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How to Refresh Windows 8

Windows 8 makes repairing the operating system much easier than it used to be. You can now "Refresh" your Windows 8 computer, which will reinstall the Windows operating system files while keeping your personal files intact. You can also use the System Restore tool, which allows you to roll Windows back to previous date when it was working. Like the Refresh tool, System Restore will not affect your personal files. If things are bad, or you want a fresh start, you can perform a factory reset on the Windows 8 computer. This will erase the data on the hard drive in the process.

Steps

Before You Start

  1. There are essentially three different options you have when Windows is not performing well: a Refresh, a System Restore, or a Factory Reset.
    • Click here for instructions on Refreshing . This reinstalls Windows files but doesn't affect your personal data. Perform a refresh if your computer feels sluggish or your experiencing crashes and freezing.
    • Click here for instructions on performing a System Restore . This rolls your computer back to a previous date. Use the System Restore to roll back Windows if a driver or program has caused the computer to not work. System Restore can also help combat a virus infection. System Restore is not available in Windows 8 RT.
    • Click here for instructions on performing a Factory Reset . The factory reset will wipe everything off the computer. This is best used when neither of the above works and your computer just isn't functioning right. This is also the best way to get rid of viruses and malware. Performing a reset every six months will help keep your computer running more effectively for longer.
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Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Refreshing Windows 8

  1. While this process should not affect any of your personal folders, it's always a good idea to have your important data backed up in case something goes wrong. Click here for some tips on quickly backing up your important files.
  2. Windows will reinstall all of its operating system files, as well as any apps that you downloaded from the Windows Store. Any programs installed from online sources or from a DVD/CD will be uninstalled, meaning you will need to reinstall them afterwards. Your personal files (Documents, Pictures, Downloads, any folder that you created, etc.) will be preserved. All of your computer's settings will be preserved as well.
    • If you upgraded from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1, refreshing will revert you back to Windows 8. You will need to download the Windows 8.1 update again after the refresh is complete.
  3. Windows allows you to create a custom refresh image that it can use instead of the default one. This image will keep all of your installed programs, including any you've downloaded or installed from a disc. This is an optional step, though some users that have upgraded from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 may need to do this to create a valid refresh image. This is a useful step to perform every time you install a new program, or after reinstalling Windows. [1]
    • Press ⊞ Win + X and select "Command Prompt (Admin)".
    • Type mkdir C:\recoveryimage and press ↵ Enter . You can change the name and location of the folder to whatever you'd like. Make sure the location has at least 5 GB of free space, as refresh image files can vary wildly in size depending on what you have installed. You may want to create the folder an external drive or USB drive.
    • Type recimg -CreateImage C:\recoveryimage and press ↵ Enter . Change the location if you changed it above.
    • Wait while Windows creates the image. This could take a while.
    • When the process is complete, the new image will be your default refresh image.
  4. If you're using a mouse, move your cursor to the upper-right corner of the screen.
  7. Confirm that you want to proceed with the refresh.
  8. This will likely take about half an hour to complete. When the refresh is complete, the computer will reboot and Windows will boot as normal. You can then reinstall any programs that were removed or update to Windows 8.1 if necessary. [2]
    • You will find a list of all the programs that were uninstalled during the refresh in a document on your desktop.
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Troubleshooting

  1. If you're still having the same problems after refreshing, you may need to perform a factory reset. Click here for detailed instructions.
  2. A corrupt registry could be causing problems with the Refresh tool. This fix will let you access the recovery tools, but you'll only be able to perform a full factory reset after doing so; the Refresh tool will not start at all.
    • Open the Charms menu, click the Power button, hold the ⇧ Shift key, and then click Restart.
    • Once the Advanced Startup menu appears, click "Troubleshoot" and then "Advanced options".
    • Select the Command Prompt. Type the following commands in order, pressing ↵ Enter after each one:
      • cd %windir%\system32\config
      • ren system system.001
      • ren software software.001
      • exit
    • After rebooting again, return to the "Troubleshoot" menu and select "Reset Your PC". Follow the rest of the reset instructions here.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Performing a System Restore

