Can I completely reinstall windows 8.1 using only my OEM install disk and key? Please help

getyourpranaup · Jan 18, 2015

I've been swamped with BSOD errors for the past two weeks. After updating my motherboard BIOS that seemed to stop them, but they're back and I'm concerned it's the windows OS. I've invested too much time researching and I'm now ready to throw in the towel and completely restore my computer to the factory settings.

As I mentioned in the title, do I only need my disk and key that came together? And what do I need to do in preparation? I do not have my hard drive backed up or a usb or anything like that. I need this all fixed before the semester begins again on tuesday >.<

pc specs if it matters:

Pentium g3258 cpu

asrock z97m motherboard

8gb ripjaws x memory

1tb WD Blue hard drive

nvidia 750 ti gpu

saywhut · Jan 18, 2015

If you have the same media and key that you used, you should be fine re-installing. Simply boot to the OS media, clear the drive, and install the new OS on top of it. Put in the product key when prompted.

Definitely grab a backup if you have data you want to keep. If you don't have any thing to back it to, you can use a cloud backup, or you can shrink your hard drive partition, make a new partition and put all the data there. You can later transfer the data to the freshly installed OS and clear the partition where your data was at.

getyourpranaup · Jan 18, 2015

saywhut :

Can it be done without the media? I just plugged in my disc reader and the thing randomly started smoking...

saywhut · Jan 19, 2015

Yeah... That's not a good thing. I would suggest finding another way to get the media if you wish to do a CLEAN re-install, especially if the main reason you're re-installing is due to blue screens.

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Can I completely reinstall windows 8.1 using only my OEM install disk and key? Please help

getyourpranaup

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saywhut

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getyourpranaup

Reputable

saywhut

Honorable

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