Good afternoon, dear blog readers, we continue to study the operating system from Microsoft, last time I told you how to solve the problem that a black screen appears when loading Windows 8, we will continue to disassemble this OS and the topic of today’s discussion will be how to perform a clean installation of Windows 8.1. I understand that everything is trivial, but many people have questions, and it’s easier for me to write an article than to constantly answer the same thing.
Installing windows 8.1 from a flash drive
And so a clean installation of Windows 8.1 will be done from a flash drive, as you understand, it’s 2016, disks are almost extinct, hardware manufacturers in ultrabooks have long abandoned DVD-roms to reduce weight, and it’s not convenient to carry a blank , this is when I remember, on the contrary, disks, floppy disks also survived, in short, let’s put this archaism into the past. For our task, we need a program for a bootable USB flash drive for Windows 8.1 (don’t look at what is described there for Windows Server 2012 R2, all utilities will work fine), I talked about it, read the link above.
Also, in order not to install a bunch of updates, I advise you to pull my eight image, based on the original MSDN, but updated to July 2016.
download windows 8.1 professional x64 rus updated to July 2016
Next, when the bootable media is ready, you need to select boot from a flash drive in the computer boot menu (Boot menu), or you can set boot from it in the BIOS.
Launch your installation media. The first thing you need to do is select the installation and keyboard language, it doesn’t affect anything, choose what you like.
In the next step, you need to click Install. Please note that below there is a Windows 8.1 system recovery item, it will be useful when you have problems loading the operating system, for example, the boot part is erased, or some files are damaged, then the melon mode will help you recover, or boot into Win PE mode, and then go to the command line for further diagnostics.
We agree with the license, otherwise the wizard will simply not let you through. If you are one hundred percent pedantic, then try to master the text of the license agreement. There was even a case that Microsoft decided to do an experiment and check whether anyone read this agreement to the end, the essence of it was that at the end they wrote that those who finished reading could call the number and receive a monetary reward, that’s what the company Adobe did.
We choose an installation for experienced users, in fact this is a clean installation of Windows 8.1, an upgrade option, I don’t recommend it to anyone, since a lot of problems can arise with this procedure, it’s easier to install and deliver a new one, which is exactly what you need.
We select the disk to install and format it, make sure you don’t make a mistake and overwrite the wrong disk. If there are old disks, and there are no needed partitions on them, then feel free to delete them, for this there are buttons with the necessary functionality below.
After waiting a little and allowing the system to install all the necessary components, you move on to this stage. After installation, the first thing you need to do is set the computer name and select the screen color, here we select what you need, but if you wish, you can change everything later.
We choose to use standard settings; in most cases, they are sufficient for the average user.
The Internet connection will be checked, if it is not there, it will offer to create a local account, which is better than an account from Microsoft,
Create a local record, click the corresponding button.
Create an account name and password if necessary
If you have an Internet connection at this moment, then to create a local account, do the following in the Sign in to your Microsoft account window. At the bottom, click Create a new account.
You will see this form for creating a Microsoft account, don’t be alarmed by this window, you don’t need to fill out anything, at the very bottom of the fields, click the line Sign in without a Microsoft account, and proceed to further complete the clean installation of Windows 8.1
Afterwards you will see how the operating system greets you, it is very polite.
They will show you that now the entire computer is doing nothing but setting up :))
A little advertising about the application store from Microsoft, an analogue of the Play Market, in principle, there is already a lot of useful stuff there at the moment, there are both paid and free utilities, in any case, everyone can find something, it’s generally a convenient thing.
Once configured, a metro-style start menu will appear. The clean installation of Windows 8.1 is complete, I would recommend that you look at How to set up startup in Windows 8.1, in the article there I outlined my vision of this, and said that this type of display is very convenient and faster in terms of operation than the classic one.
Hello, dear readers of my blog.
In this article I will tell you how to install Windows 8 on a laptop. The first thing I wanted to say is that you should never rush. Especially if the device was originally sold with a previous version of the operating system from Microsoft. Even if you are already used to doing this and know all the nuances. All the same, you shouldn’t get down to business right away. Basically, the information will be useful to people who want to update the OS version from the seventh to the eighth.
If you decide to change the operating system on your equipment, the first thing you need to do is go to the official website of the equipment manufacturer. This is where information is often provided on how a particular system behaves on different devices.
The fact is that many developers create special utilities for their laptops or simply know certain tricks to simplify the OS installation process. To be more precise, users will not have problems with compatibility or the same drivers. I will tell you about the most popular manufacturers. But more on that later.
Installing Windows 8 on a laptop( )
Regardless of the manufacturer and model of the equipment, installing Windows 8 on it is in most cases the same, although there are still some nuances. We need to find a plastic disk with the system distribution. It would be better if it was a flash drive. There are usually no problems with the latter. True, you first need to prepare it.
For the process, we need to take care of some important points:
The main distribution in *.iso image format.
Installed Windows 7 USB/DVD program. Don't worry, it also works for newer versions of operating systems. It is with the help of it that recording will be carried out on a portable device. I also recommend downloading and watching my free mini course in which I explained everything in more detail
A 4-8 GB flash drive or optical disk (we have already found out that the first is better).
Now to create a boot device we need to make a few moves:
The process takes some time. After this, a success message will appear.
Then it is advisable to prepare possible drivers in advance. I talk about this in more detail in the following paragraphs.
In the meantime, let’s look at the general manipulations for all device manufacturers:
Despite the fact that the procedure is largely simple, each individual device reacts differently to the new product.
Windows 8 on Asus laptops( )
On the manufacturer's official website, you can find everything you need. Just go link. This is where information related to an update or clean installation is located. As always, some points need clarification:
The list of products allows you to see all laptops that can interact with Win 8.
Information on bit depth is provided – x32 or x64.
When you find your own hardware, clicking will take you to a page with all possible drivers.
When installing Windows 8 from a flash drive on an Asus laptop, it is important to remember that the system will not see the caching HDD. For correct operation, you must place it on the boot device. It can be found on the same site or simply on the Internet. During the process, you will need to specify the path to it.
In general, you first need to find out whether your laptop supports the desired OS. Then download all the drivers. Then you can proceed directly to the process itself.
Windows 8 on Lenovo( )
The manufacturer's official website has all the necessary information regarding installing Windows on a Lenovo laptop, including supported device models, requirements and much more. You can find everything you need link.
It is worth noting that there is also data here that is needed in case of updating to a new version. This will allow you to save individual applications and information.
Important! The manufacturer itself states that when using the IdeaPad model, you need to opt for a clean installation rather than an update. Otherwise, a lot of problems may appear that will lead to the same thing.
