Need help installing Windows 8.1 on laptop myself

[Alir]

I have created a boot disc on a USB for Windows 8.1 Pro and I am trying to install it on my Lafite laptop (I didn't choose the option to have windows installed by PCS).

When installing it, it shows a screen with all of the drives currently recognised.
It provides a list of the drives which are on the HDD (ordered SSD separately, will arrive monday). Is it ok to delete the other drives? I only have Ubuntu installed and the 30-day version of windows which they installed for testing. I am fine with reinstalling Ubuntu later.

when trying to delete the partitions, it says the partition may have important files left by the computer manufacturer. Is it ok to delete these partitions anyways?

If I am correct, the 30-day version of windows said that this HDD would need to be formatted, in which case I assume deleting the partitions is ok/safe? I'm going to be installing Windows on the HDD now and transfering the OS to the SSD when it arrives.

 

[Alir]

I have deleted all of the partitions anyways. Am installing Windows 8.1 now

 

[Alir]

All seems to be fine

 

[dogbot]

I would advise doing a fresh clean install on the SSD when it arrives to get the correct offset for the SSD.

 

[Alir]

I would advise doing a fresh clean install on the SSD when it arrives to get the correct offset for the SSD.

Will probably have to do that anyways, now that I think about it.
I installed it yesterday but the resolution was stuck at less than 1024x768. I went to change it in the resolution settings and the option was greyed out. Didn't know why. It was like that throughout the install period. Everything was huge for some reason. Thought installing it would change that but I was wrong.

Does anyone know why this is happening?

I have installed it once perfectly fine for my desktop PC (through the same USB).

I considered it may be because the usb I am using is not in some way compatible with the laptop, hence I am trying another USB.

I will contact PCS customer support tomorrow to see if they know why this is happening.
In the meantime, I would appreciate if anyone who knows about this problem, knows what the fix is.

Thanks.

 

[Alir]

Nope. I am still getting the same problem with a different USB. The resolution is smaller than it should be and hence everything is large, including text and windows.

The laptop supports full HD and Ubuntu installed perfectly fine.
Also, the pre-installed 30-day version of Windows 8.1 by PCS didn't have the same resolution problem.

 

[ubuysa]

It's likely you haven't installed the video driver and you're running with the standard low-resolution WIndows driver. You must install all the appropriate drivers as well as Windows for the computer to function properly.

 

[dogbot]

I have to wonder where this copy of Windows 8.1 (or to be more exact, the serial number) came from.

If it is an OEM version supplied with another computer, you cannot use it for the new computer.

If it is a new (unused) retail version, it can be used and activated on the new laptop. If it has been previously used on another computer, it must be deactivated before it can be activated on the new computer. When you say it worked fine on the desktop, did you activate it.

Of course you may have bought a batch of S/N's from Microsoft while they were going cheap.

 

[Alir]

I have to wonder where this copy of Windows 8.1 (or to be more exact, the serial number) came from.

If it is an OEM version supplied with another computer, you cannot use it for the new computer.

If it is a new (unused) retail version, it can be used and activated on the new laptop. If it has been previously used on another computer, it must be deactivated before it can be activated on the new computer. When you say it worked fine on the desktop, did you activate it.

Of course you may have bought a batch of S/N's from Microsoft while they were going cheap.

I have purchased two retail copies of Windows 8.1 Pro from Microsoft (UK) for £50 - they're discounted for students.
I used the same USB I used when I activated my desktop, this time I used the second serial number.
So to answer your concern, no I am using two different, legitimate, serial numbers.

 

[Alir]

It's likely you haven't installed the video driver and you're running with the standard low-resolution WIndows driver. You must install all the appropriate drivers as well as Windows for the computer to function properly.

Yeah, thanks. That just occured to me. I slowed down and double checked everything. Wifi wasn't working, absolutely no programs were installed.

So I am just going ahead and downloading the drivers from PCS website and installing them onto my laptop.

I think this should work.

 

[dogbot]

No worries then. Still it is amazing what some people will try.

I bought W8 Pro + WMC for £25 from Microsoft but it is an upgrade version so is supposed to be installed over a previous version. I got that in case I needed it as an upgrade path to W10 (as it's now known).

BTW if the Wifi driver doesn't load, you may need to do it manually from Device Manager.

 

[Alir]

No worries then. Still it is amazing what some people will try.

I bought W8 Pro + WMC for £25 from Microsoft but it is an upgrade version so is supposed to be installed over a previous version. I got that in case I needed it as an upgrade path to W10 (as it's now known).

BTW if the Wifi driver doesn't load, you may need to do it manually from Device Manager.

Everything seems to be working now.
However I have stopped halfway-through from installing all drivers as I have realised that my HDD has a GPT, as opposed to MBR. I need MBR in order to use full disk encryption.
Will just re-install it onto the SSD tomorrow - I should be able to change the partition table before installing windows.

But if Windows is being installed automatically as a GPT, I will have a big problem.

 

[ubuysa]

Everything seems to be working now.
However I have stopped halfway-through from installing all drivers as I have realised that my HDD has a GPT, as opposed to MBR. I need MBR in order to use full disk encryption.
Will just re-install it onto the SSD tomorrow - I should be able to change the partition table before installing windows.

But if Windows is being installed automatically as a GPT, I will have a big problem.

Enter the BIOS setup and ensure Secure Boot is disabled, that will revert to MBR. You may also need to enable Legacy Boot, it depends on your BIOS.

 

[Alir]

Enter the BIOS setup and ensure Secure Boot is disabled, that will revert to MBR. You may also need to enable Legacy Boot, it depends on your BIOS.

There was no option for Legacy boot. I might need to update the BIOS.

Disabling Secure Boot didn't work also.

I did come across another issue. I installed an m.2 SSD into the machine and tried to install Windows 8.1 Pro onto it; the drive was initialised as an MBR. It said I could not install Windows on an MBR, on a UFI machine, or something to that effect. Strange, because I managed to do it unhindered, on my desktop. I assumed it was a BIOS issue so phones PCS. The guy gave me instructions to update my BIOS, Launch CSM and Disable UFI - the BIOS is currently restricted from such features. Although worth noting, incorrect use of this does void your warranty, and he told me to read the README file.

^worth documenting that if anyone else comes across this problem.

If this ends up working I'll happily give PCS a 5*/5 for customer service

 

[Alir]

SUCCESS!! IT WORKED! I am now installing windows 8.1 Pro to the laptop, on an MBR drive!

PC Specialists' support team are extremely helpful! Kudos to you guys!! PCS get 5/5

Exams are just around the corner so I won't have time to document everything they instructed me to do. If I can, I'll try and do so after my exams. But if anyone is in a similar position to myself, I HIGHLY suggest you call their support team! Their # is 0333 011 7000, if you didn't notice the huge numbers on the bottom of their website

Thanks again PCS guys, you're awesome!