Refresh Windows 8 - Create and Use Custom Recovery Image

How to Create a Custom Recovery Image to Use to Refresh Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

This tutorial will show you how to create and register a custom recovery image to use instead of default when you refresh your Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows 8.1 RT PC.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this tutorial.

Quoted from Microsoft:

Refreshing your PC to a state you define, including desktop apps

We know that many of you like to first configure your PC just the way you like it, by installing favorite desktop apps or removing apps that came with the PC, and then create an image of the hard drive before you start using the PC. This way, when you need to start over, you can just restore the image and you won’t have to reinstall the apps from scratch.

With this in mind, we’ve made it possible for you to establish your own baseline image via a command-line tool (recimg.exe). So when you get a Windows 8 PC, you will be able to do the following:

• Go through the Windows first-run experience to configure basic settings.
• Install your favorite desktop apps (or uninstall things you don’t want).
• Configure the machine exactly as you would like it.
• Use recimg.exe to capture and set your custom image of the system.

After you’ve created the custom image, whenever you refresh your PC, not only will you be able to keep your personal data, settings, and Metro style apps, but you can restore all the desktop apps in your custom image as well. And if you buy a PC that already comes with a recovery image on a hidden partition, you’ll be able to use the tool to switch from using the hidden partition to instead use the custom image you’ve created.

   Note

The recimg.exe command line tool lets you configure a custom recovery image for Windows 8 to use when you refresh your PC. When you create a custom recovery image, it will include the desktop apps you've installed and the Windows system files in their current state. Saved recovery images do not include your documents, personal settings, user profiles, or modern apps from the Store because that information will automatically be included by default at the time you refresh your PC. This way when you refresh your PC with the saved custom recovery image, it will save and include your current documents, personal settings, user profiles, and modern apps.

When you create a custom recovery image, recimg will store it in the specified directory, and set it as the active recovery image. If a custom recovery image is set as the active recovery image, Windows will use it when you refresh your PC. You can use the /setcurrent and /deregister options to select which recovery image Windows 8 will use. All recovery images have the filename CustomRefresh.wim. If no CustomRefresh.wim file is found in the active recovery image directory, Windows will fall back to the default image (or to installation media) when you refresh your PC.

Note that you cannot reset your PC using a custom recovery image. Custom recovery images can only be used to refresh your PC.

STEP ONE

To Create and Register a Custom Recovery Image

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1. After you have finished seting up Windows 8 how you like it, open a elevated command prompt.​

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2. In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below, and press Enter. (see screenshot below step 3)​

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NOTE: If you like, you can subsititute the C drive letter in the command below for the drive letter of the location that you would like to keep the CustomRefresh.wim recovery image file at instead.​

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recimg -CreateImage C:\RefreshImage​

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   Tip

If needed, you can press the ESC key at anytime to cancel creating this custom refresh image.

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3. When finished, this new custom recovery image of your current Windows 8 setup will now be set (registered) as the current active recovery image used whenever you refresh Windows 8 next in STEP TWO below.​

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NOTE: It may take a bit to finish creating your custom recovery image. At the Writing image line the progress stays at 1% for a bit and then increases slowly until finished at 100%.​

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   Tip

You can create multiple or new recovery images every so often to have an updated version handy if you should need to refresh your PC with.

Whenever you create a new recovery image, the new image will be used instead by default afterwards since it will be the latest registered (set) active recovery image.

   Note

To unregister this custom recovery image for refresh to have Windows 8 go back to using it's default refresh, see: How to Deregister the Current Custom Recovery Image to Refresh Windows 8

To set a previosly created CustomRefresh.wim recovery image file to be used by refresh, see: How to Set a Custom Recovery Image as Active to Use to Refresh Windows 8

STEP TWO

To Refresh Windows 8 with the Custom Recovery Image

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1. If you have not already, you must have already previously created and registered a custom recovery image using STEP ONE first to use to do the refresh with.​

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2. You can now use either option in the tutorial below to refresh Windows 8 like you would normally do so, but your custom system image will now be used to refresh Windows 8 with instead.​

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Refresh Windows 8​

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Refresh Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
• How to Refresh or Reset Windows 8 without Installation Disk
• How to Do a Repair Install of Windows 8 without Losing Anything
• How to Set a Custom Recovery Image as Active to Use to Refresh Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Display Path of Current Active Recovery Image Used to Refresh Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Deregister the Current Custom Recovery Image to Refresh Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Reset Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
• How to Boot to the "System Recovery Options" in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Create a System Image in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Do a System Image Recovery in Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[cisco]

ok thanks again.. where do you live? i live in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas Mexico.
1. the computer with the cannot connect to the internet, has already been refreshed. still cannot connect, any ideas on how to solve this problem?

