How to Reinstall Windows 8/8.1

[harryfishrules]

Do you have any important files on your PC? If so then back them up (if possible) to another drive/online before you go any further.

1. Enter the BIOS utility and go to 'save and exit' (may be called something similar on your BIOS)
2. Select 'Load Default Setups'
3. Restart your PC and turn it off again
4. Create a bootable USB using the guide here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-8/create-res...
5. Put the USB into a free USB port and unplug everything except the power cord
6. Enter the BIOS
7. Find 'Boot Order' or 'Boot Priorities'
8. Select the USB drive as the first boot device
9. Save and exit the changes from within the BIOS
10. Restart the PC
11. It should boot into the Windows 8.1 installer
12. Follow the installer
13. When asked about what drive to install Windows onto, delete all partitions and only leave one (it won't let you delete this)
14. Select the one partition left and continue, it'll create the partitions that it needs
15. Finish the installation of Windows
16. Reboot and enter the BIOS
17. Go back to 'Boot Order' or 'Boot Priorities'
18. Set your HDD as the first boot device
19. Save and exit the changes from within the BIOS
20. Restart the PC
21. It should boot into Windows 8.1 and finish the installation
22. Complete the setup (creating user accounts, connecting to the internet, etc.)
23. Once the install is completed, open Windows Update and install all (including optional) updates
24. If prompted to, restart when asked