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How to perform a clean installation of window 8.1?
Hello,
I'm using an Alienware X51 R2 with the follwing specs (if this matters):
Intel i5 4440U 3.3GHz
AMD R9 270 2GB
8GB RAM
1TB HDD
Basically, my alienware ran into a lot of crashes lately before I did my clean installation of window 8.1 via USB. I thought it will run faster and smoother after I did that, but here are a few problems:
1. Secure Boot always results in "No Boot Drives Found error" as soon as I turn the computer on. So I have to turn Secure Boot off.
2. Application Opening time is still as slow as before the clean installation (i.e Chrome)
So, is there a step-by-step procedure on how to properly perform a clean installation of window 8.1? I want this PC to be the same as the beginning when I first bought it.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Tin
Natakuc41
86 Posts
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April 13th, 2015 17:00
You need to prepare installation media that is in the FAT32 format has the GPT partition scheme and have the UEFI BIOS settings on with secureboot. See here for details:
http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/download-microsoft-windows-and-office/download-microsoft-windows/download-windows-8-1-retail-and-oem-iso/
You may want to perform additional steps to clean your drive before Windows installation:
http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/cleaning-up-a-drive-format-vs-secure-wipe-ssd-and-hdd/
For full detailed instructions see here:
http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/a-clean-install-of-windows/a-clean-install-of-windows-8-1/
Note you may want to consider running full F12 preboot diagnostics to check the hardwares okay:
http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/f12-preboot-diagnostics/
If you want to speed up your system get rid of the mechanical HDD and replace it with a SSD for instance the 250-500 GB Crucial MX200:
http://uk.crucial.com/gbr/en/compatible-upgrade-for/Alienware/x51-r2
DELL-Milena M
Moderator
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2.7K Posts
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April 13th, 2015 15:00
Sure here it’s a video that might help you with the installation, as well I will recommend you to perform a PSA diagnostic just to make sure the hard drive is in good conditions.
pointbob
4 Posts
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June 10th, 2016 13:00
I upgraded to windows 10 and the option to revert back to previous 8.1 is NOT AVAILABLE, it's missing.
When i try alien respawn - i cannot access the 8.1 recovery since respawn fails to work properly in windows 10.
now when i try to use f12 to rebooot from a usb - i do not get that option. Only option is to boot from the 2 harddrives i have - both are gpt. Now when i change bios to legacy and the boot menu sees my usb stick i cannot get windows 8.1 to install because there is error message saying windows wont install on gpt drives only mbr.
***!!! HELP.....
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
8 Wizard
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17K Posts
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June 10th, 2016 14:00
1. Right. I saw the same. You use the built-in Microsoft Imaging tools or something like Macrium Reflect.
2. Try UEFI and SecureBoot on for Win-8.1 . Not sure why it cares if it's GPT or MBR. Why do you care if boot drive is MBR or not?
You don't mention what machine you have or why you are removing Win-10 ... but I suggest clean install of Win-10/64bit to blank drive (no partitions). UEFI and SecureBoot on. F12 boot from win10.ISO burnt on flash-drive.
pointbob
4 Posts
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June 10th, 2016 16:00
First off great name - Tesla!
I have an x51 r2 desktop.
1. I dont want to back up anything so not sure why i should use imaging tools or macrium....there is nothing on my desktop i care about.
"Try UEFI and SecureBoot on for Win-8.1" ...i cannot access that using f12 key....it only shows the 2 internal drives.
2. I dont care if boot drive is mbr or gpt either - but bios / boot wont recognize any usb ports while in uefi mode. I have to switch to legacy bios mode to get the bootup too see the usb bootdisk. But! when i run the windows install (usb stick) in legacy mode the windows install page refuses to install on any of my 2 drives because dell madem them gpt. The windows installer will only install on a mbr drive.
And its pretty maddening that alien respawn will recognize the 8.1 os backup in the hidden partition in windows 10 and when i select that to re-install all that happens is it boots into windows 10...
pointbob
4 Posts
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June 10th, 2016 19:00
Why did Dell make this so complicated? Looks like my problem is a common idiotic decision to non confirm to standards by Dell. Why do I even need UEFI? Let me reformat the disk as MBR and make life easier.
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
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17K Posts
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June 10th, 2016 20:00
Hmm, that should work. You must have left some partitions on the drive.
http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/updating-the-bios/