Note: If you have an ASUS computer, then you should use the
Asus Backtracker utility.
Note: How to fix the error message: "
Could not find the recovery environment", if the ID for the recovery partition type is incorrectly set to OEM. ->
link
> OPTION ONE <
If you have an OEM PC that came with Windows 8 preinstalled and you updated to Windows 8.1, then when you
refresh or
reset Windows, it will reinstall Windows 8 from hard drive recovery partition (recovery image location) or from the
recovery USB flash drive. Afterwards, you will need to update to Windows 8.1 via the Store again.
Note: Sometimes it happens that after doing the upgrade to Windows 8.1,
refresh and
reset does not work anymore.
Note: But all should be okay if you receive the following screen (see screenshot below) when you select:
PC settings >
Update and recovery >
Recovery > click on the
Get started button under the
Refresh your PC without affecting your files section.
Note the following text:
Go to the Windows Store to reinstall Windows 8.1 and your apps.
View attachment 40030
> OPTION TWO <
If you don't have an OEM PC that came with Windows 8 preinstalled and you updated Windows 8 to Windows 8.1, then when you
refresh or
reset Windows, it will reinstall Windows 8.1, but only if you have Windows 8.1 USB/DVD installation media.
Note: You must insert Windows 8.1 USB/DVD installation media.
See this link: How to download Windows 8.1 installation media.
If you don't insert any installation media or if you insert Windows 8 USB/DVD installation media, then you receive the following error message: "
Insert Media. Some files are missing. Your Windows installation or recovery media will provide these files." (see screenshot below).
View attachment 46257
reagentc /info
Here is info about
reagentc /info and the new
350 MB or
450 MB recovery partition, if you have an OEM PC that came with Windows 8 preinstalled and updated to Windows 8.1.
Windows 8 (before Windows 8.1 update)
Partition 1 - Recovery - 1000 MB -
Windows RE location
Partition 2 - System - 260 MB
Partition 3 - OEM - 1000 MB - OEM partition does not exist in all OEM computers.
Partition 4 - Reserved - 128 MB - Note: This partition not visible within Disk Management.
Partition 5 - Primary - 908 GB
Partition 6 - Recovery - 20 GB -
Recovery image location
reagentc /info
Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE) and system reset configuration Information:
Windows RE status: Enabled
Windows RE location: GLOBALROOT\device\harddisk0\
partition1\Recovery\WindowsRE
Recovery image location: GLOBALROOT\device\harddisk0\
partition6\OKRbackup\factory
View attachment 40085
View attachment 40032
View attachment 40086
Windows 8.1 (after Windows 8.1 update from the Windows Store)
Partition 1 - Recovery - 1000 MB
Partition 2 - System - 260 MB
Partition 3 - OEM - 1000 MB - OEM partition does not exist in all OEM computers.
Partition 4 - Reserved - 128 MB - Note: This partition not visible within Disk Management.
Partition 5 - Primary - 908 GB
Partition 6 - Recovery -
350 MB or 450 MB -
Windows RE location Note: This is a new partition.
Partition 7 - Recovery - 20 GB -
Recovery image location
reagentc /info
Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE) and system reset configuration Information:
Windows RE status: Enabled
Windows RE location: GLOBALROOT\device\harddisk0\
partition6\Recovery\WindowsRE
Recovery image location: GLOBALROOT\device\harddisk0\
partition7\OKRbackup\factory
View attachment 40041
View attachment 40039
View attachment 40042
Note: If you have an OEM PC that came with Windows 8 preinstalled, you may not use the third-party partition software (for example,
EaseUS Partition Master), because modifying the hard drive partition structure usually break the factory restore feature. But if you use Windows Disk Management to shrink the C: partition (
see screenshots below), then
refresh and
reset should work, even if you have the 350 MB or 450 MB recovery partition after the C: partition.
View attachment 48692
View attachment 48693
View attachment 48694
View attachment 48695
View attachment 48696
Note that
reset does not remove your personal files, if you move your personal files off the C: partition to another partition. When the "
Your PC has more than one drive. Do you want to remove all files from all drives?" screen appears, select the option "
Only the drive where Windows is installed" (see screenshots below).
View attachment 48694
View attachment 48698
View attachment 48699
View attachment 48700
Note: Before upgrade to Windows 8.1 from the Windows Store, you do not need to install all Windows 8 updates from Windows Update. You only need to install
KB2871389 update, then you’ll be able to install the Windows 8.1 update via the Windows Store. Download and install KB2871389 update from link
or from Windows Update.
KB2871389 (direct download link)
- All supported x86-based versions of Windows 8:
http://download.microsoft.com/downl...5E-794177982162/Windows8-RT-KB2871389-x86.msu
- All supported x64-based versions of Windows 8:
http://download.microsoft.com/downl...49-140AB1CF7B5F/Windows8-RT-KB2871389-x64.msu
But if you've opened the Windows Store and you don't see the Windows 8.1 update, then you will need to also install
KB2917499 update.
Other instructions.
- Installing using UEFI boot mode or Legacy BIOS boot mode. ->
link
- How to download and clean install Windows 8.1 if you have an OEM computer with UEFI firmware (BIOS) embedded Windows 8/8.1 product key. ->
link