Windows 8.1 issue - can't refresh or reset machine

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Telgip33

The problem is I don't have a bootable version of Windows 8 (or 7) laptop came pre-loaded and no media of any type was provided

I can get to this point in the BOIS by hitting "delete" key



And it says I'm an Administrator, but when i restart I'm stuck in the same loop again

Press right arrow twice to get to the BOOT tab on the top and get a picture of the boot devices there. You can change the order of boot priority or other settings there.

You can download and create a Windows 8.1 ISO from Microsoft for free and it even offers simple click to create bootable media or bootable USB. You should have a Windows 8.1 product key sticker on your laptop somewhere. Here are the instructions to follow:

http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-1...n-windows.html



If you would rather go with a disc, since you don't have a disc drive in your laptop, USB optical burners might come in handy every now and then and they are only $20-$25.

http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX29914

http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX38116

[Telgip33]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Press right arrow twice to get to the BOOT tab on the top and get a picture of the boot devices there. You can change the order of boot priority or other settings there.

You can download and create a Windows 8.1 ISO from Microsoft for free and it even offers simple click to create bootable media or bootable USB. You should have a Windows 8.1 product key sticker on your laptop somewhere. Here are the instructions to follow:

http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-1...n-windows.html



If you would rather go with a disc, since you don't have a disc drive in your laptop, USB optical burners might come in handy every now and then and they are only $20-$25.

http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX29914

http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX38116

Here is the boot screen



I can't find a Windows product number?

no windows sticker on the laptop box, or anything inside. There is a Windows 8 sticker on bottom of laptop but no SN

So I just found this

"With Windows 8, Microsoft has changed from stickers that have the product key that the user has to type in when installing the operating system to new BIOS embedded product keys. The idea is that by eliminating the sticker, you eliminate one of the easier ways for nefarious users to get a legitimate product key. Eliminating the product key sticker also removes any worry that the sticker might get damaged while at the same time eliminating the long and irritating process of typing in various letters and numbers when installing the operating system.


If the user has to reinstall the operating system on a machine that came with Windows 8, the installation process automatically grabs the software product key from the motherboard BIOS with no input from the user. This means that those familiar Windows product key stickers will no longer appear on the Windows 8 computers."

so no more sticker for the SN

[Rathji]

Ok, so you need to enable launch csm in the boot tab and disable secure boot control in the security tab. You might also need to add USB as a boot option on the boot screen if it doesn't appear automatically when you do those 2 steps.

I always forget the Launch CSM option, which turns dealing with new Secure Boot machines into a time consuming headache

Secure boot ensures that nothing installs on boot that isn't the exact version of Windows that was originally installed on the machine, so if you went from Windows 8 to Windows 8 Pro/Windows 7 you need to disable it or to boot with any other tool, like a Linux Live CD, UBCD or Hirens.

I do live in McKenzie Towne, so if you have issues with it still, we could meet somewhere.

[Telgip33]

Originally Posted by Rathji

Ok, so you need to enable launch csm in the boot tab and disable secure boot control in the security tab. You might also need to add USB as a boot option on the boot screen if it doesn't appear automatically when you do those 2 steps.

I always forget the Launch CSM option, which turns dealing with new Secure Boot machines into a time consuming headache

Secure boot ensures that nothing installs on boot that isn't the exact version of Windows that was originally installed on the machine, so if you went from Windows 8 to Windows 8 Pro/Windows 7 you need to disable it or to boot with any other tool, like a Linux Live CD, UBCD or Hirens.

I do live in McKenzie Towne, so if you have issues with it still, we could meet somewhere.

Still sends me back in the same loop, even after the changes you suggested. I was able to get it to boot form a USB first. Of course there was nothing it could boot from on the USB so it just said install the correct media and try again.

[Telgip33]

Just to update

After trying everything suggested on this tread and even get some help from Rathji in person nothing seemed to work without a bootable windows 8 usb stick and MY windows 8 product code. So finally last Sunday I took it in Memory express. They had the laptop for 5 days (was done in 4) and charged 2 hours of service to get it reset back to factory defaults. So now I will spend my weekend getting all the updates, upgrading to 8.1. and find my windows product code and making a bootable usb stick......just in case

Thanks again to everyone that tried to help.