Solved recimg

Hello
if I am going to refresh my computer, when do I install and run recimg?
Thank you

Hello Peter,

If you wanted to refresh Windows 8 using a custom recovery image, then it would have been needed to be created before needing to do a refresh. Once created, the custom recovery image will automatically be used whenever you do a refresh anytime afterwards.
Hope this helps.

Thank you, Brink, for the links. I am the worlds worst reader/absorber so will do a lot of reading and deciphering.
Long and short, I think I do recimg 1st then refresh. I hope it includes Office but I will see.
I notice a future refresh will always include a recimg. I guess that is in case you forget.

May I ask a couple of quck questions please;
Instead of using the cmd prompt which I am not skilled enough to use, can you use one of the recimg programs such as CNET or Slim Ware to create the recimg image?
Would an image created with Macrium or Acronis etc. be as good or would that defeat the purpose of refresh carrying all the unwanted clutter along?
And it true that recimg does not backup as much as a Macrium system image and therefore recimg is better for this purpose?
Be well.

Sure thing Peter.

By default, a refresh of Windows 8 will only restore Windows 8 back to default, and you will lose all settings, Windows Updates, and installed programs, but will keep all user accounts and files in your user folders.

Using recimg to create a custom recovery image will now have refresh use this custom recovery image to refresh Windows 8 with as well. A custom recovery image will contain the desktop apps you've installed, and the Windows system files in their current state when the image was created. Recovery images do not contain your documents, personal settings, user profiles, or apps from Windows Store, because that information is automatically preserved by default at the time you refresh your PC.


Questions:

Office and all installed programs will be included in the custom recovery image.

I'm not familiar with these 3rd party programs to create a custom recovery image with. I would recommend to use the command prompt to do so to be safe to avoid installing programs that may have malware or bloatware that comes with them. If you follow the steps in the tutorials above, you'll find it quite easy to do in the command prompt. Plus, we'll always be here to help as needed.

Macrium and Acronis create system images instead of a custom recovery image. A system image includes the state of the hard drive (ex: partitions) when it's created. A custom recovery image is only of Windows 8 itself.

I am going to learn the cmd prompt for reasons you cited.
I don't think the e is a rescue with recimg but I have other means of recovering if necessary.
I see where the combo of refresh and recimg does the job it was intended to do without fluff.

Thank you again, Brink.
Your note will make my reading through the links again a lot easier.
Be well
Peter

You're most welcome Peter.