Asus X550 Windows 8.1: Clean install (remove bloat, recovery)

[cybocross]

I know that this kind of question has been asked a LOT of times already. I usually know my stuff and if it was my laptop I would just try it, but this is for a friend and for her I have to be 100% sure! There is no trial and error!


She bought the Asus X550 (http/www.cyberport.de/?DEEP=1C28-1RT). It comes with Windows 8.1 and a lot of bloatware. We want to get rid of this crap!

I plan on doing this:
1) repartition the harddrive to get rid of the recovery stuff
2) grab a Windows 8.1 ISO and make a clean install

The question is: Will it work? Which ISO do I take and will the key get recognized? Is it guaranteed, that the key is stored in BIOS and ready to (re)use?

Thanks in advance.

 

[knight_of_baawa]

It's probably in the BIOS, but if you want to find the key: http/www.makeuseof.com/tag/four-places-find-windows-8-product-key/

 

[cybocross]

It's probably in the BIOS, but if you want to find the key: http/www.makeuseof.com/tag/four-places-find-windows-8-product-key/

Thanks for the quick answer, but couldn't it be that the key I am able to get with third-party tools is different than the one in the BIOS? And how do I find out which exact Windows 8.1 build ISO I have to use?

 

[knight_of_baawa]

Unless she paid more, she just has 8.1, not 8.1 Pro. And what you see with the 3rd party tools will be the key.

 

[cybocross]

Unless she paid more, she just has 8.1, not 8.1 Pro. And what you see with the 3rd party tools will be the key.

Alright, thanks. Where do I get to download said Windows 8.1 ISO without being a MSDN subscriber? I think I just have the pro version lying around.

 

[knight_of_baawa]

This might work (and hopefully is not in violation of the TOS here, as it is from CNET) http/www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-download-the-official-microsoft-windows-8-1-iso/

 

[cybocross]

This might work (and hopefully is not in violation of the TOS here, as it is from CNET) http/www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-download-the-official-microsoft-windows-8-1-iso/

Thank you very much! You have been very helpful. I will try that tomorrow and report back.
One last question for now: Is there a way to tell if the setup recognizes the key before starting the actual installation process?

 

[knight_of_baawa]

I do not know the answer to that one, sorry.

 

[cybocross]

I do not know the answer to that one, sorry.

Then a different question. If the key "does not match the image", is it possible to use a generic key to install and the bios key to activate?

 

[knight_of_baawa]

Still not sure, but probably.

 

[cybocross]

Still not sure, but probably.

Thank you very much! Everything went great. I found an ISO image and the key was immediately recognized and activated. (I used RWEverything to grab the key off the BIOS just in case).
I was able to completely wipe the HDD off all recovery crap and installed a clean copy of Windows with every driver! Thanks a ton!

 

[knight_of_baawa]

You're welcome.