How to Refresh Windows 8

   Information

This will show you how to use a new feature in Windows 8 to Refresh your PC to keep all personal data, Metro style apps, and important settings from the PC, and reinstall Windows.

This Refresh feature is something close to like what doing a repair install in Windows 7 and Vista was for, but made a lot easier, faster, and safer to do now in Windows 8.

Refreshing your PC goes like this:

* The PC boots into Windows RE.
* Windows RE scans the hard drive for your data, settings, and apps, and puts them aside (on the same drive).
* Windows RE installs a fresh copy of Windows.
* Windows RE restores the data, settings, and apps it has set aside into the newly installed copy of Windows.
* The PC restarts into the newly installed copy of Windows.

   Note

Which Settings will be Preserved (so far)

Wireless network connections

Mobile broadband connections

BitLocker and BitLocker To Go settings

Drive letter assignments

Personalization settings such as lock screen background and desktop wallpaper

Choices you made during Windows Welcome, such as computer name and user accounts, 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.

Some drivers may or may not be removed.


Which Settings will be NOT be Preserved (so far)

File type associations

Display settings

Windows Firewall settings

Metro Apps settings

Metro Apps that you have installed, and were not already included in Windows 8.

Installed Windows Updates will be removed.

Some drivers may or may not be removed.

   Tip

If you would like to be able to refresh Windows 8 with a custom system image that you would have needed to previously created, then see:

Refresh Windows 8 Using a Custom System Image

OPTION ONE

How to Refresh Windows 8 at Boot

1. Boot to the System Recovery Options using your Windows 8 installation DVD or USB thumb drive, or ISO file if in a virtual machine, and click on the Refresh your PC option. (see screenshot below)

2. Click on Next. (see screenshot below)

3. If prompted, select the Windows 8 OS (ex: Windows 8 Consumer Preview) that you want to refresh. (see screenshot below)

4. Click on Refresh. (see screenshot below)

5. Windows 8 will now start to be refreshed. (see screenshot below)

6. When it's finished, you can now log back on to a refreshed Windows 8. (see screenshots below)

   Note

If any apps were removed during the refresh, you will find a Removed Apps.html file on the desktop detailing what it removed and at what time.

You will also now have a Windows.old folder that has been placed in the root directory of the Windows 8 drive that contains a copy of the previous Windows 8 installation before it was refreshed. This folder can be quite large in size, so the tutorial below will show you how to delete it if you like.

How to Delete the "Windows.old" Folder in Windows 8

OPTION TWO

How to Refresh Windows 8 from within Windows 8

1. While logged in to an administrator account in Windows 8, insert or connect your Windows 8 installation DVD or USB thumb drive, or ISO file if in a virtual machine.


2. Do either step 3 or 4 below depending on which option you would prefer to use. They both do the same thing.


3. Using "PC settings" to Refresh

A) Open PC settings. Scroll down the left side, click on General., then click on the Get started button under the Refresh your PC without affecting your files section on the right side. (see screenshot below)

B) Go to step 5 below.

4. Using the Icons View Control Panel (old style) to Refresh

A) Open the Control Panel (icons view), click on the Recovery icon. (see screenshot below)

B) To the right of Refresh, click on the Get Started button. (see screenshot below)

C) Continue on to step 5.

5. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.

6. Click on Next. (see screenshot below)

7. Click on Refresh. (see screenshot below)

8. Windows 8 will now start to be refreshed. (see screenshot below)

9. When it's finished, you can now log back on to a refreshed Windows 8. (see screenshots below)

   Note

If any apps were removed during the refresh, you will find a Removed Apps.html file on the desktop detailing what it removed and at what time.

You will also now have a Windows.old folder that has been placed in the root directory of the Windows 8 drive that contains a copy of the previous Windows 8 installation before it was refreshed. This folder can be quite large in size, so the tutorial below will show you how to delete it if you like.

How to Delete the "Windows.old" Folder in Windows 8

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

• How to Refresh Windows 8 Using a Custom System Image
• How to Boot to the "System Recovery Options" in Windows 8
• How to Reset Windows 8
• How to Delete the "Windows.old" Folder in Windows 8
• How Run a "Automatic Repair" to Fix Windows 8 Startup Problems
• How to Run the "SFC /SCANNOW" Command at Boot or in Windows 8