on a new Asus laptop: i have to disable a bunch of s**t from startup/services and ALSO from task scheduler ... why can't they just include a clean install of windows with only the necessary drivers and not having a bunch of useless crap starting up with the OS making it slow? on top of that the owner told me that they ran Windows Update and that it crashed which I checked and it did.. if you buy new laptop it should not be crashing right after you turn it on.. WTF! also you can't even do a clean OS install because UEFI makes it a pain to boot from a USB and install on the HD.. you can't simply install the OS and use the serial from the serial sticker, since there is no more stickers.. you have to do some token backup BS and call MS or bullcrap like that.. and even if I can manage to do a legacy BIOS boot, format the HDD, and do a clean 8.1 install, that might void the damn warranty!
While I can't disagree with anything you've said. There are real options, first almost every OEM will sell you a 'Clean' PC if you want to pay extra. It may not be right, but they get paid (by Google and others) to add that crapware. So, if you cover that cost they'll sell you the PC crap free. But more importantly. If a brand new laptop/PC is crashing straight out of the box. You should be ranting at their CS staff, not on a random forum And while the FAT32/4GB File thing is a pain with UEFI, once you know about it. Its easy to work round, especially with the info on this forum.
use ruffus and format the usb to fat32 and point ruffus to the iso you want. bang, bootable uefi usb drive for installing windows. simply formatting the drive can void some warranties, correct
You can 1st retrieve OEM product key from your OS and then 2nd you can scrap OS and install the best edition (Enterprise) WITHOUT that key for sure. Off-topic: @EFA11: Ahhh, that new avatar rocks...
OEMs get paid for adding stuff and trials, this brings in the cost they had to pay to Microsoft for the Windows License. Get a genuine msdn/ Technet iso of the Windows Version that was preinstalled ( 8 or 8.1, must match preinstalled OS ) and boot from that . The productkey from your OEM is stored in the UEFI Hardware Chip, setup.exe will read it automagically and install that exact edition ( core or pro ) , you wont have to put in Keys at all this way and get a genuine activated copy onto your machine.
Alternative: 1) read the preserving oem activation thread sticky 2) get a certain iso from a nefarious pirate themed website, possibly from a familiar user name. 3) enjoy your free, up to date, squeaky clean system.
Not sure if Im the only one, but after i got the Acer OEM and HP OEM. which I did make the Factory Recovery Image on USB for BOTH. 1. FORMAT HDD - total clean as one can make it. 2. insert USB with Windows 8.1 (no ei.cfg) it was a genuine ISO on USB from MS. 3. boot to and install. it read the key - installed the proper OS and was Activated. this was test on both. which had Windows 8.1 OEM... Nothing Pirate about either one except the Name of the PC/Laptop both have same name Pirate-PC
I recently bought an 8.1 acer laptop which I promptly installed w7 on after giving oem 8.1 a few hours to explain itself. In hindsight I should probably have done that preservation thing, what are my options now that I want to try doing what you mentioned above? My hdd is completely clean of any 8.1 partitions, do I have to ask acer for a recovery dvd? Maybe you have an easier solution for me?
Looks like I have the core edition, didn't know those programs still worked while in w7, neat. Is there any way for me to use the key I now have to activate a Professional copy, or am I stuck with Core? Thanks for the help.
Not sure if it's the best method, but I've gotten 3 OEM laptops recently (1 ASUS, 2 Dell). I just went into a Ubuntu LiveUSB (UEFI), ran a command to get the embedded Windows key (and also dumped hardware info for drivers and stuff), ran that key through pidgen to get the version, popped in a Windows 8.1 install USB, entered the generic key related to whatever version of Windows the key is for (so if the key was for Core, I use the Core generic key); install Windows, then enter my OEM key after installation. Hasn't really failed me yet. The key instructions are just grabbing the product key from UEFI from Linux, passing it through pidgen to figure out the version, installing Windows with the generic-equivalent of your key, then activating afterwards with your legitimate key. In-case the Linux key retrieval fails for some reason (if it can even), be sure not to wipe out your actual Windows install.
With my asus I just put a SSD inside, Did a clean install with the correct iso + generic key, found the oem and done that, created a recovery image after all updates and programs installed, hopefully all is good now, any hardware issues i simply put the hard drive back in and rma.
No crapware = you have to pay more for it, because it's more expensive. with crapware = cheaper = own effort to get it clean. summa summarum, at both ways you have to 'pay'...
Yen, I'm not positive about your post above. I purchased a Surface 2pro some time ago directly from MS and it came without any crap on it. There was no other way to choose a cheaper version with crap included. Perhaps they changed the way to sell product now but I didn't make that experience
I meant that generally. The OP has referred to a device (Asus) that came with crapware and Myrrh suggested a device without. Crapware is used to sponsor the licenses.