop will go without problems. If the system was preinstalled, then before loading Windows 7, you will need to remove the Windows 8 system separately. Otherwise, an error and failure may occur during the replacement process.
A few words in the end
Regardless of which system you decide to use constantly, it makes sense to get acquainted with both the seventh and eighth Windows. Moreover, now you know how to reinstall Windows 8 on a laptop in various situations, and are warned of possible difficulties. The better you recognize your computer, the easier and more pleasant it will be to work with it. Well, of course, do not forget about the pleasure of a job well done and pride in having managed on your own.