[laf760]

I recently got a new desktop tower with windows 8.1 preloaded. In the past when I had a crash I was able to wipe the hard drive and reinstall  Windows using the Windows disc provided. This time there was no disc included and I cant find a sticker with a Key# anywhere. How can I reinstall Windows if needed? I did read about making a recovery drive and I did that. Does that drive now contain Windows 8 so that I could install it again if I would need to? If not, can someone tell me how to reinstall without a disc??? Thanks.

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Hi laf760,

 

 

These are the ways with Windows 8, 8.1. http://windows.micro...efresh-reset-pc

 

Still might be a recovery partition on the drive, but is accessed using about tutorials. Will not have to enter a product key to do it this way.

[jds63]

Hi laf760,

 

 

These are the ways with Windows 8, 8.1. http://windows.micro...efresh-reset-pc

 

Still might be a recovery partition on the drive, but is accessed using about tutorials. Will not have to enter a product key to do it this way.

[Ztruker]

When you made the recovery, did you tell it to include the recovery partition? If so then yes, you can use it to reinstall Windows 8.1.

 

The key is embedded in BIOS so there is no COA sticker any more. It will be picked up and used during a reinstall.