Can seem to use Windows refesh feature

[Stevegd007]

Can not seem to use Windows refesh feature

Running Windows 8.1 after updating some months ago from 8.0. I have the original install disk purchased from MS. During the initial "refresh" start up...the system is asking for more files that seem to be missing. Using my original install disk... it fails to work, as the system says it is the incorrect disk. What? This is the disk from MS that I installed 8.0 with! So refreshing the operating system will not work as these "missing" files that the system is asking for are where....
Have no idea how to refresh without these "missing" files.
Any ideas for me.

 

[David Bailey]

You can't fix 8.1 using an 8 disk.

What is a "refresh startup" ?

 

[Stevegd007]

Wow...really? With all the posts...you do not know about Windows 8.1 Refresh? OK....well I find this in Settings, Change PC Settings, Recovery, an then Refresh.
Maybe I should not have said Refresh Start-up...but gee not everyone is a computer expert.
When I try this my computer is requiring my original install disk and then telling me I have the wrong disk, BUT this IS the disk I bought directly from MS. So basically doing the MS Refresh DOES not work...period. AN not being an expert in all things MS...I have NO idea what to do next. That's why I am here...looking for some help.
I have issues with the operating system. I ran SFC / scannow an this is telling me there are corrupt files that cannot be fixed...so I thought a refresh may help.

 

[Clintlgm]

Sounds like you will need to do a clean install of win 8.1 to solve the issue!! The files you are missing could very well be updated drivers for some of your hardware??? I know myself I had to upgrade my WiFi, Bluetooth and some other Asus programs that I use.
Win 8.1 is not a service pack, it is a whole new OS. You'll need to check with the manufacture of your computer for updated drivers that you may need to run 8.1

 

[David Bailey]

Wow...really? With all the posts...you do not know about Windows 8.1 Refresh? OK....well I find this in Settings, Change PC Settings, Recovery, an then Refresh.
Maybe I should not have said Refresh Start-up...but gee not everyone is a computer expert.
When I try this my computer is requiring my original install disk and then telling me I have the wrong disk, BUT this IS the disk I bought directly from MS. So basically doing the MS Refresh DOES not work...period. AN not being an expert in all things MS...I have NO idea what to do next. That's why I am here...looking for some help.
I have issues with the operating system. I ran SFC / scannow an this is telling me there are corrupt files that cannot be fixed...so I thought a refresh may help.

You need to run:

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

in an administrator command prompt & reboot & run SFC again.



The corruptions will be fixed.

Your original wording confused me.

Refresh ought to work.
Somebody else will have to help you with that.

 

[Stevegd007]

Thanks, I do have ALL the correct drivers. I have check that. Running check disk now an it is stuck on 11% for like 30 minutes! Just my have to do a complete reinstall...really trying to avoid all the time it takes...that's why I started with refresh.

 

[Saltgrass]

Running DISM, as suggested, should repair the bad files situation. Not sure how it might have gotten the corrupted files, possibly a memory or drive situation.

But running a Refresh in 8.1 does need the 8.1 source files. If you had the install media you could run it that way, but the only other way is to create a CustomRefresh image from a healthy system. This would of course add that much data to your OS partition. This is assuming you do not have access to some type of install media you could download.....

 

[Stevegd007]

How long should DISM run...I am running this now...an it has been stuck at 20% for some time. Seems not to be moving.

 

[David Bailey]

How long should DISM run...I am running this now...an it has been stuck at 20% for some time. Seems not to be moving.

From about 15 min. to an hour.

The more the corruption, the longer it takes.

 

[Stevegd007]

OK I got the corruption problems fixed. But I still see weird things from my 8.1 screen. The MS store will not work. Picture tile opens and then quickly folds back to the tile. Just strange behavior...that just seem to appear for no reason.

So, I was HOPEING to be able to do a 8.1 "refresh" to "repair" things...an without destroying all my 3rd party stuff...or starting all over again. You know hours of loading and waiting for updates to install...etc., etc., etc. I try the refresh and my computer ask for missing files, which I thought I had with my "original" (purchased at costs) MS 8.0 disk, but when I put the disk in I see a warning that the disk is wrong. AN then... crap... refresh fails to run.

MS must KNOW that 8.1 refresh is not working for folks. YES? Because of their software issues. Should not MS fix this problem? Looking at the forum I see lots of folks have this problem.

ANY ONE know of a fix....that a non geek ...non programmer...non computer language expert can do to put 8.1 back to working using refresh...an without destroying my 3 party files and programs an without waiting hours for update to install from MS? Kinda of pissed at MS for putting us in this mess and not then fixing it. Sorry!