  1. A System Restore should not delete any of your personal data, but having a backup of your most important files is recommended in the event that something goes awry. Click here for some tips on quickly backing up your important files.
  2. A System Restore rolls back your computer's settings to a determined restore date. Anything installed between the restore point date and the current date will be uninstalled, and any settings and registry changes will be reverted.
  3. If you're using a mouse, move your cursor to the upper-right corner of the screen.
    • If you're trying to perform a System Restore because your computer will not load Windows, click here.
  6. The System Restore utility may take a moment to open. Click Next > to see your available restore points.
  7. System Restore will display your most recent automatic restore point, as well as any you may have created manually. You can check the "Show more restore points" box to display older restore points.
    • Each restore point will have a short description of the change that occurred. This can help you narrow down the correct restore point if you know or suspect what is causing the problem.
  8. This will let you know which programs may need to be reinstalled after performing the system restore.
  9. This may take a few minutes, and the computer will reboot automatically once the restore process is finished.
  10. Once the restore is complete, start using your computer to see if it is running better. If things are worse, you can undo the restore process by opening the System Restore utility again.
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Troubleshooting

  1. This is usually caused by a corrupt restore point. Run System Restore again and try to restore from a different point. If you continue to receive the same errors, you will most likely need to perform a full factory reset. Follow the instructions in the next section. [3]
  2. Some viruses can infect your system restore points, rendering them ineffective in getting rid of the virus. If you've tried your system restore points are are still experiencing problems, you'll want to perform a full factory reset. See the next section for detailed instructions.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Resetting Windows 8

  1. Performing a factory reset will delete all of your data, so you'll want to make sure all of your important files are securely backed up in at least one other location. Click here for some tips on quickly backing up your important files.
  2. A factory reset will reinstall Windows, wiping out all of your data and settings. Everything will be set to their defaults. This is best suited for recycling or giving the computer away, or for when you want to completely reset the computer to fix performance issues or virus infections.
  3. If you're using a laptop or tablet, you should plug it in to a power source when performing a factory reset. The process takes a while and running out of the power in the middle can cause serious problems.
  4. If you're using a mouse, move your cursor to the upper-right corner of the screen.
    • If you need to perform a factory reset because your computer will not boot into Windows, see the Troubleshooting section at the end of these steps.
  8. Depending on how your computer was initially setup, you may be prompted for the installation disc before the reset can proceed. If you don't have an installation disc, click here for instructions on how to create one.
  9. If you have multiple drives installed on your computer, you will be asked if you want to delete just the one containing Windows, or all of the drives.
  10. If you're resetting the computer for your own personal use, select the "Just remove my files" option. If you're cleaning it to give, sell, donate, or recycle select "Fully clean the drive". This will help prevent someone from recovering pieces of your data using special software. The full-clean option will take quite a bit longer, but is much more secure.
  11. This will usually take around 45 minutes to an hour for the quick option and several hours for the full-clean option. Your computer will likely reboot several times during the reset.
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Troubleshooting

  1. If you need to reset Windows but it won't start, you'll need to open the Advanced Startup menu.
    • Reboot your computer and rapidly hit the F11 key.
    • Select "Troubleshoot" from the "Choose an option" menu.
    • Select "Reset your PC" and then follow the steps above.
  2. This usually occurs because something is wrong with the recovery partition on your hard drive. You'll need to boot from a Windows 8 installation or recovery disc and then reinstall Windows from there. This is largely the same process, though it requires a little more input from you.
    • Click here for detailed instructions on using a Windows 8 DVD or USB recovery drive to reinstall Windows 8.
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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.davescomputertips.com/how-to-fix-the-windows-8-1-refresh-function-after-upgrade/
      2. ↑ http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/restore-refresh-reset-pc
      3. ↑ http://www.thewindowsclub.com/system-restore-not-working-windows

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