Need advice on the best way to perform a clean install for windows 8.1

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Jasher_Fisson

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I had been having small issues with my OS since i installed it, but it was mostly related to the way apps would function, and i never really worrried about it, but the problem has been getting worse.

Occasionally my computer would freeze up temporarily at times, and now it has started having problems with it when I try to boot it up where the second Windows begins loading, it would just turn off, i could usually get it on after a while.

I tried performing a refresh of the OS and I have the Media Disc from when I installed 8.1, but every time it would get towards the end, an error would occur, this leads me to believe my OS has been corrupted in someway from the start.

I have it on an SSD, but there other files that I would like to try to save such as a few game files, I have a big enough hard drive to store my entire SSD if needed, I would just like some advice since many of the guides online are saying that I need to re-install everything which would take a while (plus i don't want to lose a bunch of data).

I am going to be working around the house for a little here so if i don't reply to any questions at the moment I will a little later.
 
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USAFRet
Given a full install that goes all the way through and actually works, and non-broken hardware, you shouldn't need anything more.
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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A full clean install is best.

Save anything you want to keep (docs/music/video/etc) and possibly game save files to the other drive.
Find all your application install disks and files.
Find all your username/passwords

Have all of that?
OK, reinstall.


And what do you mean by "second Windows" ?
 
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Jasher_Fisson

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I meant that the bios for the motherboard would work, but then when it trys to start up windows, it shuts down (by the way, I can access my motherboards bios menus and other options without any issues)

Also, for the types of things like save games, how do I find them, the file system can be rather confusing at times so what should i look for?

So i can't just copy the programs to my HDD and then move them back into the new OS?
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Game saves are specific to that game. Steam games...the whole thing lives in /steamapps/.

Applications? No, you can't just copy them elsewhere and then copy them back. Some few applications will sort of work, but most need to be actually reinstalled with the new OS.
 
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Jasher_Fisson

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So what about applications that I have stored in the HDD, will those need to be reinstalled as well?
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Yes. The new OS knows nothing about them.
 
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Jasher_Fisson

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wow, I am gonna need quite a bit of prep work then.

So once the new OS is installed, what is the best way to check to make sure that it didn't get corrupted again (or missing files)?
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Anti virus. An occasional scan with Malwarebytes. Don't download anything from dodgy sites.
 
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Jasher_Fisson

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Is that really it, cause that is what I did when I first installed this OS a few months ago, yet it is still acting up like this.

I don't think the problem lies in downloading funky programs, since I am smart enough not to do that, and the first sign of the problem that I noticed was when i first installed it and tried to open the app store (you know how windows goes full screen everytime you open certain windows, well they would appear in the taskbar, but i could never get the windows to stay up.)

Are you sure that is all I need to check that windows installed correctly?
 
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