Not long ago, a preliminary release of the new Windows 8 OS from Microsoft became available for download. It is currently available for download in the Release Preview edition.
Before installing a new operating system, let's look at what's new in it compared to the previous version.
- Updated Metro interface.
- OS boot and shutdown times have been reduced.
- Memory consumption has been reduced compared to previous versions, and performance has also been improved.
- The appearance of the explorer has been updated. Added the ability to use the Ribbon panel.
- Quickly reinstall Windows without losing important data.
- Windows Live integration to sync files, settings, email, and more between two Windows Live-enabled devices.
- Windows Store software store, with the ability to buy and download a wide variety of programs.
- Updated Task Manager.
- Improved search.
- Improved computer power management.
- As well as many other changes and improvements for users and software developers.
This is not the entire list of changes in the new OS. It is also possible that minor changes will be made during the release of the final version. One way or another, the Windows 8 Release Preview editions that are now available make it possible to fully understand what the new operating system will look like.
- Processor with a clock frequency of at least 1 GHz.
- 1 or 2 GB of RAM for Windows 8, 32 or 64 bit version respectively.
- 16 or 20 GB of free storage space for Windows 8, 32 or 64 bit versions respectively.
- Video card and monitor support minimum resolution of 1024 x 768.
In order to then more easily return (or stay on Windows 8) to the previous operating system with all previously installed drivers, programs, settings, you need to make an image of it and save it on a data storage device (hard drive or flash memory). After this, it will be possible to write this image back to the computer at any time and get the previous operating system.
Now let's move directly to the Windows 8 installation itself.
Preparing to install Windows 8
This instruction will format the C:\ partition for the subsequent installation of Windows 8. Simply put, all information saved on the C:\ partition will be deleted. Therefore, you should transfer all important data to another partition or external storage device in advance.
Important: if you just want to get acquainted with the new Windows 8 OS, then it is not at all necessary to install it on your computer or other device. You can install Windows 8 on a virtual machine using VirtualBox. The speed of work in this case will be much lower, there will also be fewer possibilities, but for simple familiarization more is not required. You can minimize, disable, or completely uninstall Windows 8 at any time and return to your operating system.
In addition, it is advisable to create images of hidden operating system partitions.
It is also advisable to first download and save the drivers for your computer or laptop. We will discuss the topic of drivers more informatively at the end of this article.
To install Windows 8 you will need:
- Windows 8 installation package with .iso disk image extension. You can download it from the Internet.
- A program called Windows 7 USB/DVD Tool for burning an iso image to a disk or flash drive.
- A blank DVD or flash drive of 4GB or larger. If you install the operating system from a flash drive, then first save all the important data from it to another disk partition or to another storage device. The bottom line is that the flash drive will also be formatted and the information on it will be completely deleted.
Important: more details about the process of installing Windows 8 from a flash drive are shown in the instructions:. These instructions provide various methods for writing Windows 8 installation files to a flash drive. This guide will cover the simplest of them - using the Windows 7 USB/DVD Tool.
Install and run this program:
Click on the “Browse” button and indicate the location of the iso image with Windows 8:
Click on the “Next” button and move to the next window:
Preparing a flash drive for installing Windows 8
Let's say that we will install Windows 8 from a flash drive. Click on the “USB Device” button. Next, a window similar to this will open:
In the window, select your flash drive and click on the “Begin copying” button. If there are any files on the flash drive, a warning message will appear stating that all information on the flash drive will be deleted. Let's continue preparing the flash drive. The operation of formatting the flash drive should begin, and then the process of copying the installation files to the flash drive:
After a few minutes the copying process should complete:
If you were unable to obtain a flash drive with Windows 8 installation files, then you can use other methods. All methods are described in the instructions: . The process of preparing a flash drive for installing versions 7 and 8 of Windows is the same.
Preparing a DVD for installing Windows 8
If you want to install Windows 8 from a DVD, you must specify “DVD” in the media selection window:
Next, you need to select a drive and start recording to the disc. You can also use Ashampoo Burning Studio to burn Windows 8 to disk. How to use it is written in the instructions: .
When the installation disk or flash drive with Windows 8 is ready, you should proceed directly to installing Windows 8.
Installing Windows 8 OS
To begin with, you should configure your computer or laptop so that it boots by default from a disk or flash drive. All these settings are made in the BIOS. First of all, you need to restart the computer, then, when turning it on, press a certain key. It is indicated at the very bottom of the monitor during OS loading. Typically, the keys to enter the BIOS are F2, Del, Esc and less popular ones. By the way, how to enter the BIOS should be written in the manual for your motherboard.
After you have entered the BIOS, you need to find a menu where you can configure the order in which the OS boots from storage devices. Typically, such settings are made in the Boot, Sytem Configuration or Boot Order tabs. In order to set boot from a flash drive or disk by default, use the F5 or F6 keys and different arrow menus. How to change the boot order should be described in the manual for your motherboard.
After you have set boot from DVD or flash drive as the first priority, you should save the settings and exit from the BIOS. Typically, the item for saving settings and exiting is called “Save and exit settings” or “Save and Exit Setup”, in the English version.
After you save the settings, the computer will restart, and if everything was done correctly, a window will appear asking you to install Windows 8.
Problems that may arise: If booting from a DVD or flash drive does not start and the previously installed operating system boots, then you need to check whether you have set the settings correctly in the BIOS. If everything is correct, then you need to check the serviceability of the disk or flash drive on another computer. If booting occurs on another computer, then your disk drive or flash drive reader may be broken. And it is quite possible that the settings in the BIOS were not saved after all. If loading on another computer also does not occur, then look for a breakdown in the DVD or flash drive.
If everything is done correctly, you will be asked to press any button or, for the English version (Press any key to boot from CD or DVD) to install Windows 8. Press the key. Next the installation will begin:
After some time, a window similar to this will appear:
Select the required language settings and click “Next”. The following window should appear:
Click on the “Install” button (Install now in the English version) to begin the installation. Please pay attention to the inscription “Repair your computer”. It will open a menu with OS recovery tools. What it is is described in the manual: .
Enter the previously saved serial number:
We read the license agreement and agree:
Click on the words “Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)”:
To install with formatting of the system partition, select this partition and click on the “Drive Options (advanced)” button:
Then click on the “Format” button:
The installer will issue a warning that the data on the system partition will be deleted. Click “OK”:
Now select the formatted partition and click “Next”.
