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April 26th, 2015 12:00

Windows 8 reset failed, my laptop seems to work but the performance isn't the same and refresh/reset isn't possible anymore

My problem started when I found a trojan (win32/skeeyah.B!plock) in my computer. Both Windows Defender and Malwarebytes detected it and claimed to remove it, but to be sure it was gone (I read online that it's hard to get rid of that one) I decided to perform a reset. I chose the deep reset option, it took about 5 hours to reach 92%, and then I got a message that the reset had failed. It gave me some options, and I chose to repair windows so I could keep using my machine. I had to set it all up again, like windows was really installed again. It seems to be working fine but it's a bit sluggish, and it bothers me that the reset failure might have left some broken files. After testing it for a while, my only problem other than sluggishness was that I couldn't install google chrome ("Clickonce_bootstrap.exe - system error" was the message I got when the installation failed) but it bothered me enough to want to perform a refresh, to fix anything that might have been left broken. When I tried to do this, I got a message asking me if I trusted the source of the files that were attempting to perform changes on my computer, and listed my own hard drive as the source. I chose to trust it, and then I got a message telling me that the files needed to perform the refresh weren't in my computer, so I was prompted to insert the install disks. They didn't come with my laptop (Dell Inspiron), but I saved the installation files into a usb stick before doing the reset (Using Dell Recovery and Back Up), so I inserted the usb, and it told me that these weren't the right files. After that, my only option was "Cancel". Same thing happened for both refresh and reset. Like I said, the computer seems to be functional, but I'm afraid the system might be unstable and crash on me randomly. Is there anything I can do?

9 Legend

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16K Posts

April 27th, 2015 00:00

Do not reinstall Windows 8, it is obsolete. Instead make installation media for Windows 8.1 with Update 1:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/download-microsoft-windows-and-office/download-microsoft-windows/download-windows-8-1-retail-and-oem-iso/ 

The only problem is selecting the correct edition likely Windows 8.1 or Windows 8.1 Single Language.

Use DISKPART → CLEAN ALL:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/cleaning-up-a-drive-format-vs-secure-wipe-ssd-and-hdd/

Then install Windows 8.1 with update 1 directly:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/a-clean-install-of-windows/a-clean-install-of-windows-8-1/windows-8-1-installation/

You can install with a local account, then install the system drivers in the correct order:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/downloading-drivers-checking-hardware-ids-and-downloading-and-installing-dell-system-drivers-in-the-correct-order/driver-installation/

If you need help identifying variants provide hardware IDs:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/downloading-drivers-checking-hardware-ids-and-downloading-and-installing-dell-system-drivers-in-the-correct-order/checking-hardware-ids-in-the-device-manager/

After installation of the drivers you may then install Dell Backup and Recovery the latest version is here:

http://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER02909509M/1/Backup-and-Recovery_Application_64M9D_WN32_1.8.1.71_A00.EXE

This will create a new recovery partition on your system that is Windows 8.1 with Update 1. You may then switch for a Microsoft Account.

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