Installing vanilla windows 8 on Asus UX32VD?

I recently purchased the UX32VD-DS72. It comes with Windows 8 preinstalled. I am coming from a Windows XP background, and it seems a lot more DRM has been placed upon Windows 8, which makes it hard for me to understand how to do a vanilla install.

From what I gather:
- There is a recovery partition which will reinstall windows 8, but with all the asus bloatware. This also takes up space on the ssds and could be lost forever if the entire ssd goes bad.

- I need to retrieve my windows 8 key using a tool

- I need the windows 8 version (probably the basic edition) that matches my key

- Asus does not provide a way to backup the recovery partition to an external media like cds or another hard drive for Windows 8 only. The AI Recovery Burner works only with Windows 7.

My goals are:

- Back up the recovery partition to an external hard drive.

- Do a complete reformat on all drives and install a vanilla Windows 8.

With this, here are my problems:

I cannot find a way to install vanilla Windows 8 because I don't have that media. I have the Asus recovery partition, but that comes with bloatware. I do not want to buy another Window 8 key just for the vanilla media because I should already have a Windows 8 key in my pre-installed Asus ultrabook.

I've looked all over the net about this, and I have found nothing regarding where to obtain a vanilla windows 8 for a clean install. The best I've found was someone saying that one could be found online only if you have a TechNet account, but I don't have one. Furthermore, most threads are talking about upgrading from windows 8 to Windows 8.1, which is not what I want at all. And all the install guides I've read assume you somehow have a vanilla media to do the installs...

For backing up the recovery partition, I have heard of problems of someone trying to clone the partition and trying to reapply it later.

Can someone give me a direct way to installing vanilla Windows 8 on my machine and how to safely backup the recovery partition?

 

The only way to do a clean install is with a disc or similar media like USB. You can order a Windows disc directly from Asus however they charge about $50 for it.

You could install Classic shell Classic Shell - Start menu and other Windows enhancements and give it a Windows XP look, I use it and have it set to Windows 7 which is similar to XP so you may like it. You could then go through and uninstall any programs you dont want on there so it will be similar to a clean install.

 

I think that's for recovery media.

About the product key: while things are different with the OA 3.0, you may be able to retrieve it with a key finder program. I don't know how well this works with OEM keys, however - if a key finder will work at all.

To create a backup image of the recovery: Asus has recommended that end users use the Windows 7 Image tool to create an image of the entire drive. A more practical approach, aimed specifically at backing up your recovery (rather than the whole drive) would be to use the recovery drive tool.

Acquiring a legal .iso of Windows 8 leaves you with few options. This one may work for you. Using that, you can download the .iso file. You will need that product key though, and since it is tied to an OEM, I don't know if it will work with that tool (possibly only system builder or retail version keys work).

 

Right thats what I meant. Recovery media to re-install Windows.
Notebook Recovery Software
I'm not 100% sure if it will install a Vanilla version of 8 since I have never used one directly from Asus. I would think it will then you install drivers/utilities from the other discs provided with the computer or download from Asus.