Important: when creating new partitions, the installer will prompt you to create a small partition for system files. Usually the bootloader is stored there. In Windows Vista and Windows 7, this partition is 100MB in size, and in the new Windows 8 it is already 350MB:
Waiting for the installation to complete:
After the installation is complete, the operating system will reboot.
As soon as the system restarts, a settings window will open. Enter the name of your computer, and select a background color:
Then a window will appear asking you to configure the system. A list of settings will be shown in the same window. We'll do a quick setup. To do this, click on the “Use standard settings” button:
A window will appear where we will be asked to enter our email for the Windows Live account, which is designed for synchronizing files, various settings, email and the like. If you do not have an account, you can create one by clicking on the link: “Registering a new email address” or Sign up for a new e-mail address in the English version below. If you do not want to create an account now, then click on the link: “Sign in without a Microsoft account” or Do not want to sign in with a Microsoft account in the English version:
The system will prompt you to register your Microsoft account again. To postpone registration, click on the link: “Local account” or Local account in the English version:
In the next window, enter the computer user name, password for the username and password hint:
To complete the installation, click on the “Finish” button. After a little time, the Metro-style start screen will open:
Below we will describe how to return the usual Start menu and enable support for the Russian language if you installed the English edition. But first of all, you should install drivers and programs.
Installing drivers and programs
I will say a few words about why they are needed at all. For Windows to work fully with other devices on your computer, drivers are required. The G8 already has basic drivers, but they rarely allow you to use all the capabilities of your computer. To use them fully, you must install the drivers separately. Along with them, programs for configuring devices are installed.
You can find the drivers your computer needs on the Internet. It should be noted that most drivers for Windows 7 are fully compatible with Windows 8.
Separately, it is necessary to highlight proprietary programs. Some of them are necessary for the normal operation of the laptop. They are responsible for the functionality of additional keys, indication of touches on the display, operation of any energy-saving modes, webcam, wi-fi adapters, and the like.
In addition to proprietary programs, you need to install others. There are a huge variety of them, to suit all tastes and to solve a wide variety of problems.
How to bring back the classic Start menu in Windows 8?
One of the most unpleasant innovations in the new Windows 8 OS is that the familiar Start menu has been removed and the new Metro interface has been introduced, which most users are not used to working with.
But it doesn’t matter, the Start menu can be returned using the ViStart program. You can download it on the Internet.
During installation, you may be asked to install add-ons from Yandex; in my opinion, this is completely unnecessary and should be abandoned:
To Russify the start menu, move to the folder with the ViStart program, launch “Language Changer” and find “Russian language”:
After selecting the Russian language, simply reload the program. After this, the menu will become Russian:
Adding Russian language to Windows 8
Move to the menu on the left. To do this, move the mouse to the upper right corner of the window or use the keyboard shortcut Win + C. In the menu, select “Settings - Control Panel”. Then the “Add language” item:
Then click on Add a language:
Alas, at the time of writing there was no Russian interface. Over time it will:
Instead of the text “A language pack is not available” there will be a link “Download and install language pack”, click on it. The installation of the Russian interface for Windows 8 will begin. Next, after the installation is complete, in the interface language settings, click on the link “Make this the primary language”. After clicking on the link, the Windows 8 interface will become Russian.
This concludes the article. Good luck with Windows 8!
Windows 8- This is the penultimate version of the system released by Microsoft today. As we expected, after the “Seven” we received the “Eight”. And of course we need to learn install Windows 8 to get started with this latest operating system. I suggest we do this today.
Let's look at the entire Windows 8 installation process, how it differs from installations of other versions of Windows, and so on. But before we get down to business, we need to naturally announce the system requirements. It's simple!
To install Windows 8 we need:
the processor must have a clock speed of at least 1 GHz
20 GB or more of free hard disk space
DirectX 9 support
In other words, if you previously had “Seven” installed, then you shouldn’t bother with the system requirements. The latest Windows 8 will work great for you.
1. Where to get a disk with Windows 8
You can buy the program in a store or online. If you are from the network, then most likely you will have an image downloaded that will need to be written to an empty disk. I explained how this is done in the lesson: . If this information is relevant to you, then read it, everything is very simple.
2. Set the BIOS to boot from disk
In the previous article, I told you about the installation, which is not much different from installing Windows XP. In this article we will talk about installing Windows 8.1 and there are much more nuances here. I'll tell you something that many people don't know, and in the next article we'll look at installation.
If you haven't read our previous articles, you might be interested in:
1. How to download Windows 8.1 from the Microsoft website
You can officially and completely free get the latest version of Windows 8.1 from the official Microsoft website using the special “Media Creation Tool” utility. You can download it in the "" section.
This program allows you to download the version of Windows 8.1 you need with the latest updates. It works on Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10 of any bitness. You won't be able to run the program on Windows XP and Vista.
After launching the program, you will see a window in which you will need to select the language, operating system version (release) and bit depth (architecture) 32 or 64 bits.
If you have already installed Windows 8 or 8.1, you have a license key and you just want to reinstall the system, then choose exactly the version that you had before. If this is not your case, then read on.
Choose an operating system language that is native to you or that you understand well, as all text in Windows will be displayed in this language. For Russian-speaking residents of the CIS, I recommend choosing Russian.
As for the operating system version, if you are an ordinary home user or you do not have a very powerful computer, choose the regular “Windows 8.1”, it will work faster due to the absence of unnecessary functionality.
If you like to experiment, your computer is quite powerful and you want to be safe in case you need some additional functionality, then you can choose “Windows 8.1 Professional”.
The “Windows 8.1 for one language” version is intended for installation by the manufacturer on new PCs (OEM) and is no different from the regular “Windows 8.1” except for the inability to change the operating system language after installation. It doesn't make much sense to choose this version.
If your computer or laptop has a memory capacity of 3 GB or less, then choose the 32-bit version, if 4 GB or more, choose the 64-bit version.
If you want to immediately create a bootable USB flash drive, you can select “USB flash memory device.” You will need a flash drive with a capacity of at least 4 GB.
Transcend JetFlash 790 8Gb
Insert it into the USB port of your computer and click “Next”. Please note that all files on it will be destroyed.
The second option “ISO file” is universal. In this case, you will be asked to choose where you want to save this file. From this file you can make a bootable disk or flash drive at any convenient time. After this, the file will begin downloading, which may take a long time, depending on the speed of your Internet. The file size for different versions of Windows 8.1 can be 2.5-3.5 GB.
After downloading and checking the file, a window will appear asking you to burn the image to a DVD or exit the program by clicking the “Finish” button.
If you choose to burn to disk, the Windows Disc Image Burner will open.
