Solved Refresh -- works!

Mark Phelps

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In messing around with installing Win7 apps in Win8DP, I somehow totally hosed up the display so that all I got was a black screen with a mouse cursor.

So, I rebooted and chose the Refresh option, which surprisingly, worked!

And, as the text claimed, it removed ALL the apps in the process (no surprise there).

What was a surprise is that it removed all the Windows Updates and all the device drivers that weren't installed by default. So, basically, it acted like a total restore -- which may be what it was intended to do. But, I thought that the Reset option was supposed to be the total restore, not the Refresh.
 
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My Computer

So, I rebooted and chose the Refresh option, which surprisingly, worked!

Very handy, isnt it ?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10.0.10122
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    My Build - Vorttex Ultimate
    CPU
    Core i7 @ 4500 MHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS Z87-Plus
    Memory
    32GB DDR3 @ 1822 MHz (OC)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon R9 280X 3GB @ 1180 / 6800 MHz
    Sound Card
    7.1 HDA
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LCD LG 22" + CRT LG 17"
    Screen Resolution
    1760 x 1320 / 1280 x 960
    Hard Drives
    1 x 240 GB SSD (System)
    3 x 500 GB HDD (Data/Media)
    1 x 2000 GB e-HDD (Backup)
    PSU
    ThermalTake 1000W PSU
    Case
    Corsair Carbide R300
    Cooling
    Corsair H60 (Push-Pull)
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Mouse
    Internet Speed
    60 Mbps (Down) 5 Mbps (Up)
    Browser
    IE, FF, Chrome
    Antivirus
    AVG Internet Security 2015
    Other Info
    Some wired stuff
Very handy, isnt it ?

Yes ... except that, apart from NOT removing apps purchased from the MS Store, I don't see any real difference between Refresh and Reset.

I was hoping that Refresh was a new version of the Repair Install, even though it made no claims to that.

But, since it really appears to work like a Factory Reset, I personally will have no use for it -- as I routinely to partition imaging.
 

My Computer

Hello Mark,

A reset is more like a factory reset/recovery than a refresh. Other than losing installed apps not from the Microsoft store, a refresh is just about the same as doing a repair install in Windows 7 or Vista.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Hello Mark,

A reset is more like a factory reset/recovery than a refresh. Other than losing installed apps not from the Microsoft store, a refresh is just about the same as doing a repair install in Windows 7 or Vista.

Not trying to start an argument ... but ... last time I did a Repair Install, it not remove any of my apps, and while it might have removed my driver updates as well, it's been so long ago that I don't remember. I do believe that I had to do the Windows Updates again, but I would expect that.

So, it appears we agree on what Refresh was supposed to do, but in the one instance I used it, it behaved like Reset, not like Repair Install.
 

My Computer

No worries, it's still only a developer preview version, so there's bound to be different results. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
No worries, it's still only a developer preview version, so there's bound to be different results. :)

I would hope so, because if not, there are going to be some really unhappy folks after it's released and they do a Refresh, only to discover, afther their apps and drivers are GONE, that it really worked like a Reset.
 

My Computer

Just to point out after doing some more comparisons and testing. If you look at the yellow TIP box at the top of the repair install tutorial for Windows 7 below, it's pretty much the same as what the refresh does. A reset, on the other hand, is the same as doing a clean install of Windows 8 where you would loose everything including user accounts.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Before all this Reset PC/ Refresh Pc names come along (that is Windows 8 DP) a "Repair" of the OS, which is booting up with OEM CD and choosing "R" will repair the system files and set it back to a clean OS interms of System files only (including Windows Updates). Softwares installed and files will remain intact when performing this option.

Now with the Reset and Refresh PC options, what's the difference?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    CP
Before all this Reset PC/ Refresh Pc names come along (that is Windows 8 DP) a "Repair" of the OS, which is booting up with OEM CD and choosing "R" will repair the system files and set it back to a clean OS interms of System files only (including Windows Updates). Softwares installed and files will remain intact when performing this option.

Now with the Reset and Refresh PC options, what's the difference?

The links below will give you more details on the differences, but basically:

A "Refresh" is like doing a repair install in Windows 7 or Vista. It's like what you have from your previous installation after doing a inplace upgrade install. You keep your user accounts.

A "Reset" is the same as doing a clean install of Windows 8, or the same as doing a OEM factory recovery/restore. You start completely over.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Ok that's clear. but Mark was saying he did a Refresh and it uninstalls all software and updates (unless he accidently did a Reset :dinesh: :sarc:). This sounds like a Reset doesn't it?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    CP
Not really, aem. When I did a refresh, I got this:

2011-10-13_202811.jpg

A refresh is far different than a reset as I didn't lose my log-on and I had a Windows.old folder leftover along with all my pics and previous downloads.
I just had to re-install the removed apps.

