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.

​

​

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.

​

​

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.

​

​

6. Open an elevated command prompt.

​

​

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

​

​

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

​

​

​

​

Reverting Changes:​

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

​

​

1. Run notepad as an administrator.

​

​

​

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

​

C:\Windows\system32\Recovery​

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

​

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

4. Scroll to the right until you find:

​

OsInstallLocation​

5. Change it to this:

​

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

​

​

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

​

6. Save the file.

​

​

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

Related Tutorials

---

• 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]

How to revert "reagentc /setosimage /path C:\Refresh /target C:\Windows /index 1"?
Since after this code, I have lost Refresh & Restore settings in my PC.
Kindly suggest.

Could you describe the "lost Refresh/Reset settings" ?

​

Thanks for the tutorial, but it isn't working for me.

Still says insert media (FWIW, I can answer the guys question about what happens if you have no disc drive. It still asks for USB/CD/DVD.).

Tried rebooting, still asks. Tried re-reagenting. Still not working.

Is it because I have an OEM copy?

I keep getting BSODs, so I wanted to refresh or failing that clean install. But I have no disc and the ******* installer doesn't take an OEM product key., so it was hard enough just to get the .wim.

OEM support forums pointed me to to an RTM download link, if you can believe that..

Thanks in advance,

Give me screenshot of the C:\Refresh Folder.
Also if your computer came with Windows 8, preinstalled, you don't have to insert a product key.

Well it asks me for one.

It came with Windows 8 preinstalled, upgraded to 8.1.

Maybe it doesn't like the install.wim because it's an Enterprise version, since that's what I got from the OEM's post and my only way to (legally) obtain the file?

Really annoying... you'd think if files were missing it could just download them to fix any issues.

Wait, do Enterprise get OEM version?

 

[shmu]

I downloaded windows 8.1 ISO, but in it, I have install.esd, instead of install.wim.
I want to get back the ability to refresh Windows.
what to do?

I just discovered that I already created a rescue media with refresh capability, using this esd file, I think.
question is: can I get refresh capability natively on my PC?

Maybe there is a command to tell windows to make a refresh image that is not a custom image, but a default one, based on the esd file. Is there such an animal?

 

[MrShowdown]

I downloaded windows 8.1 ISO, but in it, I have install.esd, instead of install.wim.
I want to get back the ability to refresh Windows.
what to do?

I just discovered that I already created a rescue media with refresh capability, using this esd file, I think.
question is: can I get refresh capability natively on my PC?

Maybe there is a command to tell windows to make a refresh image that is not a custom image, but a default one, based on the esd file. Is there such an animal?

Basically an esd file is an encrypted version of a wim file, specifically for Microsoft Store purchases. I'm going to search the ESD-WIM utility.

 

[shmu]

thanks

 

[MrShowdown]

Try using the option three on this Tutorial:
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/18309-windows-8-windows-8-1-iso-download-create.html

 

[shmu]

okay, I did that, and it works just fine, but I am still back where I was before. It makes an installation ISO that has install.esd, just like I had before.

 

[sarao]

HI ! My illustrator cs6 kept crashing & I couldnt find any solution. Was thinking about resetting windows,got here somehow. Followed these instructions
Issue fixed. I dont know what was the problem or anything
But this fixed it. SO THANKS A TON MAN !

 

[BreezySenpai]

Probably being stupid but my aunt has my cd disk and was away on holiday so I needed to do this but I have done all of the steps but how do I actually get it to reset/refresh? I know I'm being stupid and I would really appreciate it if you couldn't make fun of me ;p

 

[SIW2]

You say you have all the steps.

What goes wrong, at what point does it stop? Any messages? though most messages from 8 are useless.

 

[BreezySenpai]

You say you have all the steps.

What goes wrong, at what point does it stop? Any messages? though most messages from 8 are useless.

Well, like I said I've done all of the steps, I guess I have gotten something wrong and it says I do not have the neccasary files

but idk..

 

[S0meth1ng]

Hello!

Very good manual, but can I ask to update this man for Windows 8.1 ? Thank you

 

[KYHI]

okay, I did that, and it works just fine, but I am still back where I was before. It makes an installation ISO that has install.esd, just like I had before.

You can use that install.esd file as your registered recovery image install.wim

But if you need a esd to you - you need a method of getting the install.wim as the install.esd on the setup media is just the OS image.

To create an ISO with a win instead of esd try this..

http://www.eightforums.com/installa...your-own-bare-metal-reset-recovery-media.html

 

[Suncatcher]

Is this solution still unapplicable to Windows 8.1?

 

[Brink]

Yep.

 

[Suncatcher]

Yep.

And still there is no alternative solution (beside making installation media)?

 

[Brink]

Another option is to create a custom recovery image that would be used when you refresh instead.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/9310-refresh-windows-8-set-custom-recovery-image-active.html