Insert the disc into the drive, check the “Check disc after burning” checkbox and click “Burn”.
2. About the license key
During the installation process, Windows 8.1 may require you to enter a license key. In this case, it will not be possible to continue the installation without entering the key.
If you have already installed licensed Windows 8, 8.1 or you purchased a key separately, then be prepared to enter it at the beginning of the installation. Please note that this key is only suitable for a specific version of Windows (Windows 8.1, Windows 8.1 Single Language, or Windows 8.1 Professional) and a specific bit size (32 or 64 bit).
If you do not yet have a license key or you want to install Windows 8.1 for evaluation purposes, then the key request can be disabled using the “ei.cfg” file, which can be downloaded in the “” section.
2.1. Disabling the key request on a flash drive
If at the previous stage you chose to create a bootable flash drive, then all that remains is to copy the “ei.cfg” file to it. If you chose to download an ISO file and now want to make a bootable USB flash drive, then use the tips from the article “”.
Copy the “ei.cfg” file to the “sources” folder on the bootable USB flash drive. Now, when installing Windows 8.1 from this flash drive, you can skip entering the key.
2.2. Disable disk key prompt
If you chose to download Windows 8.1 as an ISO file, then in order to skip entering the key during installation, the disc must be burned using a special program, adding the “ei.cfg” file. To do this, you can use the “Power ISO” or “Win ISO” program, which are very similar and you can download them in the “” section.
We are using the free demo version of "Power ISO". Click the “Continue” button, which will become available 5 seconds after the program starts.
Open the Windows 8.1 ISO file using the Open button in the toolbar or the Open command in the File menu.
Go to the “sources” folder and copy the “ei.cfg” file into it using the “Add” button on the toolbar or simply dragging it into the program window.
Scroll down the list of files and make sure that the "ei.cfg" file is added to the folder. Insert a blank DVD and click the Burn button in the toolbar or choose a similar command from the Tools menu.
Make sure the correct DVD drive is selected, check the check disc after burning checkbox and click the Burn button.
After 5-10 minutes, the program should report that the disc was written successfully. Now, when installing Windows 8.1 from this disk, you can skip entering the key.
If you have problems with “Power ISO”, then try using the “Win ISO” program, which is absolutely similar.
3. Speed up installation and internet connection
To increase the installation speed of Windows 8.1, you can disconnect the Internet cable from your computer or laptop. But keep in mind that in this case you will not be able to create settings during the installation process to synchronize Windows settings with the Internet. However, not everyone needs this and you can create a local account during the installation process.
4. Boot from installation disk or flash drive
Insert a boot disk or flash drive. To download from them, we use the easiest way - downloading using the “Boot Menu”. To call the “Boot Menu” on different motherboards and laptops, the “F8”, “F9”, “F10”, “F11”, “F12” or “Esc” keys can be used. Often this key is indicated in the prompts that appear when you turn on the computer.
Immediately after turning on the computer, press and hold the “Boot Menu” key until the boot device selection menu appears.
Use the down and up arrows to navigate to the DVD drive or flash drive and press Enter.
If the call key is not indicated in the prompts at the initial stage of booting the computer, then you can find out this information from the instructions, on the website of the motherboard or laptop manufacturer, by searching on the Internet, or at random.
The first thing you should see after the BIOS messages is a line like “Press any key to boot from CD or DVD...” or “Press any key to boot from USB...” (“Press any button to boot from USB...”) if you are booting from a flash drive.
When you see this message, you should press any key on your keyboard within a few seconds, I usually press Spacebar. If you miss this moment, the Windows installation will not begin and you will have to restart the computer again from the old operating system using the “Ctrl-Alt-Del” key combination or the “Reset” button on the system unit.
I would like to draw your attention to the fact that during the Windows installation process, the computer reboots several times and each time such a message may appear, but pressing “any key” on the keyboard is no longer necessary, otherwise you will simply start reinstalling Windows from the beginning many times and you will never finish it!
Wait for the blue “Install Windows” window to appear.
6.1. Language selection
At this stage you are asked to select languages.
“Installed language” is the language in which all messages will be displayed in the operating system. If the version of Windows is multilingual, then you will have a choice. Most editions of Windows have only one operating system language and it is advisable that you understand it well.
“Time and Currency Format” – defines the names of months, days of the week, main currency, digital separators accepted in your country (period or comma), etc. What does it mean? Well, for example, if you select “Ukrainian”, then in programs for typing and tables, days of the week, months and monetary units will be automatically entered in Ukrainian, regardless of the language of the entire document. Therefore, choosing a national format only makes sense if the majority of your documents will be in the national language. However, this can be easily changed in Windows at any time.
“Input Method (Keyboard Layout)” is just the default input language that will be used when starting Windows and all programs. It makes sense to install the one on which you communicate and write. If you will use the computer primarily for programming, it may be more convenient to select the “US” (English) layout. After installing Windows, you can add and set any language as default.
For Russian-speaking residents of the CIS, I recommend leaving “Russian” everywhere, since when installing some programs that have a multilingual interface, they may not be in Russian, but in the language that you specified in one of the fields when installing the system.
6.2. Starting the installation
In the next window, click the “Install” button under the “Windows 8” logo.
6.3. Entering the key
If you have a license key and have not disabled its entry, you will be prompted to enter the key. Enter the 25-character license key that is provided on the disc, certificate sticker, or obtained online.
6.4. License agreement
Check the box “I accept the license terms” and click “Next”.
7. Installation type Windows 8.1
We offer two types of installation.
To update Windows 7 and Windows 8 to Windows 8.1, you need to boot into the installed operating system and run Windows Update using the “setup.exe” file on the disk. In this case, you can choose to update with or without saving personal files.
You can also update Windows 8 to 8.1 via the Internet using the Windows App Store, but this method takes longer and is not suitable for those who have a slow Internet, as you will need to download about 2 GB.
Windows XP and Windows Vista cannot be upgraded to Windows 8 or 8.1.
I recommend upgrading only from Windows 8 to 8.1, especially for the licensed version of Windows 8. In other cases, it is better not to do this, since this type of installation inherits the problems of the previous operating system and is likely to cause the computer to slow down or malfunction.
“Custom” – installing a new copy of Windows 8.1 on a new or existing hard drive partition. When installing on a new computer, partitions are created on the hard drive, and when installing on an old computer, the partitions are either deleted and created again, or a partition is selected that has enough space for installation. Using this type of installation, you can also install Windows 8.1 as a second operating system, for example, along with your existing Windows 7. In this case, when you turn on the computer, you will be asked which operating system you want to load.
