What media did you make with Dell Backup and Recovery; a Rescue Disk (Bootable External Hard Drive), a Factory Backup USB (Bootable USB Flash Drive) or a Factory Backup set of DVDs? What version of Dell Backup and Recovery did you use to make them?

Did you get sent a Windows 8.1 Recovery USB from Dell or a Windows 8.1 Reinstallation DVD?

1. Factory Backup set of DVDs. No idea what version of DBAR. 2. It's a DVD labeled "Windows 8.1 Recovery Media for Windows 8.1 Products 64-bi" Thanks.

If they are both DVDs then neither. Optical Drives and DVDs have issues with the UEFI BIOS and SecureBoot.

The set of DVDs may be burned incorrectly and theres a high chance they won't work. These would restore factory settings including system drivers if they worked.

Windows 8.1 Recovery Media for Windows 8.1 Products 64-bit will be Windows only. System drivers will have to be manually installed after.

In order to accommodate UEFI and SecureBoot I recommend installing with a FAT32 formatted USB flash drive for the GPT partition scheme, see here Edition Windows 8.1:

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

1. Factory Backup set of DVDs. No idea what version of DBAR.

2. It's a DVD labeled "Windows 8.1 Recovery Media for Windows 8.1 Products 64-bi"

Thanks.

Why do I need UEFI and Secure Boot? I could turn Secure Boot off and use the legacy BIOS.

I have the drivers DVD that came with the Recovery Media DVD.

My boot drive has four partitions:

500MB Healthy (EFI System Partition)

49MB Unallocated

758MB Unallocated

110GB C: Healthy (Boot, PAge File, Crash Dump, Primary Partition)

Is one of these the GPT partition?

Yes its installed using the Guid Partition Table.

UEFI allows for GPT otherwise you are stuck with the MBR partition scheme. Theres advantages in the fact that its more robust.

SecureBoot prevents any malware from booting making your system more secure.

As mentioned I recommend using USB media opposed to the DVDs.

What is "installed using the GPT"???

How is it that your solution does not appear on a Dell website?

How often have you seen DVDs made with DB&R fail on a UEFI machine?

How often has Dell's own recovery DVD failed on a Dell UEFI computer?

Anyway, I made a USB without saving the ISO and using Rufus. Is that going to be a problem?

Thanks.

What is "installed using the GPT"???

500MB Healthy (EFI System Partition)

49MB Unallocated

758MB Unallocated

110GB C: Healthy (Boot, PAge File, Crash Dump, Primary Partition)

These are GPT partitions.

How is it that your solution does not appear on a Dell website?

I don't work for Dell but I have advised on my solutions. I also advised a link to the Windows 8.1 Media Creation Tool on every driver and downloads page...

How often has Dell's own recovery DVD failed on a Dell UEFI computer?

Quite often which is why I'm not recommending DVDs at all anymore. I've seen many threads where customers cannot boot from a DVD if SecureBoot is on. You'll also note that feedback went into the latest version of Dell Backup and Recovery to remove DVD media.

Dell didn't remove them but they are now listed as the least recommended option.

With respect to my website that guide on downloading Windows 8.1 now has 188,132 views since the Windows 8.1 Media Creation Tool was released in November. It was testing by a large assortment of users who left me feedback and shaped the guide:

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

I then done my own testing when I bought a new system in January.

Anyway, I made a USB without saving the ISO and using Rufus. Is that going to be a problem?

Possibly, it depends if it is FAT32 formatted or NTFS formatted. If it is FAT32 formatted it should work. If it is NTFS formatted you'll need to download the .iso again and make a FAT32 formatted USB.

I recommend downloading the .iso in case the USB doesn't get made correctly and so its accessible at a later point in time.

I recommend Rufus because it does a good job of making the USB and you can ensure it is FAT32 formatted and suitable for a GPT install on a UEFI Computer.

Thanks for your patience.

After I install from that flash drive, will I need to install Dell drivers? Can I use the disk Dell sent?