Windows 8...

[nibbler]

Decided to install windows 8 today with an in-place upgrade (probably an error). The rubbish lenovo software has now bricked my PC since I cannot log on - from the login screen I click on my name and some windows flash up (there was an error box about memory before, but now it's flashes the lenovo face recognition login thing and I can't get to the desktop. Should I just reinstall windows 8? I need the ISO file then and I don't know where to get it from...


Thanks for any help you can offer.

Nick

[Terbinator]

There *isn't* one like they had for Windows 7. The only one MS do is for a version that cannot be licensed/unlocked - it just bricks after 90 days.

You will have to *ahem* 'acquire' one from the web.

[Jonj1611]

Ok, first of all don't panic, you don't need to get any dodgy copies off the web lol.

In your order email, at the bottom, it says "you can also access your account online"

Click that link and fill in your order details, on the next screen is your order summary and on the left there is a link that allows you to download Windows 8 again.

Hope that helps.

[nibbler]

Thanks Jon, that's worked. A lot of drivers don't work, I've reinstalled windows 8 twice because I've realised that the GPU driver that lenovo insists I use instead of the AMD one bricks the computer. Great.

[Jonj1611]

No worries mate, glad you got it sorted.

I havent had too many issues, I had to use the Windows 7 driver for LucidLogix as according to Gigabyte, they aren't going to be bringing out a Windows 8 driver for Virtu Green, which is a shame as my mainboard is only about 6 months old. But the Win 7 driver seems to be working ok.

[nibbler]

What's irritating is that I've done a fresh install now with no lenovo crap on it, and I still can't get a graphics driver without going through lenovo.... and currently that graphics driver bricks the laptop...
Also it would seem that the xbox music app just stalls sporadically which is very annoying.

[Jonj1611]

I had to use the graphics driver that came with Windows as seems the HD4800 series isn't going to be getting any Windows 8 drivers :/

[nibbler]

I have an HD6650M but can't get the AMD drivers. Sigh.

[Jonj1611]

Cant you download it direct from Ati? Or Amd or whoever they are now?

[nibbler]

Apparently not, since I need to go through my vendor... maybe I can just get round that.

[Jonj1611]

Thats strange, never seen that before, what happens when you go to the amd site then?

[nibbler]

You have to download the catalyst download assistant or something and it deems my system unsuitable for the stock driver

[Jonj1611]

Yeah just read that on the driver page, what an odd way of doing things :/

[nibbler]

To be honest I'm really not having a good time at the moment, the laptop just freezes up sporadically and won't behave properly with music/videos/apps. I know I've had hard drive issues in the past, am wondering whether to suck it up and get a new hard drive or if that's wasted money. I tried doing a test of the HD but seatools doesn't even recognise it.

[Terbinator]

To be honest I'm really not having a good time at the moment, the laptop just freezes up sporadically and won't behave properly with music/videos/apps. I know I've had hard drive issues in the past, am wondering whether to suck it up and get a new hard drive or if that's wasted money. I tried doing a test of the HD but seatools doesn't even recognise it.

Definitely try and grab a drive from elsewhere to test. Also, see if you can test your drive in another computer to see if it SeaTools flags it up.

[Jonj1611]

Indeed, I would definitely go the new drive route.