Brink is spot on. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8, x64, DP8102 - Win7 Ultimate x64, Dual Boot
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba
    CPU
    Core 2 Duo T5500
    Motherboard
    Intel
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel 965
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Laptop 17", Gateway 20"
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 (x2)
AEM,

I'm not sure if Mark may have done a reset instead by mistake or not, but when comparing refresh (Windows 8) and repair install (Windows 7/Vista), the affected items are just about identical. Just like while doing any upgrade, there's a chance you may have to reinstall a driver or two after a refresh as well though. I've done a number of resets and refreshes in Windows 8, and the list below for a refresh is pretty much all that is affected. I'm sure that there may a few unknown things that may be affected still though.



Items I found to be affected by "repair install" of Windows 7 or Vista:

  • Preserves your user accounts, data, programs, and system drivers.
  • Sounds
  • Services
  • Visual Effects Settings
  • Device Drivers - Be sure to have these handy to reinstall. They do not always remain after the repair (upgrade) install.
  • You may lose the ability to sign on to MSN Messenger, to solve this problem have a look at this thread Unable to sign in to WLM.
  • You may lose your custom themes due to not having permisions set on the old themes. Go to the hidden themes folder at C:/Users/(User-Name)/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Themes, then Take Ownership of the themes folder and you will now have all your themes back.
  • It has been reported that you may also lose your Media Center gadget after doing the repair install.
  • Windows Updates will need to be checked and reinstalled again.



Items "officially" listed from Microsoft to be affected by a "refresh" of Windows 8:


  • Your PC settings will be restored to their defaults.
  • Choices you made during Windows Welcome, such as computer name and user accounts, will not change.
  • Your files and personalization settings will not change.
  • Network, Libraries, and Windows Update settings will not change.
  • Customer Experience Improvement Program settings will not change.
  • Windows Error Reporting settings will not change.
  • Apps from Windows Store will be kept, but all other apps will be removed.
    NOTE: Apps that came installed on your PC and apps from the Windows Store will have their settings reset. If you've installed apps from other places, such as installation discs or the internet, then you'll need to install those again after refreshing your PC.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Thanks shawn, good info there. I shall commit that to memory mate. So the accord is this, Refresh and Reset Pc functions will both require third party apps to be reinstalled. Where as on Xp (and appologies for not mentioning Xp), a system Repair (aka Refresh) will not make you reinstall apps. :p
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    CP
Partially, 3rd party apps will need to be reinstalled after doing a refresh or reset, but all installed apps (3rd party & ones from Microsoft store) will have to be reinstalled after a reset.

I'd prefer not to get XP mixed up in this to possible confuse the issue more.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Ok that's clear. but Mark was saying he did a Refresh and it uninstalls all software and updates (unless he accidently did a Reset :dinesh: :sarc:). This sounds like a Reset doesn't it?

FYI .. . I did NOT accidentally do a Reset; I did a Refresh. I intentionally did a Refresh because, unlike with the Reset, I was expecting it to retain the drivers. But, I was wrong -- it removed the drivers as well as the Apps. Also removed all the Windows Updates. So, apart from retaining the user account, it looks like Refresh is the same as Reset.

Also, not to nitpick, but I looked again through the list of items that Brink included as being affected by a Refresh, and it didn't specifically mention Drivers. So, my presumption that Win8 Refresh would leave the drivers alone (like in a Win7 Repair Install) was proven incorrect.
 
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My Computer

Mark,

I think it is suppose to retain most of the drivers and Windows Updates when Windows 8 is RTM. Since the drivers we are using currently with Windows 8 are probably Windows 7 drivers in compatibility mode, that may explain why they were removed like the occasional few that are removed while doing a Windows 7 repair install.

I've added drivers and Windows Updates to the affected list, and will do more testing with the next release of Windows 8 though.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Brink:

That's a good point about the drivers I missed. The ones that got removed were the one I added myself.

Unfortunately, I no longer have Win8DP installed, so I can't try a test to see if it removes drivers that are added, or updated, by Windows Update.
 

My Computer

refresh didnt work for me :( , all i did was install my tv tuner software and now win 8 wont boot , i tried refresh and repair startup with both a win 8 and win 7 disk , both said unknown error , but hey **** happens , starting afresh today :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Dual boot windows 7 and 8
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