We select “Custom installation” and a window for selecting a disk for installing Windows 8.1 will open in front of us.
8. Disk configuration
Disk configuration is the process of creating, deleting, formatting hard disk partitions for installing Windows on it.
8.1. Disk configuration on an old computer
If you are reinstalling Windows on an old computer, then it already has one (“C”) or several partitions (“C”, “D”…). I hope that you did not forget from the “C” drive to the external drive, since during the process of reinstalling Windows, the “C” drive will be cleared.
Hard drive Transcend StoreJet 25M TS500GSJ25M 500 GB
If your disk has only one partition, then it is better to delete it and create two new ones - one of small size for the operating system and programs, the second for all the remaining space for your files. This disk configuration will be more convenient and reliable in terms of backing up and restoring the operating system and your files.
If your disk has several partitions, then the first one, on which Windows is installed, can be deleted and a new one created in its place, and the second one with your files can be left as is.
8.2. Disk configuration on a new computer
When you install Windows on a new computer, your disk is completely empty and has no partitions. The best option would be to create two partitions - one of small size for the operating system and programs, the second for all the remaining space for your files. This disk configuration will be more convenient and reliable in terms of backup and recovery of the operating system and your files.
8.3. Dual drive configuration
If you have two hard drives, or one SSD and one regular drive, then it is advisable to create one partition on each of them and install Windows on the one that is faster (SSD) or smaller in volume, and devote the second one entirely to storing your files.
If both disks are large, then you can create two partitions on the first one - one small for the system, one for storing your files. On the second disk, you can create a partition for the entire volume and use it to install programs and games, or you can also create two partitions - the first for programs and games, the second for files. This configuration will ensure maximum loading speed for programs and games, since Windows and the page file will be on one drive, and programs and games on another.
9. Disk setup for Windows 8.1
9.1. Disk with old system
If you are reinstalling Windows on an old computer, the disk will have one or more partitions. The screenshot below shows a disk with 3 partitions on which the old operating system is installed.
Section 1- This is the hidden Windows boot partition. If you had Windows 7 installed, then the size of this partition is usually 100 MB. In this case, Windows 8 is installed on the disk, for which the typical boot partition size is 350 MB. Windows XP does not have a boot partition.
Section 2- this is drive “C” in the old operating system, which in this case has a size of 100 GB. You can easily determine that this is it, knowing the size of your “C” drive.
Section 3- This is usually your "D" drive, which you can also identify by its size.
The disk may have other partitions that you have also seen in your operating system and they should be known to you. The prefix “Disk 0” before each partition means that they are all on the same hard drive. If you have 2 or more hard drives, they will be called "Disk 1", "Disk 2", etc.
If you are not sure where which disk is, then it is better to turn off the computer, disconnect one of the disks and try to boot the old operating system to make sure that the disk on which you want to reinstall Windows remains connected.
9.2. Removing partitions
The best option is to delete the old Windows partition and create a new one to install Windows 8.1.
Select the partition with the old operating system and click “Delete”.
If the disk has a boot partition, delete that too.
After this, “Unallocated disk space” will appear, on which you can install Windows 8.1.
It is advisable to have at least 40 GB free. If there is enough space and there is a partition on the disk with your files (drive “D”), then do not delete it so as not to lose these files. If there is not enough space for Windows 8.1, then remove your files from drive “D” so that you can delete it and distribute disk space more efficiently.
Let's remove drive "D" to simulate this situation.
As a result, we get a completely clean disk, as if we were installing Windows 8.1 on a new computer.
In the screenshot above, the disk has a capacity of 500 GB. Don't be surprised that the real size is 465.7 GB. Manufacturers round up hard drive sizes to the nearest round number. A table with actual hard drive sizes can be downloaded in the “” section.
9.3. Creating partitions
After this, a field will appear in which you will need to enter the size of the installation partition in megabytes. The optimal size of the system partition is 10-20% of the total hard drive volume. For Windows 8.1, I recommend a partition size from 50 to 200 GB.
It is better not to divide the SSD disk into several partitions, but to allocate it entirely to the “C” drive for installing Windows, programs and games. Then you will get unrivaled computer speed!
Hard drive A-Data Ultimate SU650 120GBI usually take 10% of the declared disk capacity, that is, 50 GB from a 500 GB disk and 100 GB from a 1000 GB disk. This is enough to install basic programs, but it is better to install games on the second partition along with other files, since they take up a large amount of space and complicate system backup and recovery, which we will discuss in a separate article.
But if you like to experiment and plan to install a lot of serious programs and games, then it is better to make the system partition larger, about 20% of the disk capacity or 100-200 GB in physical terms. Since some of the data still ends up on the system partition and in the future there may be a lack of space on it.
Let's make everything sure, create a system partition of 100 GB in size. Please note that 1 GB = 1024 MB. In addition, Windows 8.1 takes 350 MB of this volume to create a hidden boot partition.
To get disk “C” with a size of 100 GB, the volume in megabytes must be calculated as follows:
100 GB x 1024 + 350 MB = 102,750 MB
This number must be entered in the “Size” field and click the “Apply” button.
Here is the result of the performed operation.
As you can see, two sections have been created. “Partition 1”, 350 MB in size, is used for the operating system bootloader and we will not see it in Windows. “Partition 2” has a size of exactly 100 GB and we will install Windows 8.1 on it.
A hidden 350 MB boot partition will appear if you create a new partition to install Windows 8.1. If you install Windows 8.1 on an existing partition, the bootloader files will be located on it and a separate partition will not be created.
There is still “Unallocated space…” with a volume of 365.4 GB, on which we will create another partition for storing user files. To do this, select the remaining “Unallocated space...” with the mouse and click “Create”.
By default, it is proposed to allocate all the remaining space for it. You can reduce this value to leave room for another partition if you need it. But we will leave everything as it is and just click “Apply”.
After this, the new partition must be formatted, otherwise you will not see it in Windows.
You can create and format this partition after installing Windows, but here it is faster and more convenient.
10. Types of disk partitioning (MBR and GPT)
The partition structure we considered will be the case if the Windows installer partitions the disk in the old MBR system. If Windows Installer partitions the disk in a new GPT system, several service partitions may be created.
MBR- This is an old type of partition that supports disks up to 2 TB.
GPT– a new type of partition that supports disks with a capacity of 3 TB or more, but requires support from the motherboard. There are usually fewer problems with disks marked in MBR, but this is not essential.
11. Installing Windows on a 3 TB or more disk
If you install Windows 8.1 on a disk with a capacity of 3 TB or more, then it must have GPT partitioning, otherwise not all of its capacity (about 2.3 TB) will be used.
