Windows 8 Pro - Upgrade from 7/Vista - Reinstallation Query

[samsat]

Hi,

Recently I had to reformat my Windows Vista machine due to a bad attack.

I bought a laptop from HP and had paid extra money to get Vista Ultimate 64 bit for my machine. During reinstallation I saw the recovery DVD was just able to put my hard drive to the factory settings. I was unable to launch 'DISKPART' to do any low level format or remove any format from the recovery DVD. I was lucky I had access to some bootable DVDs and get it all done. Anyways now all is quite at my home front, for a while I guess.

I was thinking about buying 'Windows 8 Pro - Upgrade' from Vista/7 as it is available at a good price. Now the query is: What happens if in future, I need to reformat my HDD, get rid of all partitions and reinstall 'Win 8'? As it is a 'upgrade only' version, do I have to reinstall Vista again for the upgrade to Win 8? Or will it let me create some recovery disk after the first installation with no access to the entire OS?

I know, it is very early to ask this as Win 8 is relatively new. Does anybody has any experience with these things yet?

[Maurice Naggar]

Yes, there is a "recovery" disc (to DVD or USB-flash) that you can make within WIN8. The executable name is Recoverydrive.exe

MS labels it as Recovery Media Creator

Think of it as a recovery environment tool. A tool to get you to that environment.

You can get to it by typing in Recoverydrive.exe on the Start screen and clicking on the displayed box result.

Or from the Desktop, by Windows-key +R (for RUN ) and typing in Recoverydrive.exe

Or from Control Panel >> Settings >> Recovery.

What you do need to implement is a mirror-image-backup to offline storage (external-USB or DVD) and use that as a mechanism to recover the full system in case of disaster, instead of planning on a wipe/and re-install of the operating systems.

Remember, backups are your pc's best friend !

How to create a Windows system image in Windows 7 and Windows 8

http://www.bleepingc...in-windows-7-8/

How to use System Image Recovery in the Windows 7 and Windows 8 Recovery Environment

http://www.bleepingc...in-windows-7-8/

The built-in Windows backup capability will do. But you can also use other 3-rd party tools.

Examples of image backup software: Acronis True Image,

or the free (for personal use) Macrium Reflect http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp

or Paragon Backup & Recovery http://www.paragon-s...e/download.html

As to the HDD-wipe and o.s. reload: Yes, since the Windows8 upgrade is an "upgrade" it must see a existing version of Windows 7 or Vista or XP on your HDD before it will begin the setup.

So in your scenario, yes, you would have to setup Win7 first, then the Win8 Upgrade.

That is why you must have and use mirror-image backups, which would bypass the need for 2 o.s. reloads.

[samsat]

Hi Maurice,

Thanks for the explanation.

It perfectly makes sense.

Thanks for the tips and links as well. Appreciate your time.

Best

Sam

[Maurice Naggar]

Right back at 'cha. Cheers.

[samsat]

Maurice,

Had this doubt after I posted above.

• So creating a set of recovery disk or USB drive and scheduling the mirror-image backup are 2 separate things. One can create the recovery usb/disk before using the system and then set mirror-image backups later on.
  
• In case there is a crash or HDD fails and needs to be replaced, which one should be used on the new HDD? Can either be used?
  
• Are both of these things bootable?
  

Thanks again for taking time to answer this.

Best

Sam

[Maurice Naggar]

Sam,

Yes, the making of a recovery disk is separate task, and it is done after Windows is installed.

The recovery disk -is- bootable. It would get you to the Recovery environment.

Be careful not to confuse "crash" with HDD failure.

If the HDD fails and you replace it, you are likely to have to setup Windows on a fresh install basis.

And then later on, retrieve personal files from backups.

A mirror-image backup is -not- bootable. A mirror-image backup is a complete copy (snapshot) of all your system and which may be used later to restore back onto the system ---- if you have a serious corruption of your system.

Let's say it is a good idea to do a mirror image at least once a week, and also, at major events like before or after installing some major new application.

Thus if one makes a weekly mirror-image backup, in case of a major disaster, at most one loses maybe a week's worth of "stuff" at the most. One would not lose everything and have to start from scratch.

[samsat]

Hi Maurice,

Thanks for the explanation.

So in case a HDD fails or needs reformatting, should the recovery take the following path:

• Use the 'System Recovery' disk to first bring the system to life.
  
• Install all major patches if any for the OS. Get all necessary updates for the OS and compatible applications if any.
  
• Install all software being used on the system. Get all updates for them.
  
• Use the 'mirror-image' backup to put the system at the last known good configuration.
  

Please correct me if I am wrong above.

Thank you again for your expert inputs.

Best

Sam

[Maurice Naggar]

Let me start by re-stating that a system image backup would be done beforehand (on a regular basis) onto external (offline) media.

A how-to by Grinler is here => http://www.bleepingc...in-windows-7-8/

So if your HDD needed to be completly restored from a previously made system image, one would do this:

Put the Recovery DVD or Recovery USB (as appropriate) in to the drive.

Set the pc boot-up option sequence to boot from that device.

Restart the system.

{I will use the DVD as the assumed method}.

System will say press a key to boot from DVD.

Press the space bar or any key on keyboard.

You are prompted for "your keyboard layout".

Mine is US so I use the down-arrow-key on keyboard to highlight it and press Enter

From the options listed, highlight and select Troubleshoot.

From the Advanced Options, select System Image Recovery.

See the remaining steps in Grinler's http://www.bleepingc...in-windows-7-8/

Be sure you understand that a complete restoration from a system image means "all" of your system is set back to the state of "that" particular point in time.

You lose anything created, or added, or changed after "that" image was initially created up to the current moment.

What you would NOT be doing from your previous list

•Install all major patches if any for the OS. Get all necessary updates for the OS and compatible applications if any.

•Install all software being used on the system. Get all updates for them.

Edited November 18, 2012 by Maurice Naggar