Want to switch back to Windows 8.1 from Windows 10 but retain Surface authenticity

[Mopr3me]

Hey guys,

I have a question. I sent my Surface Pro 3 for repairs with W8.1 on it. I delibarately chose not to upgrade to Windows 10 because in my opinion, Windows 8.1 is the much better touch experience and more stable. However, I got my Surface back from repairs with Windows 10 installed on it and no recovery partition with Windows 8. I don't like this, I didn't give them the permission to do this.
I contacted Microsoft Support (great support btw.) and they told me that I have to download the Windows 8 recovery image and install Windows 8 though that.
My question is regarding this method of installation. Since this is a clean, vanilla Windows install, will it mess with my Surface authenticity? That means, will I loose the Surface boot logo? Touch drivers? Surface Pen drivers?

Your help is appreciated.

 

[arjan wolthuis]

I can't answer all. I reinstalled windows once on my acer aspire laptop and I didn't lose the boot logo. You probably lose your pen driver. (i don't sure) But without touch drivers your touch screen won't work. So they are probably safe. But most important Back up your drivers before you do anything

 

[Mopr3me]

Dankjewel Arjan

I'll have to Google on how to backup drivers. I'll try to call Microsoft tomorrow regarding the pen/touch drivers. I just want my PPro 3 to be the way I bought it with Windows 8. 1

 

[arjan wolthuis]

Graag gedaan / your welcome

 

[Guzzler3]

Just use the downloaded recovery image, you won't lose any authenticity. I just did it this weekend with no problem, and I couldn't be happier.

 

[billyboyblue]

Just use the downloaded recovery image, you won't lose any authenticity. I just did it this weekend with no problem, and I couldn't be happier.

you just wen't back to Windows 8.1 ? Or you did a recovery download / install on win 10?

 

[Guzzler3]

you just wen't back to Windows 8.1 ? Or you did a recovery download / install on win 10?

I just reset back to W8.1

After I did a backup of my data.

 

[billyboyblue]

I just reset back to W8.1

After I did a backup of my data.

are people doing this because of the battery life is superior? Or bceause of less bugs? by people, I mostly mean you

 

[Bossy573]

are people doing this because of the battery life is superior? Or bceause of less bugs? by people, I mostly mean you

I just did this - FAR less bugs. Battery life not dramatically improved, however.

 

[Guzzler3]

are people doing this because of the battery life is superior? Or bceause of less bugs? by people, I mostly mean you

Personally I did for the following reasons:

• Better battery life. Especially in connected standby. But also for general over all. Example: Yesterday was a light use day, starting with a full charge. Forgot to plug it in overnight, and this morning looked at the battery level and still had ~73% battery left. W10 it would have been below 25%, easily.
• Bugs. I'm finding a lot less bugs and weird things with W8.1 vs. W10.
• Ease of use. Especially in tablet mode, which oddly with my SP3 I'm in ~80% of the time now days. I used to be mainly in "Desktop" mode with the keyboard ready for use, but as I use my SP3 more and more, I tend to use more like a tablet computer for some reason.

The one thing I have realized that I'm missing the most from W10, is the better handwriting recognition. With W8.1 it's "Okay" with the handwriting keyboard, getting 50-60% of the words I write correct. W10 it was easily 85-95% for recognizing my atrocious handwriting.

P.S.
One other thing I just remembered. For some reason in W8.1 the battery charges faster than W10. Try to figure that one out!?!?!?!?!?!