If the hard drive is not used to install the operating system, but will be the second one on your computer, then you can convert it to GPT after installing Windows.
If the Windows 8.1 installer created a hidden 350 MB partition and no more service partitions, this means that the disk is marked in the MBR system. In order for the disk to have GPT partitioning, you will have to delve into the BIOS settings, create a bootable UEFI flash drive, and possibly convert the disk to GPT yourself.
11.1. Setting up boot in BIOS
First of all, check that in the BIOS settings of your motherboard or laptop, in the “Boot” section, UEFI boot devices are given priority.
In a modern motherboard Setup GUI, it might look like this.
After that, run the installation of Windows 8.1 again from the disk or flash drive, delete the created partitions and try to create them again.
11.2. Creating a bootable UEFI USB flash drive
If the BIOS setting did not help, then try in the “GPT for computers with UEFI” mode in the “FAT32” file system and repeat the installation from it.
11.3. Converting a disk to GPT without saving data
You can convert your hard drive from MBR to GPT yourself directly during the Windows 8.1 installation process. To do this, use the “Diskpart” command line utility, which is on the installation disk or flash drive. But this method does not allow you to save the data partition (drive “D”). If you have such a partition, then below I will tell you how to convert the disk to GPT while preserving this partition.
Start installing Windows 8.1 and, having reached the disk settings window, open the command line using the key combination “Shift” + “F10”.
After that, enter the commands given in the screenshot below, it is very simple. Switching the language is done using the key combination “Alt” + “Shift”.
Please note that you must enter the disk number indicated in the table. If you have one disk, then most likely its number will be “0”. But if you have two disks or install Windows from a flash drive, the disk number may shift. Refer to the disk capacity indicated in the table.
Now, for your convenience, I will provide a list of commands that need to be entered in text form with explanations.
diskpart- launch the utility list disk- view disks (to determine the number) select disk 0- select disk number 0 clean- delete all partitions (from the selected disk) convert gpt- convert disk to GPT exit- exit the utility exit- exit from the command lineAfter this, the command line will close and you will have a blank disk with GPT partitioning on which you will need to create partitions for installing Windows.
In the same way, you can convert a hard drive from GPT to MBR by using the “convert mbr” command instead of the “convert gpt” command. This may be necessary if you have problems installing Windows on a GPT disk.
11.4. Converting a disk to GPT while preserving data
If your hard drive has a partition with data (for example, drive “D”), then the conversion without data loss can be done using the Acronis Disk Director program. You can learn how to officially get the latest version of this program for free and make a bootable disk or flash drive with Acronis Disk Director from the manual, which can be downloaded in the “” section.
12. Installation problems
12.1. Windows won't install to disk
If the installer writes “Windows cannot be installed on this disk”, “The selected disk has a GPT partition style” or something similar, then try converting it the other way around from GPT to MBR using the “Diskpart” or “Acronis Disk Director” utility, the same in the manner we discussed above.
12.2. Windows doesn't see the drive
Sometimes a situation may arise that Windows 8.1 does not detect your hard drive and it is not displayed in the window for selecting a disk for installing the system.
This often happens when installing a system using a modified distribution (assembly). In this case, it is better to use another distribution. But there are other ways.
The easiest way is to change the disk controller operating mode in the BIOS or UEFI of your motherboard or laptop from AHCI to IDE or vice versa.
If you don't know how to do this, read about it in the article. This will have virtually no effect on the operation of the hard drive. But if you have an SSD, then it is recommended to set the AHCI mode and if the Windows installer still does not see the disk, then use the method outlined below.
Download the hard drive controller driver (SATA AHCI Controller) for your version of the operating system: Windows 8.1 x64 (64-bit) or Windows 8.1 x86 (32-bit) from the website of the motherboard or laptop manufacturer.
If it has a *.exe extension (Windows application), run it and extract it into a clean folder. If it has a *.zip extension (Compressed zip folder), unzip it using the context menu (right mouse button) or open it like a regular folder and drag the files to the new folder. Also, unpacking in both cases can be performed using the WinRAR program, which you can download in the “” section.
Write this folder onto a USB flash drive and insert it before turning on the computer to install Windows. In this case, the Windows distribution can be located either on the installation DVD or on this flash drive.
When you reach the hard drive selection window, in which it is not displayed, click on the “Load driver” button and specify the location of the driver files (folder on the flash drive).
If the driver is suitable, the installer should detect your hard drive and it will appear in the window for selecting a disk for installation. After this, you can create partitions on the disk and install Windows on them.
Now select “Partition 2” of 100 GB in size, on which we install Windows 8.1, and click “Next”.
File copying begins and will take some time.
Sometimes this process may stop at 0% or any other place for a while, and then quickly end. Please be patient and do not touch your computer. You may need to wait 15-30 minutes. If after 30 minutes of waiting nothing happens, then most likely the computer has frozen or the installation disk is hard to read. You'll have to start all over again and if it freezes again, perhaps replace the installation disk. The problem may also be caused by a malfunction of the DVD drive, hard drive, RAM, or motherboard.
After copying the files, the computer will reboot several times and the installation process will continue, requiring user interaction.
Let me remind you that when the message “Press any key to boot from CD or DVD...” appears, there is NO NEED to press anything.
14. Key request
If you have disabled the key request, the window asking you to enter the key will still appear, but it will have a “Skip” button.
In the next window, you need to enter the name of the computer on the network and, if desired, change the color of the main background of Windows 8.1 using the slider.
Enter the computer name in English. You can use letters, numbers and hyphens (minus sign). Switching the language is done using the button in the lower right corner of the window or the key combination “Alt” + “Shift”. If you have several computers, then you can name the first computer PC-1, PK-1 or Home-1, the second – PC-2, PK-2 or Home-2, the laptop – HP, DELL, ACER or user name (Alex , Misha, Vera). This will make it easier for you to navigate later, but in principle it doesn’t really matter and you can always change the computer name.
In the lower left corner there is a button to enable assistance for people with poor vision and difficulty using the keyboard. This button will appear in the following windows throughout the installation of Windows 8.1.
To continue the installation, click the “Next” button.
The next window prompts you to configure the basic settings of Windows 8.1, or continue the installation without changing anything.
If you are in a hurry or don’t want to understand these settings, then just click “Use standard settings”, nothing bad will happen and Windows 8.1 will work fine. All of these settings can be changed after installing Windows, but at this stage it is faster and easier to do so.
