Reinstall Windows 8 or 8.1

[paolobonja]

Hi Guys,

i am having some troubles, i never did it before, installing windows.

The way i tried to do it is:

1- Backed up all my files
2- Installed an iso file for windows 8.1 on an external hard drive
3- Changed the BIOS in order for my pc to boot from the external hard drive

The problem i have is that when i boot/turn on my PC it is not booting from the external hard drive (as if the pc don't read the iso file) and the pc starts normally...

Could you please let me know what my mistake is? How can i do to be able to reinstall windows?

Thanks a lot,

Paolo

 

[Jaxem]

.iso files aren't read natively by your machine, they can be read by software that runs a virtual drive, or they can be burned to a cd/dvd. You can use a bit of software to convert the iso to a bootable usb drive, or some other software to burn it to a dvd...either of which you should be able to boot from. But you'll never get a computer to boot from an iso on a drive.

USB option:
http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/html/pbPage.Help_Win7_usbdvd_dwnTool (works for 7 and 8)

DVD option:
http://www.astroburn.com/products/abLite

 

[paolobonja]

My specs are: Acer Intel(R) Atom(TM) CPU N270 @1.60GHZ. Memory
1GO RAM
32 bits
processor x86

 

[paolobonja]

Jaxem,

i downloaded the Windows seven tool but now this tool can't read my external hard drive. Does it only work with usb? Doesn't an external drive act like one?

Thanks

 

[paolobonja]

Thanks a lot Jaxem for your quick Answer.

Paolo

 

[Jaxem]

Thanks a lot Jaxem for your quick Answer.

Paolo

Glad to be of assistance

 

[danny2000]

You won't get Windows to boot from a USB drive unless you do some hacks. I'm pretty sure that it won't even let you install it to that drive.

If you had Windows 8 Enterprise or Windows 8.1 Enterprise versions, you could with the Windows To Go function tool.

 

[Jaxem]

You won't get Windows to boot from a USB drive unless you do some hacks. I'm pretty sure that it won't even let you install it to that drive.

If you had Windows 8 Enterprise or Windows 8.1 Enterprise versions, you could with the Windows To Go function tool.

The microsoft USB tools is hardly a "hack", and i don't think he's trying to install to a usb drive...just from a usb drive

 

[danny2000]

You won't get Windows to boot from a USB drive unless you do some hacks. I'm pretty sure that it won't even let you install it to that drive.

If you had Windows 8 Enterprise or Windows 8.1 Enterprise versions, you could with the Windows To Go function tool.

The microsoft USB tools is hardly a "hack", and i don't think he's trying to install to a usb drive...just from a usb drive

Actually, I was referring to two different things, that is why there were two paragraphs in my reply.

A. There are hacks to supposidly get it to work to install onto a USB drive.
B. Microsoft's Windows To Go is an option to install or use from A USB drive.

It sounded to me as if he was trying to install Windows to an External USB drive; At the least, it was unclear.

 

[paolobonja]

Danny2000 maybe I was unclear but Jaxem is Right I am trying to install from an external hard drive. Later I will try to install from a usb or cd.

 

[Jaxem]

Honestly, the DVD option is probably the easiest, and then you also have spare boot media that can be used for recovery and repair later. I'd do that as it's much easier and pretty much all computers support it...assuming you have a dvd drive.

 

[paolobonja]

JAXEM I AM REALLY MISSING SOMETHING. I HAVE AN OLD ACER ASPIRE ONE http://www.amazon.com/Acer-AOD257-1633-10-1-Inch-Netbook-Espresso/product-reviews/B005J2DNHG

THAT DOESNT HAVE A CD READER BUILT IN. SO I BOUGHT AN EXTERNAL CD/DVD READER AND I AM N0W TRYING TO BOOT THE ACER FROM THAT EXTERNAL DVD. I CHANGED THE BOOT FROM THE BIOS.

WHEN I TURN ON MY ACER NOW, IT IS JUST NOT BOOTING FROM THE DVD IT IS TURNING ON NORMAL.

AM I MISSING SOMETHING?

SORRY TO ASK MANY QUESTIONS BUT I NEVER DID THAT BEFORE. MAYBE THE WINDOWS 8.1 ISO FILE THAT I BURNT INTO MY DVD ISN4T GOOD?

THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP,

PAOLO

 

[Jaxem]

JAXEM I AM REALLY MISSING SOMETHING. I HAVE AN OLD ACER ASPIRE ONE http://www.amazon.com/Acer-AOD257-1633-10-1-Inch-Netbook-Espresso/product-reviews/B005J2DNHG

THAT DOESNT HAVE A CD READER BUILT IN. SO I BOUGHT AN EXTERNAL CD/DVD READER AND I AM N0W TRYING TO BOOT THE ACER FROM THAT EXTERNAL DVD. I CHANGED THE BOOT FROM THE BIOS.

WHEN I TURN ON MY ACER NOW, IT IS JUST NOT BOOTING FROM THE DVD IT IS TURNING ON NORMAL.

AM I MISSING SOMETHING?

SORRY TO ASK MANY QUESTIONS BUT I NEVER DID THAT BEFORE. MAYBE THE WINDOWS 8.1 ISO FILE THAT I BURNT INTO MY DVD ISN4T GOOD?

THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP,

PAOLO

Where exactly did you get the ISO?