Reinstall windows 8

[Heinzelmannchen]

Well embarrassingly i deleted windows 8 when installing ubuntu. For the most part i don't need windows but would like to still have it. Is there anyway i can reinstall it without buying a new key? I have a lenovo g580 that came installed with windows 8. I just wish i realized what i was doing at the time =/. Oh well, any help is greatly appreciated

[Old_Grey_Wolf]

Look on the bottom of the laptop for a Microsoft Windows sticker. The key should be on the sticker.

[oldfred]

If it is a new UEFI system, you do not have a serial number on the bottom of the drive. It is actually somewhere in the UEFI memory. And if system was UEFI, you cannot reinstall in BIOS mode unless you buy a full new copy. Product key now in UEFI/BIOS
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33642_7-57554240-292/windows-8-moves-to-bios-based-product-keys/
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-windows_install/bipass-uefi-provided-product-key-to-install/a271067b-d655-4b46-8b52-b3f191b9370c

Windows has a lot of partition requirements for UEFI.

Microsoft suggested partitions including reserved partition for gpt & UEFI:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd744301%28WS.10%29.aspx
Older Windows info on gpt - 2008 updated 2011
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/gg463525.aspx
Windows technical info on gpt and GUIDs
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/windows/desktop/aa365449
Order on drive is important:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Reserved_Partition

[Old_Grey_Wolf]

oldfred is correct. I checked and the Lenovo g580 does appear to be UEFI.

[Heinzelmannchen]

Thank you for the responses. How would i go about installing windows 7 instead if i have an iso usb/disc? Would i basically need to delete everything on my hard drive and reformat it?

[oldfred]

Windows needs a NTFS formatted primary partition with the boot flag. Some have had issues if the primary is after the extended partition, but it does not have to be the first partition.

[Mark Phelps]

Thank you for the responses. How would i go about installing windows 7 instead if i have an iso usb/disc? Would i basically need to delete everything on my hard drive and reformat it?

You do know that you will need a product key to install Win7, right? And, since this is an OEM PC, and activates Windows using the BIOS, a retail version of Win7 might not activate.

Your best bet would be to contact Lenovo, tell them you accidentally erased the drive, trying to get rid of a Virus, and how do you go about restoring it? You might have to purchase recovery media from them -- but that would be a lot cheaper than buying a retail license for Win7.

[CharlesA]

Your best bet would be to contact Lenovo, tell them you accidentally erased the drive, trying to get rid of a Virus, and how do you go about restoring it? You might have to purchase recovery media from them -- but that would be a lot cheaper than buying a retail license for Win7.

Agreed. Most of the newer laptops I have seen have a recovery partition, but if you installed Ubuntu and wiped the drive, it is unlikely that partition still exists.

As a sidenote, I always clone the drive of a machine with Clonezilla before messing with partitions/dual booting. It has saved me many headaches, especially if I have to send a laptop in for service.

[Heinzelmannchen]

One more question...sorry:P Will this cd work with my situation? I'm not sure if it will recognize the product key in the bios. I messaged the seller and he said he didn't have experience with the product key being tin bios but saw no reason it wouldn’t work. Or does it require a recovery partion which i don’t have =/.

Reinstall CD (http://www.ebay.com/itm/261235523064?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649)

[oldfred]

I would never buy Windows from ebay. It probably is not a legal copy.

You can download legal copies, but will have to pay for a new license. Windows 7 from DVD is not UEFI capabable and I doubt even if you convert it to UEFI install that it will accept a Windows 8 license. They are different.
It is the Windows 8 secure boot install that has key in UEFI.

[ushpiy]

I would suggest you to download the legal copy or torrent it and use the key that came with your laptop.

[Mark Phelps]

One more question...sorry:P Will this cd work with my situation? I'm not sure if it will recognize the product key in the bios. I messaged the seller and he said he didn't have experience with the product key being tin bios but saw no reason it wouldn’t work.
Of course ...the seller saw no reason ... they want your money!!


Or does it require a recovery partion which i don’t have =/. This version, most likely a cracked version that will eventually crash on you, does NOT require a recovery partition.

You keep looking for shortcuts to avoid the obvious solution -- contact Lenovo and get installation media from them!

[CharlesA]

You keep looking for shortcuts to avoid the obvious solution -- contact Lenovo and get installation media from them!

This. There is little reason to go downloading potentially cracked/hacked ISOs while trying to get Win8 back on your machine when you can just talk to the manufacturer.

[Heinzelmannchen]

Stupidity costs too much. $89 dollars to be exact, oh well. I just decided to call, i figured i'd try to get it a little cheaper. I guess it'll be safer and less of a headache to just buy it. I mean they should provide(and i should back up windows first thing:lolflag:) the disc for free. Thanks again for the help, i can always rely on Ubuntu forums ):P