For those who like to understand everything and configure it as they wish, a brief description of the parameters that can be configured is offered, as well as more detailed information about them under the link “More about standard parameters”. But I will explain everything to you more simply and clearly, and I will also mention what is not written in the certificate
Click the "Configure" button.
17.1. Network configuration
After this, if the computer detects the network, a network setup window may appear.
You are asked if you want the computer to discover other network devices. Such devices include other computers, TVs with a network card or Wi-Fi, network printers, mobile devices, etc.
If your computer is connected via a router and you have other network devices, then select “Yes” (For home or work networks).
If your computer connects directly to the Internet or you do not have other network devices, select “No” (For networks in public places). In this case, the security of your Internet connection will be higher.
17.2. Updating your computer and applications
To select the update installation mode, click on the “Windows Update” field.
In the drop-down menu you can select one of 3 update installation modes.
“Automatically install important and recommended updates” – installs all updates. Important ones include security updates and bug fixes. The recommended ones include installing additional services and other system components. Most experts advise using this mode.
“Automatically install important updates” – installs only security updates and bug fixes.
“Do not configure Windows Update” – updates will not be installed. You can enable automatic updates later in the operating system.
On a personal note, I want to say that if the protection of your data is important to you and you don’t know how to protect yourself from security threats on the Internet, then important updates need to be installed. On the other hand, multiple updates eventually lead to a slowdown of the computer, and along with recommended updates, a large number of unnecessary components are installed into the operating system. If you use your computer mainly for games, your security is well set up, you have a backup copy of the system and all your personal files, then in principle you can do without updates and your computer will work as quickly as possible. But I still recommend installing at least the most important updates.
There are two more options in the update group.
“Automatically obtain drivers...” – disable this option if you do not want device drivers to be installed automatically. If you are not sure that you can handle searching and installing drivers yourself, leave this option enabled. Personally, I don’t like it when the system itself updates drivers, as this can affect the operation of programs and games and it’s not always possible to understand what’s going on. By manually updating the driver as necessary, you can control the changes it causes (for example, FPS in the game).
Automatically update my apps—Turn this option off if you don't want Windows Store apps to update automatically. Personally, I don't like most of the standard Windows 8 apps with the new interface and don't use them. Accordingly, there is no point in constantly updating them, wasting computer resources on this, increasing its loading time and cluttering it with unnecessary files. And any of the applications can be updated independently if necessary.
17.3. Protect your computer and privacy
There are only two parameters in this group regarding “SmartScreen” and the “Do Not Track” request.
“SmartScreen” is a special service that sends suspicious sites and files to Microsoft for scanning. It works in the Internet Explorer browser and the Windows application store. It is not recommended to disable this feature.
"Do Not Track" - Internet Explorer sends a "Do Not Track" request to sites, which tells them that you do not want those sites to collect your personal information for statistical and marketing purposes. You can leave this function enabled, but essentially it does not affect anything, since each site decides whether to adhere to this recommendation or ignore it.
17.4. Searching for solutions to problems on the Internet
These settings are intended to resolve issues and improve compatibility.
“Use error reports...” – when an error occurs in the operating system or any program, Windows will send error data to Microsoft and try to find a solution to the problem on the Internet. This rarely helps, but it is better not to disable this feature.
“Use Internet Explorer compatibility lists...” is intended to improve the display of some sites in the Internet Explorer browser and this option can be left enabled.
17.5. Sending information to Microsoft
These settings enable you to send information to Microsoft that the company considers useful in improving Windows.
The company says this data does not violate user privacy. On the other hand, even without these switches, nothing prevents the developer from secretly monitoring users. If you are a patron or philanthropist, you can enable information to be sent to Microsoft. I prefer to save computer resources and do not enable these options.
17.6. Sending data to Microsoft and other services
These options serve slightly different purposes than the previous ones and affect the user experience.
“Get suggestions and search results from the Internet...” - The search bar that appears when you click the Search charm and is used to search for files on your computer will also search the Internet using Microsoft's Bing search engine. Personally, I don’t like this idea, since I’m used to using Windows search to search only for files on my hard drive, and I look for information on the Internet in a browser using Google or Yandex. If you don't want to search the Internet using the Search charm, which results in unnecessary Internet queries, disable this feature.
"Preload Predicted Pages in Internet Explorer" - IE will load other sites based on how often you visit them while you're viewing one site. If you constantly visit several sites, then this feature should speed up the loading process. But if you have limited Internet (for example, 3G) and you do not view the same sites every time or your computer is not powerful enough (for example, a netbook), then it is better to disable this option.
“Allow apps to use my name and avatar” – programs like Skype will be able to use your account name and user icon (avatar) from Windows so that other users see you that way. In my opinion, this is an interesting feature, but the account name can be in English, and the icon has nothing to do with you, and it will only work in applications from the Windows Store. So the value of this parameter is not so important.
“Allow apps to use my ad recipient ID” – Apps that display ads will show ads based on your interests, using information about what you searched for online. In any case, advertising will be displayed. Personally, it seems stupid to me that I am repeatedly offered something that no longer interests me. Although, if you often buy something on the Internet (for example, clothes), then you may be interested in constant offers on this topic.
“Allow Windows and applications to request information about my location” - useful when viewing the weather forecast, navigation maps, searching for nearby stores, etc. You can leave the function enabled. Location data is determined via the Internet using a Microsoft service.
“Improve malware protection…” – information and suspicious files detected by Windows Defender will be sent to Microsoft to improve it and update signatures. If you do not want to help Microsoft with this, then disable this option, thereby saving your computer resources.
18. Login or create an account
The next window prompts you to “Sign in to your Microsoft account.”
If you already have a Microsoft account (Windows Live, Xbox Live, Outlook.com, Windows Phone or OneDrive) and you know why you need it, then enter your login (email) and password. Windows Installer will then try to verify this data via the Internet. If the data turns out to be incorrect, the installation program will notify you about this, check the keyboard layout and try to carefully repeat the input. If you fail to connect to the server, Windows will accept the settings, but synchronization will be possible only after the connection with the server is restored and the account is verified. If you don’t yet know what a Microsoft account is for, then read on.
19. Why do you need a Microsoft account?
A Microsoft account allows you to sync with Microsoft's OneDrive cloud storage:
- home screen design
- Internet Explorer bookmarks and history
- Windows Store Options
- user files
Thus, if you reinstall Windows 8.1 or install it on your second computer (for example, on a laptop), your settings will be automatically restored from the Internet and you will not have to configure them again.
