- Mar 2, 2015
- 7
- 0
- 4,510
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
The important part is that this is the same system they had before. The only thing wrong with it is plagued with viruses. The same motherboard is still attached to their OEM key of windows and the same drive is also working properly. What they want is also a fine tuning and optimized performance. I was thinking of doing a clean and stripped down re-install of their Windows 8.1 but without all the bloatware and then fine tuning it from their. They requested it to be done this way if possible.
Since their OEM recovery partition is separate from their C Partition, I was thinking I could format the C drive and re-install a retail ISO version of Windows 8.1. because it comes very basic. Then apply their Windows ID (Not to be confused with the OEM key) associated with the original windows pre-installed OEM version.
A few details about the system and partition structure. This laptop is a touchscreen.
There are 4 separate partitions to this system. Which I have never seen, but Windows 8 is not something I'm most familiar with. Below 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 just by it's size.
The D:/ Lenovo drive holds all the OEM Lenovo applications and drivers for the system. I also know one of the partitions holds the one touch recovery software. I can't remember what the other two hold 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 the question:
1: Can I format the C:/ partition using D-ban and format it. Then afterwards install a new windows 8.1 using my usb ISO and use their windows software ID to make it genuine if there are still OEM partitions still intact?
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?
3: If I do that, will those OEM partitions still be unharmed and will the recovery image still be able to be used as a recovery option should they ever need it to restore it back to factory default?
4: Will the drivers still be accessible to update the system to match the configuration it needs to function correctly and will the applications still be available to install should they want to? Or would I need to hunt them down which isn't an issue but obviously this would save me the heart ache?
5: Will doing it this way create driver and system conflicts?
6: Also, I was thinking of making a temp partition to back up their files as if it were an external drive because the drive is in good condition so in this instance it seems safe? Or will formatting the root drive effect the functionality of all the other partitions and their reference structure to the old registry vs the new one? Plus because even though they are isolated drives, the partitions are still technically all sharing the same drive?
Can anyone help me make the right choice. Will this work?
Best regards
LB
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
The important part is that this is the same system they had before. The only thing wrong with it is plagued with viruses. The same motherboard is still attached to their OEM key of windows and the same drive is also working properly. What they want is also a fine tuning and optimized performance. I was thinking of doing a clean and stripped down re-install of their Windows 8.1 but without all the bloatware and then fine tuning it from their. They requested it to be done this way if possible.
Since their OEM recovery partition is separate from their C Partition, I was thinking I could format the C drive and re-install a retail ISO version of Windows 8.1. because it comes very basic. Then apply their Windows ID (Not to be confused with the OEM key) associated with the original windows pre-installed OEM version.
A few details about the system and partition structure. This laptop is a touchscreen.
There are 4 separate partitions to this system. Which I have never seen, but Windows 8 is not something I'm most familiar with. Below 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 just by it's size.
The D:/ Lenovo drive holds all the OEM Lenovo applications and drivers for the system. I also know one of the partitions holds the one touch recovery software. I can't remember what the other two hold 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 the question:
1: Can I format the C:/ partition using D-ban and format it. Then afterwards install a new windows 8.1 using my usb ISO and use their windows software ID to make it genuine if there are still OEM partitions still intact?
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?
3: If I do that, will those OEM partitions still be unharmed and will the recovery image still be able to be used as a recovery option should they ever need it to restore it back to factory default?
4: Will the drivers still be accessible to update the system to match the configuration it needs to function correctly and will the applications still be available to install should they want to? Or would I need to hunt them down which isn't an issue but obviously this would save me the heart ache?
5: Will doing it this way create driver and system conflicts?
6: Also, I was thinking of making a temp partition to back up their files as if it were an external drive because the drive is in good condition so in this instance it seems safe? Or will formatting the root drive effect the functionality of all the other partitions and their reference structure to the old registry vs the new one? Plus because even though they are isolated drives, the partitions are still technically all sharing the same drive?
Can anyone help me make the right choice. Will this work?
Best regards
LB
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram