WIN 8.1 ISO FILE

[magnus1492]

Does this file just replace/re-install Win 8.1 or does it do anything else? I almost used it instead of a Recovery Thumb Drive thinking
it would replace and not repair Win 8.1...
Thank you for help!

 

[Bree]

You can use the ISO to do an in-place repair install.

Repair Install Windows 8

How to Repair Install Windows 8 and 8.1 without Losing Anything Windows 8 introduced the option to refresh and reset your PC to repair or reinstall Windows 8 with as needed. These new features are great for what they are intended for, but there are some drawbacks to them. When you reset your...

www.eightforums.com

You can also use it to make a bootable USB, my preferred method is the manual Option Two in this tutorial

UEFI Bootable USB Flash Drive - Create in Windows

How to Create a Bootable UEFI USB Flash Drive for Installing Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 8.1 This tutorial will show you how to create a Windows 7 or Windows 8 or 8.1 installation bootable USB flash drive for UEFIfrom either a Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 installation ISO or DVD...

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You can use this USB to do a clean install, but you can also boot to the Advanced Startup options, see Option Seven in this tutorial

Startup Options Menu - Boot to in Windows 8

How to Boot to Advanced Startup Options in Windows 8 and 8.1 Using advanced startup, you can start up from a device or disc (ex: USB/DVD), change your PC's firmware settings, change Windows startup settings, or restore Windows from a system image. This tutorial will show you how to boot to...

www.eightforums.com

 

[TechnoMage]

I don't know, how many people I've seen asking (on a forum) if they can re-install their OS without loosing their data. ???

Have those people NEVER heard of doing backups? Strange, because I personally have been telling them to Backup their data, for well over a decade.
If you (any YOU) have all your important stuff (data) backed up, you can reinstall your OS all day long, and never loose a bit of data.
I personally have been backing up my stuff since 1980. Heck, that's 41 years!!!
Like my Army trng Sgt used to tell us...."Some people just don't get the word!"
I give up!

 

[TechnoMage]

Speaking of an ISO file..... (Windows 8.1/Pro/x86)
I downloaded one, and used "Rufus", or some such, to burn it to a DVD, making it bootable.
That was some time ago.
So yesterday, I was given a very old Dell Latitude 1311, that originally came with Windows XP installed. It has a Sempron, 1 Core cpu, and 2GB of ram, and an 80GB HD.
Somewhere, someone had upgraded it to Windows 7/Pro/x86.
I spent several hours, deleting crap and trying to get it to working efficiently. Never did get it running up to my specifications. After years of Abuse, it was just a Mess!

So my next option was to Upgrade the HD to a 500GB Seagate spinner, and install Windows 8.1/Pro/x86. I've had that 8.1 DVD for several years and have only used it once.
I booted up the little Laptop with the DVD, and it went right through the install with NO problems. Now, after several hours of tweaking, tuning, and installing necessary
software, I have a nice little laptop, happily running Windows 8.1/Pro/x86. The install was smooth, seamless and painless. Well, almost! lol No problems, just lots of little details.

Windows 8.1 is great, installing to almost any PC. It installs drivers for all the standard stuff; Video, LAN, Sound, USB, Mouse, Keyboard, etc.
And with the new Classic Shell installed, it can even Mimic Windows 7, and give many more options for looks and feel.

Windows 8.1 has become my Go-To OS for install on just about any PC or Laptop, even the OLD ones.

I wish that more guys/gals would consider Windows 8.1 for an upgrade from Windows 7 or Vista.

Cheers Mates!
TechnoMage