Desktop PC - Total system restore

[andyfraser]

It's taken me 2 days or more to reinstall Windows thanks to all the updates. I promised myself that if I ever need to install Windows again I'll just install Linux Mint instead. I don't specifically need Windows these days anyway.

 

[mybike]

It's taken me 2 days or more to reinstall Windows thanks to all the updates. I promised myself that if I ever need to install Windows again I'll just install Linux Mint instead. I don't specifically need Windows these days anyway.

You could always run Windows in a virtual machine.

 

[ufkacbln]

Apple...

Updated hard drive, factory reset and restore entire drive including all updates....... 90 minutes

 

[andyfraser]

You could always run Windows in a virtual machine.

I'd still have to install the updates, at least once. With a VM I could always just use a snapshot and keep that up to date.

 

[drummerbod]

Download W7 inc Service Pack1 here...
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-recovery

As previously said... Fresh install inc updates takes 90 minutes (dependant on internet connection).

 

[PeteXXX]

Download W7 inc Service Pack1 here...
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-recovery

As previously said... Fresh install inc updates takes 90 minutes (dependant on internet connection).

That's handy, thanks.

 

[mybike]

Download W7 inc Service Pack1 here...
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-recovery

As previously said... Fresh install inc updates takes 90 minutes (dependant on internet connection).

That is useful, ta!

 

[andyfraser]

Download W7 inc Service Pack1 here...
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-recovery

As previously said... Fresh install inc updates takes 90 minutes (dependant on internet connection).

That's great! I wish there was a Windows 8.1 one that would work with my upgrade. I have to install W7, W7 updates, W8, W8.1, W8.1 updates. Pain in the behind.

 

[marknotgeorge]

That's great! I wish there was a Windows 8.1 one that would work with my upgrade. I have to install W7, W7 updates, W8, W8.1, W8.1 updates. Pain in the behind.

Is this because you have a Windows 8.0 key? You can install 8.1 from scratch using one of the KMS keys (available from Microsoft here), and then use your 8.0 key to activate it. More details on the How-to-Geek website.

 

[andyfraser]

Is this because you have a Windows 8.0 key? You can install 8.1 from scratch using one of the KMS keys (available from Microsoft here), and then use your 8.0 key to activate it. More details on the How-to-Geek website.

That appears to be for enterprise activations. It did link to an article that suggests I could go from Windows 7 to 8.1 without having to upgrade to 8 first.

I'm hoping this all gets much easier with Windows 10.

 

[marknotgeorge]

That appears to be for enterprise activations. It did link to an article that suggests I could go from Windows 7 to 8.1 without having to upgrade to 8 first.

I'm hoping this all gets much easier with Windows 10.

The KMS is the enterprise key system, but you can use the KMS key to install 8.1. For some reason 8.1 won't allow you to use a 8.0 key to install, but you can use it to activate. You can, however, use the default KMS key to install 8.1 from scratch. You then use the 8.0 key to activate Windows.

 

[jamin100]

Do yourself a favour and spend a little cash and buy a SSD drive for the boot drive. You can still use your existing mechanical drive as a data drive for extra space.

120gb SSDs are only around the £50 mark now and your core2duo machine will last quote a few more years to come

 

[andyfraser]

The KMS is the enterprise key system, but you can use the KMS key to install 8.1. For some reason 8.1 won't allow you to use a 8.0 key to install, but you can use it to activate. You can, however, use the default KMS key to install 8.1 from scratch. You then use the 8.0 key to activate Windows.

I might give that a go in a VM this week then. It certainly makes sense. I don't suppose you know if there's an official 8.1 ISO? I haven't been able to find anything. I can create 8 ISOs but not 8.1.

 

[marknotgeorge]

I might give that a go in a VM this week then. It certainly makes sense. I don't suppose you know if there's an official 8.1 ISO? I haven't been able to find anything. I can create 8 ISOs but not 8.1.

As far as I know, there isn't a direct link to an ISO (unless you've got an MSDN subscription), but apparently the Media Creation Tool on this page will do the job.

 

[andyfraser]

As far as I know, there isn't a direct link to an ISO (unless you've got an MSDN subscription), but apparently the Media Creation Tool on this page will do the job.

You are awesome!