Do a clean install of the exact same edition of 8.1 as 8 is. Windows 8 > 8.1 is a free upgrade released by Microsoft. @@@@@@@@@@@@ Microsoft Learn
The Windows 8.1 Media Creation Tool is a utility developed by Microsoft that allows users to create installation media for Windows 8.1, including USB drives or ISO files. This tool is particularly useful for users who want to perform a clean installation of Windows 8.1, upgrade from an earlier version of Windows, or create a bootable USB drive for troubleshooting purposes. In this paper, we will explore the features, benefits, and usage of the Windows 8.1 Media Creation Tool. windows 8.1 media creation tool
Use Microsoft’s (still available via archive.org or MS docs for older versions). Or use Rufus (open source) – it does not download ISOs but writes them to USB correctly for Windows 8.1. Do a clean install of the exact same edition of 8