See How to Set Up a Backup in Windows 8 to learn how to back up your data. Although most apps you installed will remain unaffected, apps you installed from the Windows Store will need to be reinstalled.
Open the Charms menu. If you’re using a mouse, just hover the cursor over the bottom-right corner of the screen for a second or so and the Charms screen will appear. If you’re using a touch screen, swipe in from the right edge instead. Click Settings. Click Change PC Settings. Click Windows Update. If any updates are found, follow the on-screen instructions to install them.
If you don’t see a Download button but are given the opportunity to choose a version of Windows 8. 1 (e. g. , Windows 8. 1 Pro), select a version first.
You must have a legitimate Windows 8. 1 20-character Product Key to install Windows 8. 1. If you have an install disc, it’s usually printed on the case. If Windows 8. 1 came with your PC, it’ll be on a sticker somewhere on the PC. If you haven’t purchased Windows 8. 1 at all, you’ll need to buy a legitimate copy so you can install it.
You must have a legitimate Windows 8. 1 20-character Product Key to install Windows 8. 1. If you have an install disc, it’s usually printed on the case. If Windows 8. 1 came with your PC, it’ll be on a sticker somewhere on the PC. If you haven’t purchased Windows 8. 1 at all, you’ll need to buy a legitimate copy so you can install it.
Make sure you have a blank DVD or a USB drive that’s at least 4GB in size. [3] X Research source Go to https://www. microsoft. com/en-us/software-download/windows8ISO. Select the version of Windows 8. 1 from the “Select edition” menu and click Confirm. Select a language and click Confirm. Click the download link for your system to download the ISO file.
Go to aka. ms/wudt. Select a language and click Download. Select the version that contains your language and region. For example, “en-GB” is English, Great Britain. Don’t worry that all the links say Windows 7 if you’re a different version. The tool will still install on Windows 10 and earlier versions, including Windows XP. Click the blue Next button. If the download doesn’t start automatically, click Save to start it. Double-click the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions to install.
Insert a blank DVD or USB flash drive. Open Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool in the Start menu. Click Browse and double-click the Windows 8. 1 ISO file (it’s probably in your Downloads folder). Click Next. Select USB or DVD. If you’re burning a DVD, click BEGIN BURNING. If you’re making a USB drive, select your drive and click BEGIN COPYING. Once the disc or drive is created (usually within about 15 minutes, but possibly longer depending on your hardware), you can close the tool.
Reboot your PC. Right when it comes up, act quickly to press the button on the keyboard that corresponds with BIOS, UEFI, or SETUP. This is often F2 or Del. [4] X Research source Navigate to the Boot menu. If you see an option called something like Boot Device Priority, enter that section. Set either CD/DVD/CDRW or Internal ODD Device to be the first item in the boot order list (if you’re using a DVD). If you’re booting from USB, choose Removable Devices or USB Flash Drive. [5] X Research source Just make sure your regular hard drive comes after one or both of those options. Press F10 to save and exit. The computer will reboot into the Windows 8. 1 setup screen, although you may have to “Press any key” if prompted to get there.
If you downloaded Windows 8. 1 or purchased it from Microsoft, the product key is likely in your email receipt.
Installing a clean version of Windows 8. 1 will delete all of your existing data. If you haven’t backed up your data, go back and do so now, as the next step will start the deletion.
Click the Drive options (advanced) link at the bottom-right. Select the partition on which you want to install Windows 8. 1. Click Delete to delete all data on that partition. Click Next at the bottom-right to continue, and then OK to confirm. You can delete other partitions at this time if you’d like.
You can delete other partitions at this time if you’d like.
You can delete other partitions at this time if you’d like.