Windows 8.0 Recovery

[KP]

I was trying trying out Windows 8.1 Refresh and it put me back to Windows 8.0 Home but it did leave the windows.old file for Recovery. Windows 8.0 Recovery is not there like Windows 10.

One article said to use Recovery from the Store but the Windows 8.0 Store is closed.

I have a Window 8.1 Recovery Environment (RE) USB where I tried DISM /Online /Get-OSUninstallWindow. It seems /Get-OSUninstallWindow is not a valid option parameter in Win 8.1 RE.

I do have backups and an older WIM file.

I see from April 10, 2014 four suggestions:
Trinity Rescue Kit
Ultimate Boot CD
SystemRescueCd
Ubuntu Rescue Remix

My intended purpose was to Reset and reformat the C: drive but I thought I would try Refresh first. Data is on a separate drive.

Please post if you have tried any of these 3 scenarios:
1) Restore Win 8.1 from windows.old when in Win 8.0 Home. I have 7 more days before windows.old expires.
2) Has anyone used Trinity Rescue Kit, Ultimate Boot CD, SystemRescueCd or Ubuntu Rescue Remix to recover windows.old while in Win 8.0?
3) Any advice before I re-try Windows 8.1 Reset and Format everything? I don’t want to be in Win 8.0 on the next try.

Worst case is restore from backup.

[MrJimPhelps]

Your computer undoubtedly came with Windows 8.0 from the factory. That’s why the refresh put you at Windows 8.0.

It should be a simple matter to upgrade to 8.1, and you can probably choose the option to keep your files and applications. In that case, the only thing to change would be Windows, not your stuff.

Go to heidoc.net, and download a copy of the Windows and Office ISO Downloader. Then install it in Windows 8.0. Then use it to download the version of Windows 8.1 that matches the version of 8.0 that is installed — home vs professional, 32-bit vs 64-bit. Then use the ISO to create a Windows install disk. Finally, run the disk while in Windows 8.0. At that point you should see the option to keep your files and applications. If you do, proceed with the upgrade. If you don’t see that option, then you can proceed with the upgrade if you choose, but you will likely lose your files and applications.

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 8.1 running in a VM

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KP

[KP]

That should help in scenario 3 which I was anticipating in doing.

I was not sure what kind of problems Windows 8.1 Refresh  was going to cause. Now I know. As part of the Reset / Re-format, I did download Windows 8.1 ISO (just in case, I needed it) so now I am going to experiment some more, before re-formatting.

I did not expect the windows.old file; because Refresh wanted nearly 30 GB of space before refreshing. I was so focused on Recovery I had not thought about the upgrade using the ISO. (I was anticipating Windows Update to offer up Windows 8.1). I had also pre-downloaded  the July 2020 patches so I do everything offline.

[PKCano]

If you are gong to do reformat, or just upgrade the 8.o using the ISO, there are some prerequisites to using Windows Update.

I offer this thread for some suggestions. You may find some of it useful.

[KP]

It went pretty smooth.

Mount Windows 8.1 ISO and run setup.
Apply the Service Stack Update
Apply the Security Monthly Quality and Rollup
Apply .Net Framework

One of my favourite resources is AKB 2000012: How To Neutralize Telemetry (I prefer the manual method because you can check every few months to make sure it has not been changed; and so far it never has been changed)

I see there are two other interesting AKB’s:
AKB 2000007: Turning off the worst Windows 7 and 8.1 snooping
AKB 2952664: Telemetry in Win7/8.1

As I try things out, I will post more here, if I find any useful and interesting discoveries.

For the most part, I am back to a point where I did not lose anything and may just have some program re-installs and configurations to do.

Thanks @mrjimphelps @pkcano

[MrJimPhelps]

Excellent.

I didn’t think you would need a reformat. Unless I have a reason to reformat, I start with the least destructive reinstall (keep your files and apps); if that doesn’t work, I take the next least destructive option, and so on.

I used to be of the opinion that you should repartition and reformat the disk every time you reinstall Windows, because doing so does give a cleaner result; but it also deletes literally everything. I have come to the opinion that a full repartition and reformat usually isn’t necessary in order to achieve the desired result.

If the user isn’t a professional geek, it is far easier for them to just do a simple upgrade (keeping your files and apps), thereby preserving just about everything. Using this method to reinstall Windows will in all likelihood give a satisfactory result.

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 8.1 running in a VM

[KP]

I was doing it to recover space on the SSD drive. I may still Reset keeping only the Personal files. It look interesting to run the Windows 8.1 ISO with that option.

I have TreeSize Free to monitor what is happening, as I re-apply software.

After going through this, I better understand that PC, and feel more comfortable that I may want to upgrade it to Windows 10 Pro since I have a Windows 8.1 Pro license.

[Paul T]

You have another 2.5 years of support for 8.1, then we will probably get ESU and 0patch. Should be able to run for another 6 – 10 years, by which time you will have replaced the hardware.

cheers, Paul

[KP]

I thought I would summarize the sequence I would have done this in hindsight. (Pre-download all the necessary ISO, Office and patches, so a certain amount can be performed offline.)

Windows 8.1 Pro Refresh to Windows 8.0 Home
apply Windows 8.1 ISO
apply the Service Stack Update
apply the Security Monthly Quality and Rollup
apply .Net Framework
enter Windows 8.1 Pro Feature key (I was online when I applied it)

I apply a ‘hosts’ file to block malicious sites
Connect online to run Windows Update; there are more than 100 patches (security and non-security)

Probably best to get the current Windows Defender updates when you first go online.

You can re-install Microsoft Office offline, then go online to get the latest Office Updates.

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Cybertooth

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