ES1 - how could I reverify windows after formatting HDD and installing/uninstalling linux?

Hi, I have Es1-311 laptop, came with windows 8 (or 8.1) preinstalled.

I want to format my HDD clean, then install linux for a while.

After that I want to return to windows 8.

I read that you do not get verification key for windows and it is somehow set up in BIOS.

So I will simply install any copy of windows 8 (or 8.1) on clean formatted HDD and it will verify from bios itself automatically?

Or do I need to have some recovery patch or whatever?

Basically now I am on windows 8, ready to format HDD and install linux.

What step should I take before doing so that I would be able to authenticate my win 8 whenever I decide to come back to it?

Thanks

PS: Is there some kind of driver package that I also need to be prepared for this ES1-311 laptop?

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IronFly

probably on your laptop is installed an application called Acer erecovery, this application will help you create a bootable USB flash drive with the original Acer recovery, so you can use it to re-install the OS as from factory.

or you can use the built-in windows software (Acer erecovery is just a shortcut to this software)

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17422/windows-8-create-usb-recovery-drive

the authentication process is totally automatic, sometimes it just need to be forced to connect to the web or give a call to Microsoft to authenticate.

aprelude

Hi, what for do I need that recovery though?

I do not want to recover any app data or anything.

I will be cleanly formatting whole HDD and installing win 8 back up (after done with linux).

I do not see that I could download win 8 installation via recovery so I am simply gong to get it from somehere online and install it on clean fomatted drive. I just want to be sure it will be activated somehow.

I do not see how acer recovery plays in this case at all Smiley Happy

Unless it won't get deleted when I format my HDD somehow and then it will have some "activate windows" link in it, whicg I doubt is the case.

Thanks

IronFly

that was a generic instruction to revert to windows factory installation, if you already the installation media, just skip those steps.

since you mention you want to delete the windows 8 installation, i advised you to do a recovery backup so you can re-install windows from scratch...since you don't need it...just install your windows copy, connect to the web and it will authenticate (probably you jsut need to skip the product key request if any, during installation)

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