This was originally posted in the wrong area so I had the admin remove it so I could move it here to storage instead Sorry if you had read this already There is no double thread now, this is the only one
I have done a great deal of research to find the answer to my particular situation with no luck. So I decided to ask it here to the community before proceeding. This is my first post here, hello to you all and thank you in advance for your input.
I also apologize for the lengthy posting but the details are important and I am hoping this will be a topic that can help others.
Before I begin, I should mention , I do know the difference between an OEM version, upgraded version, and retail version. I also understand each of their advantages and limitations regarding Microsoft licencing .
Here is what I am working on. I am fixing a computer for a friend and they are requesting a clean install of windows 8.1 on the primary C: drive but not from their recovery option
Note: This is the same system they had before. The only thing wrong with it is plagued with viruses. Their OEM key associated to the motherboard is still embedded because the system is still the same original parts from the factory.
What they really want is a fine tuning and optimized performance after the new install. I was thinking of doing a clean install of the retail Windows 8.1 version it has none of the bloatware associated with the OEM version. Then continuing to fine tune it from their. They requested it to be done this way if possible.
Since their OEM recovery partitions are separate from their C Partition, I was thinking I could format Primary C:/ and then install the retail ISO version of Windows 8.1. After that I would apply either their Windows product ID or their OEM key . I have both so whichever would be better.
A few details about the system and partition structure. This laptop is a touchscreen too.I
There are 4 separate partitions to this system. Which I have never seen, but I'm also not very familiar with Windows 8.
They are listed as I see it in storage management from Left to right:
I am assuming the 14.9 GB is the actual recovery image itself just by it's size.
The D:/ Lenovo drive holds all the OEM Lenovo applications and drivers for the system and this partition can be explored. I also know one of the partitions holds the one touch recovery software. I think this partition was only made to isolate the installation from the install exe found on the D:/ drive.
The EFI partition holds the EFI firmware boot structure. I can't remember what the other last non-labeled partition holds off hand. I would need to boot back into Linux to look again. I do believe all but the D:/ drive have boot folders..
Here are my questions:
1: If I format the C:/ partition using D-ban. Then afterwards install a new windows 8.1 using my usb ISO, should I use the Windows product ID or the OEM CD key to make it genuine? Or would the key not work because there would still be 5 other partition referencing the OEM version? Also would Windows installer view it as if I were trying to install two different operating systems on the same drive or not except the key because it thinks it resides on another product?
2: More importantly (and as I understand it) I should be able to format the OS C:/ without deleting any of the other partition and leaving them intact. Is that correct or would the format wipe all partitions clean?
3: If I do that, will those OEM partitions still work correctly and still have the recovery option and factory image still available should they ever need it to restore it back to factory default?
4: Will doing it this way create driver and system conflicts?
If I could I would just make a 5 separate cloned images of those portions but I don't have enough storage space at the moment for that option.
5: If the 14.9 GB (Recovery Partition)( {NOT LABELED) does in fact hold the actual cloned image, is it possible the image contains the 6 partitions structure or only the OS image from C:/ ? I ask because if it does have the entire partition structure, I do have the space to clone it.
Can anyone help me make the right choice. Will this work?
Thanks
I have done a great deal of research to find the answer to my particular situation with no luck. So I decided to ask it here to the community before proceeding. This is my first post here, hello to you all and thank you in advance for your input.
I also apologize for the lengthy posting but the details are important and I am hoping this will be a topic that can help others.
Before I begin, I should mention , I do know the difference between an OEM version, upgraded version, and retail version. I also understand each of their advantages and limitations regarding Microsoft licencing .
Here is what I am working on. I am fixing a computer for a friend and they are requesting a clean install of windows 8.1 on the primary C: drive but not from their recovery option
Note: This is the same system they had before. The only thing wrong with it is plagued with viruses. Their OEM key associated to the motherboard is still embedded because the system is still the same original parts from the factory.
What they really want is a fine tuning and optimized performance after the new install. I was thinking of doing a clean install of the retail Windows 8.1 version it has none of the bloatware associated with the OEM version. Then continuing to fine tune it from their. They requested it to be done this way if possible.
Since their OEM recovery partitions are separate from their C Partition, I was thinking I could format Primary C:/ and then install the retail ISO version of Windows 8.1. After that I would apply either their Windows product ID or their OEM key . I have both so whichever would be better.
A few details about the system and partition structure. This laptop is a touchscreen too.I
They have no critical data to recover. It is basically new other than the virus their child put on.. It is his computer. However, I have backed up the D:/ partition (See below).
There are 4 separate partitions to this system. Which I have never seen, but I'm also not very familiar with Windows 8.
They are listed as I see it in storage management from Left to right:
1000 MB Recovery Partition (Not Labeled)
260 MB EFI SYSTEM Partition (Not Labeled )
1000 MB OEM Partition (Not Labeled)
424.24 GB C:/ OS Partition (Primary)
25.00 GB D:/ (Lenovo) (Primary)
14.9 GB (Recovery Partition)( {Not Labeled)
I am assuming the 14.9 GB is the actual recovery image itself just by it's size.
The D:/ Lenovo drive holds all the OEM Lenovo applications and drivers for the system and this partition can be explored. I also know one of the partitions holds the one touch recovery software. I think this partition was only made to isolate the installation from the install exe found on the D:/ drive.
The EFI partition holds the EFI firmware boot structure. I can't remember what the other last non-labeled partition holds off hand. I would need to boot back into Linux to look again. I do believe all but the D:/ drive have boot folders..
Here are my questions:
1: If I format the C:/ partition using D-ban. Then afterwards install a new windows 8.1 using my usb ISO, should I use the Windows product ID or the OEM CD key to make it genuine? Or would the key not work because there would still be 5 other partition referencing the OEM version? Also would Windows installer view it as if I were trying to install two different operating systems on the same drive or not except the key because it thinks it resides on another product?
2: More importantly (and as I understand it) I should be able to format the OS C:/ without deleting any of the other partition and leaving them intact. Is that correct or would the format wipe all partitions clean?
3: If I do that, will those OEM partitions still work correctly and still have the recovery option and factory image still available should they ever need it to restore it back to factory default?
4: Will doing it this way create driver and system conflicts?
If I could I would just make a 5 separate cloned images of those portions but I don't have enough storage space at the moment for that option.
5: If the 14.9 GB (Recovery Partition)( {NOT LABELED) does in fact hold the actual cloned image, is it possible the image contains the 6 partitions structure or only the OS image from C:/ ? I ask because if it does have the entire partition structure, I do have the space to clone it.
Can anyone help me make the right choice. Will this work?
Thanks