Refresh or Reset Windows 8 without Installation Disk

How to Refresh or Reset Windows 8 without an Installation Disk​

   Information

You may already knew by now that Windows 8's infamous Refresh and Reset feature requires an installation media ready. It may be a major hassle whenever your PC starts to act up while you don't bring your installation media in hand, like when you're travelling.

This tutorial will show you how to be able to refresh or reset Windows 8 without an installation media.

To get started, you will need:
-Install.wim file from Windows 8 installation media.
-Windows 8-based PC.

   Warning

If you already set a custom refresh image, then it is recommended to not do this tutorial. By using a default install.wim file, any 3rd Party programs will be uninstalled.

   Note

Substitute C: with the drive where Windows is installed.

   Note

As of now, it does not work with Windows 8.1. When a workaround has been found, the tutorial will be updated accordingly.

1. On the C: drive, create a new folder named Refresh. If prompted, click/tap on Continue.

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2. Insert/Connect your Windows 8 installation DVD/USB, or mount your Windows 8 ISO file. Navigate to and open the sources folder. Search for the install.wim file.

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3. Select, then copy the install.wim file.

4. Go back to the C:\Refresh folder.

5. Paste the install.wim file into the Refresh folder. If prompted, click/tap on Continue.

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6. Open an elevated command prompt.

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7. Copy and paste the command below, and press Enter.

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reagentc /setosimage /path C:\Refresh /target C:\Windows /index 1​

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Reverting Changes:​

Credits to wins for finding out how to revert the changes made on your PC.​

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1. Run notepad as an administrator.

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2. Click/tap File, then Open. Navigate to:

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C:\Windows\system32\Recovery​

3. Change the File type to All Files, then select the ReAgent.xml file

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NOTE: It is highly recommended for you to make a copy of this file before proceeding.​

4. Scroll to the right until you find:

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OsInstallLocation​

5. Change it to this:

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<OsInstallLocation path="" id="948075900" offset="0" guid="{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}" index="0"/>​

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NOTE: Leave the id and guid intact. Don't make changes to id and guid.​

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6. Save the file.

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That's it.
Now you can Refresh/Reset Windows 8 without install disk.

Related Tutorials

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• How to Reset Windows 8
• How to Refresh Windows 8
• How to Create a Custom Recovery Image to Use to Refresh Windows 8
• How to Set a Custom Recovery Image as Active to Use to Refresh Windows 8
• How to Deregister the Current Custom Recovery Image to Refresh Windows 8
• How to Do a Repair Install of Windows 8 without Losing Anything

 

[MrShowdown]

Feel free to post critics and suggestions to improve my tutorials

 

[wins]

Thanks for the tutorial !


How do we make it again Refresh/Reset from install disk ?

 

[MrShowdown]

You're welcome!

I'll post how to revert to install using Media when i got back to windows 8.

 

[Hopachi]

Nice option!

Useful when we don't have USB's or DVD drive around.

 

[MrShowdown]

Hmm, i still don't find the way to revert it.

 

[wins]

C:\Windows\System32\Recovery\ReAgent.xml


I think it may revert if we copy this xml file before changing to custom location and replace it back later in the same folder.

 

[MrShowdown]

C:\Windows\System32\Recovery\ReAgent.xml


I think it may revert if we copy this xml file before changing to custom location and replace it back later in the same folder.

How about deleting it?

 

[Hopachi]

Hmm, i still don't find the way to revert it.

Sorry if I'm adding a silly post maybe, but does it appear on the boot menu by chance?
Than we can remove it from msconfig by deleting its entry.

 

[DavidY]

If I've created a Custom Refresh Image (which can't be used to Reset the PC) but want to also have something prepared in the case of a Reset, would this still work? Or would it mess up Custom Refresh?

 

[Brink]

Hello David,

This tutorial is to allow you to be able to do a refresh or reset without having to connect your Windows 8 installation media. It basically creates an image of your installation file on the hard drive to be use instead.

Your 3rd party programs will not be included anymore.

 

[DavidY]

Hello Shawn,

Thanks for that. The reason I was asking is that it says this in the tutorial.

Warning
If you already set a custom refresh image, then it is recommended to not do this tutorial. By using a default install.wim file, any 3rd Party programs will be uninstalled.

So I wondered if there were any other consequences.

I'm thinking that I could follow this (to make an image for Reset) first and then set my Custom Refresh image as Active again using this tutorial?:
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/9310-refresh-windows-8-set-custom-recovery-image-active.html

So I'd hope to end up with Reset pointing at the factory image and the Refresh pointing at the custom image.
Would that work?

Thanks,
David

 

[Brink]

It appears that it only does a normal refresh when this tutorial is used instead of your custom refresh image.

 

[MrShowdown]

Tutorial Updated for the revert.

 

[mokujin]

Do we need to activate the system again?
Thank you for your usefull tut

 

[MrShowdown]

For refresh, no.
For reset, yes, because you need to enter the key again

 

[vraicha]

I dont have install.wim file. Instead I have install.esd, which I believe is the encrypted version of it?
Will install.esd work instead of install.wim ?

 

[MrShowdown]

I dont have install.wim file. Instead I have install.esd, which I believe is the encrypted version of it?
Will install.esd work instead of install.wim ?

If you upgrade your system from Upgrade Assistant, there is no need to do this tutorial.
The ESD automatically registered by Windows by the time of upgrade.

 

[floepie]

I came across this thread to determine the difference between resetting a PC with an OEM recovery partition and resetting a PC without one. I assume that a Reset on the former has its path preset to the install.wim (or whatever it may be called) on the recovery partition, and a Reset on the latter would prompt for install media unless you follow this tutorial. Would that be a correct assumption?

It makes me wonder how the Reset from a bootable recovery drive would function on a machine with an unreadable C drive. Would it prompt you for media, or would it allow you to browse to a *.wim file somehow on a hidden recovery partition?

 

[MrShowdown]

I came across this thread to determine the difference between resetting a PC with an OEM recovery partition and resetting a PC without one. I assume that a Reset on the former has its path preset to the install.wim (or whatever it may be called) on the recovery partition, and a Reset on the latter would prompt for install media unless you follow this tutorial. Would that be a correct assumption?

It makes me wonder how the Reset from a bootable recovery drive would function on a machine with an unreadable C drive. Would it prompt you for media, or would it allow you to browse to a *.wim file somehow on a hidden recovery partition?

For number 1; Yes, it is correct. If the PC came pre-installed with Windows 8 with Recovery Partition, it usually already has its path preset by the OEM (maybe in the BIOS?).

For number 2; ....I don't think reset would even work if C drive was unreadable, you may have to do a Clean Install.