Refreshing PC with Windows 8.1

MikeSA

New Member
Messages
7
I am running Windows 8.1. Originally I had Windows 8 installed on my machine and I updated to Windows 8.1. I have files that are corrupted and I intend refreshing my PC but the process involves inserting the installation disk. But the installation disk I have is for Windows 8. Does that mean, after refreshing my PC, the operating system will be back to Windows 8 and I will have to download Windows 8.1. all over again? And would all my settings, documents and e-mail folders all be wiped out? If so, how do I make backups of these? Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo
    CPU
    G630
    Motherboard
    H61
    Memory
    4Gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    1Gig
Hello Mike, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Unless you created a custom refresh image sometime after updating to Windows 8.1, then yes it'll refresh back to Windows 8. :(

If you are using a Microsoft account, then your personal settings are synced by default, and will be restored afterwards. Your user account and files in your "C:\Users\(user-name)" folder will not be affected by a refresh. Here's more details on what would be affected by a refresh.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2293-refresh-windows-8-a.html

What email program are you using? It would be a good idea to back up anything for it to be safe.
 

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
Hi Brink : Many thanks for the prompt response. I have previously not created a custom refresh image but is it OK to create one now and then proceed with the refresh? Alternatively is there any way to reinstall the missing or corrupted files without having to insert the installation disk? I am using Windows Live Mail as my desktop e-mail client and in addition to my Microsoft Account, I also have a pop account as well as a Yahoo and Gmail Account. How do I backup all the respective e-mail folders?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo
    CPU
    G630
    Motherboard
    H61
    Memory
    4Gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    1Gig
It wouldn't do any good to create a custom refresh image now since it restores back to the time the image was created, and just be back to where you are now again.

If you have your Windows Live Mail set to keep a copy of your email messages saved on the email server, then you won't lose them. It's set this way by default unless changed.

The tutorials below can helps with backing up Windows Live Mail.


What files are missing or corrupted? If system files, then you could run a SFC /SCANNOW command to hopefully repair them.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/3047-sfc-scannow-command-run-windows-8-a.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
Hi Brink : Thanks again for the prompt response. The information is most valuable.

I have run both SFC andthe DISM tool and it appears that any missing and/or corrupted files have allbeen fixed as the following messages appear:
“Windows Resource Protectiondid not find any integrity violations”.
“The restore operationcompleted successfully. The component store corruption was repaired. The operation completed successfully”.

Yet when I try to runRefresh PC, it says: INSERT MEDIA : Somefiles are missing. Your Windowsinstallation or recovery media will provide these files”. To compound matters, File History does notwork. When I click on File History, thismessage is displayed: “File History does not recognize the drive. New Volume (E) Unknown Error”. That’s when I thought the problem could be dueto the missing files.

My File History driveis a SATA 500GB Hard Drive and is connected internally to a SATA port on themotherboard. The hard drive has beenchecked and checked and there cannot possibly be anything wrong with it. Even changing the drive letter makes nodifference whatsoever. When I connectedthe drive the first time, File History did work but as from the following day itno longer worked. Is there anyway topinpoint the missing or corrupted files and fix them manually without having torefresh the PC? I would prefer not torefresh the PC and now only as last resort would consider doing so in view ofthe outcome.

 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo
    CPU
    G630
    Motherboard
    H61
    Memory
    4Gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    1Gig
For File History, check to see if reselecting the drive to save to may help.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2484-file-history-how-use-windows-8-a.html


For Refresh, that's normal to get the "insert media" message indicating that you need to have your Windows 8 installation media connected if you didn't create a custom refresh image. If you create a custom refresh image, then it will be used instead of asking you to "insert media".
 

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
Oh wow I wish I knew about this before I started to install all of my apps after a clean install.
And I dont feel like doing it all over again. But when and if I will reformat I will try to remember all of this.
Very useful information. How often , would you say , for the regular user do you need to reformat a Windows machine?
On Macs it is rarely ever needed, but it seems like on a windows machine it is different? (from what ive read so could be wrong)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom built
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 950 - 3.07GHz
    Motherboard
    ASRock X58 Extreme3
    Memory
    Corsair Vengeance DDR3 PC-15000 16GB (1866mhz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480
    Sound Card
    Nvidia High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC 27"
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 3TB internal (SATA-III)
    Case
    ANTEC
    Cooling
    Corsair CPU watercooling
    Keyboard
    Logitech mk710 with mouse (wireless)
    Browser
    IE / Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    I also have a Mac mini (late 2012) and a iMac 27" (mid 2010) a couple of iPhones and iPods ;) and a Samsung laptop 13" thats running Windows 8.1
Hello eCh,

You would only want to reinstall Windows as needed. Usually when Windows gets borked.

How often has to many variables per person and system for that. Personally, I average about every 4-6 months or so, but I do a lot of testing and tweaking that do not always go so well. :)
 

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
I see. Thank you, Brink! :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom built
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 950 - 3.07GHz
    Motherboard
    ASRock X58 Extreme3
    Memory
    Corsair Vengeance DDR3 PC-15000 16GB (1866mhz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480
    Sound Card
    Nvidia High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC 27"
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 3TB internal (SATA-III)
    Case
    ANTEC
    Cooling
    Corsair CPU watercooling
    Keyboard
    Logitech mk710 with mouse (wireless)
    Browser
    IE / Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    I also have a Mac mini (late 2012) and a iMac 27" (mid 2010) a couple of iPhones and iPods ;) and a Samsung laptop 13" thats running Windows 8.1
Hi there
Note you CAN download updates to local HDD for using later -- use the Ms Update Catalog

Microsoft Update Catalog

If you have a load of PC's saves re-downloading a load of updates every time.

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Centos 7, W8.1, W7, W2K3 Server W10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 X LG 40 inch TV
    Hard Drives
    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
    2 X 3 TB sata
    5 X 1 TB sata
    Internet Speed
    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
My partners laptop had Windows 7 which I upgraded to 8 and then 8.1.

I used the reset feature just last week to reinstall windows as there were a few problems. I managed to do this by using the 8.1 ISO that you can download from Microsoft (option one) and used the ISO creation here using the upgrade key I originally bought and it worked.

Would this be of any use for you?
 
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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 7
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