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

---

• 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

 

[alexmarcov]

i hope i'm not too late but when i do the 5th step at "To Revert" i cannot find OsLocationPath but insted i found OsInstallLocation path. what do i do? do i keep it like that or i change it like in the guide?

 

[hilmiamari]

help me please i try that but it doesn't work..

 

[hilmiamari]

and i try that commandprompt its working but the ReAgent.xml and i find OsLocationPatch i couldn't find that i find only OsInstallLocation path then help me please or can you upload the .xml file to me?

 

[MrShowdown]

i hope i'm not too late but when i do the 5th step at "To Revert" i cannot find OsLocationPath but insted i found OsInstallLocation path. what do i do? do i keep it like that or i change it like in the guide?

and i try that commandprompt its working but the ReAgent.xml and i find OsLocationPatch i couldn't find that i find only OsInstallLocation path then help me please or can you upload the .xml file to me?

Seems like i made a typo in the tutorial.
You're right, it's not OsLocationPath it's OsInstallLocation.
Sorry!

 

[MrKindlyCat]

Hi

When I type in command prompt this reagentc /setosimage /path C:\Refresh /target C:\Windows /index 1 then Enter
I got this - REAGENTC.EXE: Operation failed: 5b9
REAGENTC.EXE: An error has occured

How can If fix it?

Thank you

 

[MrShowdown]

Hi

When I type in command prompt this reagentc /setosimage /path C:\Refresh /target C:\Windows /index 1 then Enter
I got this - REAGENTC.EXE: Operation failed: 5b9
REAGENTC.EXE: An error has occured

How can If fix it?

Thank you

Give me the screenshot of C:\Refresh and the error itself.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2598-screenshots-files-upload-post-eight-forums.html

 

[MrKindlyCat]

Thank you for answering

here is step by step pics
1 http://i57.fastpic.ru/big/2013/1017/90/cb1de3a9f840596b90504467e4cf8c90.jpg
2 http://i59.fastpic.ru/big/2013/1017/8d/4a18857cd551dbdb0883cc3bfcd6838d.jpg
3 http://i60.fastpic.ru/big/2013/1017/b5/53597e75396f36b387b5c32cf00bf1b5.jpg

Actually I cannot my Windows file from - Change PC settings/General/Refresh your PC without affecting the files as well. Every times the system shows me that some files are missing so Windows could not download correctly. And three days ago I had a problem with my laptop because I started try to refresh Windows OS. When laptop start to work I see black screen. Some times I see black screen when I work and I need to restart to continue work. i try to reset and upgrade BIOS it doesn't help. I replaced RAM memory. Nothing. I put just one memory in slot and turn on Memtest86 but system could not test from first time. Couple times was restarting because of black screen but I did it to finish and one memory of two work correctly. Second memory I didn't test yet. Maybe all these problem are connected?

 

[MrKindlyCat]

Sorry, some mistake, I cannot REFRESH my windows from .... missed word. I am sorry for my English

 

[MrShowdown]

Thank you for answering

here is step by step pics
1 http://i57.fastpic.ru/big/2013/1017/90/cb1de3a9f840596b90504467e4cf8c90.jpg
2 http://i59.fastpic.ru/big/2013/1017/8d/4a18857cd551dbdb0883cc3bfcd6838d.jpg
3 http://i60.fastpic.ru/big/2013/1017/b5/53597e75396f36b387b5c32cf00bf1b5.jpg

Actually I cannot my Windows file from - Change PC settings/General/Refresh your PC without affecting the files as well. Every times the system shows me that some files are missing so Windows could not download correctly. And three days ago I had a problem with my laptop because I started try to refresh Windows OS. When laptop start to work I see black screen. Some times I see black screen when I work and I need to restart to continue work. i try to reset and upgrade BIOS it doesn't help. I replaced RAM memory. Nothing. I put just one memory in slot and turn on Memtest86 but system could not test from first time. Couple times was restarting because of black screen but I did it to finish and one memory of two work correctly. Second memory I didn't test yet. Maybe all these problem are connected?

Your computer seemed to be badly performing (black screens, memory issues, etc).
Try running SFC /scannow
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/3047-sfc-scannow-command-run-windows-8-a.html

 

[MrKindlyCat]

I did it by option two and it looks like normal
http://i58.fastpic.ru/big/2013/1018/5e/37454d50c98d32863fefa48d081d035e.jpg

 

[MrShowdown]

I did it by option two and it looks like normal
http://i58.fastpic.ru/big/2013/1018/5e/37454d50c98d32863fefa48d081d035e.jpg

If SFC /scannow shows no problems, try running Windows Memory Diagnostics or memtest86+

 

[MrKindlyCat]

It is interesting, I tried to test memory by to ways. first is memtest86+ and I could not normally test full memory because of black screen every time was restarting and I could test just 1 slot which is OK. Second memory I dropped test. But second way was with Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool - interesting that there was no black screen and result of testing is - no problem have been detected.

 

[MrKindlyCat]

One more thing. When I get to much black screens on the start of loading Windows I had blue screen when I can choose types of loading Windows and there is link - D:\Windows\System32\LogFiles\Srt\SrtTrail.txt intersting that fact a have D: space just C: but anyway I went by this link and saw on the finish that report this information:

Unspecified changes to system configuration might have caused the problem.


Repair action: System Restore
Result: Cancelled


Repair action: System files integrity check and repair
Result: Failed. Error code = 0x490
Time taken = 1062522 ms

Maybe it will helpful.

 

[MrShowdown]

One more thing. When I get to much black screens on the start of loading Windows I had blue screen when I can choose types of loading Windows and there is link - D:\Windows\System32\LogFiles\Srt\SrtTrail.txt intersting that fact a have D: space just C: but anyway I went by this link and saw on the finish that report this information:

Unspecified changes to system configuration might have caused the problem.


Repair action: System Restore
Result: Cancelled


Repair action: System files integrity check and repair
Result: Failed. Error code = 0x490
Time taken = 1062522 ms

Maybe it will helpful.

Could you attach the SrtTrail.txt file?
BTW, your problem is currently not linked to this tutorial, to get more answers you can create a new thread instead.

 

[MrKindlyCat]

Hi, I thought this is wrong when I cannot use normal links for refreshing Windows so I decided to reset and install Windows 8 again. Unfortunately I did it last night so I cannot to attach the SrtTrail.txt file because it is removed. Thank you for helping and i hope nobody will have the same problem

 

[MrShowdown]

Hi, I thought this is wrong when I cannot use normal links for refreshing Windows so I decided to reset and install Windows 8 again. Unfortunately I did it last night so I cannot to attach the SrtTrail.txt file because it is removed. Thank you for helping and i hope nobody will have the same problem

I'm sorry i can't help you that much, hope you can sort out the problems yourself.

 

[bethal]

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

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

View attachment 14894​

To Revert:
​

Credits goes to wins for the revert section.
​

[/rel]

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.

 

[OJFord]

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

View attachment 14892​

6. Open an elevated command prompt.

View attachment 14893​

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

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

View attachment 14894
​

​

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,

 

[MrShowdown]

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

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

View attachment 14894​

To Revert:
​

Credits goes to wins for the revert section.
​

[/rel]

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" ?

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

View attachment 14892​

6. Open an elevated command prompt.

View attachment 14893​

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

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

View attachment 14894
​

​

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.

 

[OJFord]

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

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

View attachment 14894​

To Revert:
​

Credits goes to wins for the revert section.
​

[/rel]

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" ?

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

View attachment 14892​

6. Open an elevated command prompt.

View attachment 14893​

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

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

View attachment 14894
​

​

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.