WINDOWS 8.1 RESTORE PROCEDURE

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1 Support website: MyDigitalTech Support Support phone number: WINDOWS 8.1 RESTORE PROCEDURE This document describes how Windows system recovery works, in the event that Windows will not start normally you can start the recovery process from the recovery menu that automatically starts when Windows fails to start in a normal manner. Alternatively the restore process can be started from the desktop using the System Recovery shortcut or click on the Start button and use search and then type in Recovery to find the Update and Recovery menu which begins the restore process, the full details are explained in this document. WARNING: This process will delete all software you have installed and all user data, please backup your data before continuing, it is advisable to carry out regular backups of Windows and your personal data in case you ever need to use the Windows 8.1 recovery tool, please read this document to understand the process. After the restore is complete you will need to activate Windows with the Certificate of Authority (COA) attached to your computer within 30 days. MyDigitalTech Team 1

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS... 2 RESTORE WINDOWS - AUTOMATIC REPAIR... 3 RECOVERY AND TROUBLESHOOT OPTIONS... 4 RESET YOUR PC... 5 FINAL RESET OPTIONS... 6 RESETTING YOUR PC... 7 RESTORE WINDOWS - USING THE DESKTOP ICON... 8 UPDATE AND RECOVERY... 9 RESET YOUR PC READY TO RESET YOUR PC RESETTING YOUR PC WINDOWS RESTORED FIRST SETUP SCREENS INSERT THE PRODUCT KEY PERSONALIZE WINDOWS CREATE A LOCAL ACCOUNT NAME THE LOCAL ACCOUNT SET YOUR DESKTOP ICONS PERSONALIZATION

3 RESTORE WINDOWS - AUTOMATIC REPAIR When Windows 8.1 Update fails to start Windows automatic repair will start and give various options to recover Windows. There are two options here Restart to try a normal boot up or Advanced options, select Advanced options to continue the repair procedure. 3

4 RECOVERY AND TROUBLESHOOT OPTIONS There are three options at the next screen Continue to boot normally to Windows, Troubleshoot for advanced options and Turn off your PC. Click on Troubleshoot The Troubleshoot menu has three options Refresh your PC to reinstall Windows without affecting your files, Reset your PC to reinstall Windows from the recovery partition and Advanced options used for end user created recovery images stored on optical disk or on a network drive, click on the Reset your PC icon to continue. 4

5 RESET YOUR PC Click Next to continue IMPORTANT: Take care with this option as it WILL wipe all drives! Click on Only the drive where Windows is installed to continue. 5

6 FINAL RESET OPTIONS The two options here are Just remove my files or Fully clean the drive which is a reinstall from the recovery partition and will delete all user programs and data. Click Reset to continue. 6

7 RESETTING YOUR PC Windows will now reset using the recovery image, the recovery process can take a long time, an hour or more is normal, if the computer is shut down during the process it is highly likely to be unrecoverable. See the WINDOWS RESTORED FIRST SETUP SCREENS to set up Windows 8.1 after restarting the computer. 7

8 RESTORE WINDOWS - USING THE DESKTOP ICON In the following image which appears by running the desktop shortcut System Recovery four options are listed. Option 1: Create a recovery drive, used to create a USB recovery drive Option 2: Open System Restore, used for end user created restore options Option 3: Configure System Restore, used for end user created restore options Option 4: If you re experiencing problems with your PC you can refresh it in PC settings Click on Option 4 If you re experiencing problems with your PC you can refresh it in PC settings to begin the system restore. 8

9 UPDATE AND RECOVERY The following screen appears with three options, the second option Remove everything and reinstall Windows uses the inbuilt recovery partition, click the middle button Get Started to begin the process of reinstalling Windows. 9

10 RESET YOUR PC Click Next to continue the reset process Click Fully clean the drive to continue. 10

11 READY TO RESET YOUR PC Click Reset to begin the restore process. WARNING: This is the point of no return once it begins it cannot be stopped or Windows will be rendered unusable and it will delete all user data. 11

12 RESETTING YOUR PC Windows will now reset using the recovery image, the recovery process can take a long time, an hour or more is normal, if the computer is shut down during the process it is highly likely to be unrecoverable. See the WINDOWS RESTORED FIRST SETUP SCREENS to set up Windows 8.1 after restarting the computer. 12

13 WINDOWS RESTORED FIRST SETUP SCREENS After the computer has been restored to its initial configuration as delivered from MyDigitalTech these following screens will be presented to prepare Windows 8.1 Update for use. Set the Region and language options as in the image below, Windows 8.1 was originally configured exactly the way shown in the following image. 13

14 INSERT THE PRODUCT KEY The product key is best entered now from the Certificate of Authority attached to the computer although it can either be entered after installation. Click I Accept the License terms to continue. 14

15 PERSONALIZE WINDOWS To personalize the Windows 8.1 installation screen add a PC name and click Next to continue. Click Use Express settings to continue. 15

16 CREATE A LOCAL ACCOUNT Windows will attempt to find an Internet connection so an account can be linked to the current user account being created, if you do not want to link an account do not connect to the Internet until after setup is complete. When the Internet connection attempt fails the following screen appears, click Create a local account to continue. 16

17 NAME THE LOCAL ACCOUNT Add your user name to the local account if you have not created a linked account with Microsoft, if you enter a Password you must remember it or any further recovery reinstallations will not be allowed. Windows will restart ready to set up the desktop icons as required. 17

18 SET YOUR DESKTOP ICONS After restart and logging into Windows 8.1 the desktop will appear like the following image. Right click on the desktop area and a popup menu will appear, select Personalize like the image below. 18

19 PERSONALIZATION From the Personalization menu select Change desktop icons, top left, as in the image below. Select the icons you want to appear on your desktop from the menu as in the image below, click Apply and OK to complete the process. 19