What do I have to say here. In principle, it is not necessary to synchronize the design of the home screen. Synchronizing browser bookmarks is a useful thing, but most people use Chrome or Firefox, which have their own synchronization services, instead of Internet Explorer. Windows Store Options are also good if you'll be using modern tiled apps. Personally, I don't like them. Synchronizing user files with cloud storage if there is a fast Internet connection is a useful thing. But OneDrive can be set up and used without signing in to an account in Windows 8.1. I also noticed that computers using a Microsoft account to log into Windows 8.1 take longer to boot. So I prefer a local account. But the difference is, in principle, small, and if you want to comply with modern fashion trends in computer technology, like to experiment and will use Windows 8.1 on several PCs, then why not?
If you don't have a Microsoft account, you can create a local account that won't sync with the internet, or go crazy and create a Microsoft account that will sync with the internet.
20. Create a local account
Click Sign in without a Microsoft account.
In the next window you need to enter the name of the main user, who will be the computer administrator.
I recommend entering the name in English letters without spaces, since the user profile folder will have the same name, into which program and game settings can be saved. And some, even modern programs and games, cannot save files to folders with Russian names.
In the same window, you are prompted to immediately set a password for this account and a hint in case you forget it. I recommend not entering the password at this stage, since during the process of setting up Windows, installing drivers and programs, the computer will reboot many times and you will simply get tired of entering it.
You can set a password for your account after you have fully configured and created a system backup. In principle, if you are not afraid that someone might turn on your computer and gain access to confidential information or harm the operating system, then you don’t need to use a password at all.
Click the "Done" button.
21. Create a Microsoft account
I warn you right away that you will have to get a little confused. It is advisable to have Internet access from another computer or mobile device (smartphone, tablet), email address and mobile phone. But in principle you can do without all this.
Click "Create a new account."
21.1. Name, email and password
Enter your Last Name and First Name in the appropriate fields (preferably in English).
You are asked to create a new email address (e-mail) on one of Microsoft's mail servers (outlook.com or hotmail.com).
If such an email already exists, the message “This email address is already a Microsoft account” will appear.
Enter a different mailbox name or select a different mail server.
If you have an email account on another mail server (@mail.ru, @yandex.ru, @gmail.com, etc.), then it is better to use it. To do this, click on the link “You can also use your favorite email address.”
After that, enter your valid mailbox, create a new Windows 8.1 login password, confirm it and select the country in which you live.
The password must be at least 8 characters and must contain large and small English letters and numbers. The password should not contain your first name, last name or simple sequences of characters (qwert, 1234, etc.). Otherwise, the installer will not accept it.
21.2. Setting up SkyDrive (OneDrive)
After this, a window may (or may not) appear in which you can disable the function of backing up files and settings to the Microsoft cloud service. It used to be called SkyDrive, but has been renamed OneDrive. In the Windows 8.1 installer, due to some misunderstandings inherent in Microsoft, the old name of the service appears. I don't understand why you need to create a Microsoft account if you don't plan to use syncing, but if you want to turn it off, click on the "Turn off these SkyDrive settings" link.
21.3. Adding information to protect your account
The next window asks you to enter your date of birth, gender, country dialing code, phone number and a spare email address.
I recommend entering all the data, including your phone number. This will allow you to restore your account in case of hacking and loss of control over it. If you don't have another mailbox, you don't have to enter a backup email address.
21.4. Communication (feedback) settings
I am amazed at such Microsoft innovations as entering a captcha during the Windows installation process to confirm that you are a human and not a robot... Microsoft probably implies the possibility of installing Windows with a humanoid robot that presses keys on the keyboard, but does not understand the pictures
Enter the English letters shown in the picture in the field just below. Letters can be entered in both capital and small letters. If you cannot make out the letters in the picture or the installation program tells you that you made a mistake, click on the “New” link to display another picture and enter the letters shown in it.
Another Microsoft joke (or mockery of the visually impaired) is the “Audio” link, which is designed to pronounce the depicted letters out loud. But I was never able to use this opportunity, since Windows did not have a suitable sound card driver. You might have better luck
Or maybe Microsoft just needs a little help by leaving a checkbox “Improve the performance of services...”, and they will make Windows even better But I, having long ago lost hope, unchecked it... I also unchecked the “Send me special offers from Microsoft...” checkbox, since I didn’t I want to clutter my mailbox, I have enough spam...
21.5. Account Verification
Microsoft is once again reaching out to us with the message “Help us protect your information,” but this time I don’t recommend ignoring their request. At this stage, you will need to confirm your phone number or e-mail.
Select a confirmation method, fill in the required field and click “Next”. If you have previously received a code, then click the “I have a code” link. If you have not received an SMS with a code on your mobile and you do not have access to the Internet to confirm your email address, then click the “I can’t do this now” link. The installation will continue and you can confirm later.
In the next window, enter the code received via SMS or e-mail.
If you did not receive the code via SMS and want to receive it by e-mail (or vice versa), click on the “Use another method” link. If you can’t get the code, click on the “I can’t do it now” link. The installation will continue and you can confirm later.
22. Final setup and installation of applications
This is the final stage of installing Windows 8.1. At this time, the background color of the screen changes and the current operation is displayed.
This stage goes faster when the Internet is turned off, but if you did not turn it off before starting the installation, then it is not advisable to do this. Please be patient, this process may take 5-15 minutes.
23. Login
At the end of the Windows 8.1 installation, if you entered an account password, the lock screen will be displayed.
Click the mouse or press any button on the keyboard to display the login screen.
Enter your password and click on the arrow or press the “Enter” key on your keyboard. Pay attention to the input language, otherwise you will not be able to log into the system. The application tile should then appear.
To get to your usual desktop, select the tile of the same name. If you did not set a password for your account, the desktop may appear immediately after the computer boots.
To control the computer (setup, shutdown), move the mouse pointer to the lower right corner. To shut down or restart your computer, click on the gear icon.
And then on the power off button and select the desired action.
24. Activation of Windows 8.1
If you entered a license key during the installation process, then Windows 8.1 will be activated automatically when you connect to the Internet.
If you did not enter the license key, activation will not occur and after 3 days activation reminders will begin to appear. But you can continue to use Windows 8.1 further. After 30 days, activation reminders will occur hourly.
To perform activation, you can purchase a licensed version of Windows 8.1 in the store, a separate license key on the Microsoft website, or activate Windows 8.1 in another way
25. Links
In the next article I will tell you how to use Windows 8.1 as familiar as Windows XP and Windows 7. Also don’t forget, and.
Hard drive A-Data Ultimate SU650 240GB
Hard drive Transcend StoreJet 25M3 1 TB
Sandisk Cruzer