Going back from W10 to W8.1, can I use pre activation ext. media.

[Windows Central Question]

I bought HP Laptop may 2015 & then changed to W10 free upgrade end of July. Big mistake. After pressing power button, it said to press fn and esc. before activating & first thing to display was suggestion I insert ext media 64 GB flash drive to clone everything so that even if P/C died, so long as I had power I could insert ext media to return P/C to factory condition, so I did this. Then I activated P/C. Can I now use this to go back to W8.1, & should I format h/d or not before doing this. Can somebody please help me with this. I would be forever grateful. John L.

 

[shmsnh]

Yes, you can use the recovery disk to install Windows 8.1. Be warned all that your data will be erased, and after the process, your laptop will boot with no memory of anything it has been through. (Seriously. Software-wise, it will be similar to when you turned on your laptop for the very first time.)