2. is the computer that is having serious problems starting, the continuous circle. fine in safe mode but.... this computer i want to refresh... still not able to create a refresh image. but if the same problem will still exist why?

3. so it seems the only way to have a functioning system is to re install windows?? that i will not do... This is so difficult. Why re install if there are issues with some many aspects of win 8 why go through with a re install if the same problems will happen again. on the net it seems that there is much disappointment with win 8. Personally at first I loved the new os, the tiles the new metro seemed good, seemed a new way. but obviously there are many issues with this OS. Ideas??!!

 

[Brink]

Cisco,

I live in north Texas.


Q1) You may need to install your network drivers.

Q2) A refresh image is a snapshot of your current Windows 8. It wouldn't do any good to create one of a Windows 8 that has issues since when you restore the image, you would also be restoring the same issues.

Q3) You could refresh Windows 8 without a custom refresh image, then just reinstall any 3rd party programs, some drivers, and adjust your settings again. You would need to deregister the custom refresh image first, then do a refresh without it.

 

[cisco]

ok,

1. just check all drivers one microsoft kernel debug and two qualcomm wireless and Ethernet. all are current. the qualcomm are new for win 8. i restarted same problem.

2.ok so the only way to correct is a re install that is not a happy scenerio.

3. no reason to refresh if the problem will persist. i gues i am up the ol creek without a paddle.

 

[Brink]

No need to clean install or reset. All you have to do is refresh without using the custom refresh image.

 

[cisco]

ok thanks with this my system SHOULD be functioning. BUT there will be NO APPS, or to use an old word, programs, except the ones from win 8. Is this correct

Thought you may enjoy this article

Just how much do people hate Windows 8? | ZDNet

paz
cisco

 

[Brink]

Correct, a refresh would remove any installed desktop type programs, and they would have to be reinstalled.

 

[fourthofjuly]

Is there something like this for Windows 7? What is the best way to "refresh" Win 7 OS with an image?

 

[Brink]

Hello Ganie,

Sorry, but this is a new feature only available in Windows 8.

However, you could create a system image in Windows 7 to be able to do a System Image Recovery as needed. A system image is for the whole system instead of just Windows like a custom refresh image in Windows 8 though.

 

[fourthofjuly]

Thank you Shawn. Yeah I do have an image of my 7 system. Cheers!

 

[VRakesh]

Hi,
Is it alright to use C:\ partition for creating and keeping the custom recovery image ?? If yes, then during refresh, will it not get wiped off as Windows 8 installs itself again.

Regards,

Rakesh

 

[mikiep]

I've never tried it on C but have seen other say to do that.
The win 8 RESET will destroy a custom wim, the Refresh - provided you make a recimg customRefresh.wim will keep all of your personally made folders.

I have one folder called Anyfile that contains the small programs that are just stand alone exe's and few other small nothings - with the recimg, Refresh leaves that untouched always.

But for my money, its hard to beat a system image to get out of trouble overall quickest.

 

[VRakesh]

Hi,
Thanks for the reply.
Since this tutorial itself suggested choosing C:\ using recimg to create the custom image, I was confused. But I take it that a REFRESH using custom recimg image lying in C:\ does no harm and works safely as required, keeping the programs and any exe files lying in C:\ intact. And the REFRESH source comes to no harm in the process even though lying in C:\, I guess.

After de-registering, or in general having never used recimg, is it possible to find out the factory/manufacturer´s recovery partition location and image source that Windows-8 and the Refresh uses by default ???

Thanks
Regards,
Rakesh

 

[Brink]

Hello Rakesh,

A refresh will not destroy a custom refresh image saved at C:. However, a reset would destroy anything on C since it's basically the same a clean install. For that reason and others, I personally prefer to keep my custom refresh image on a separate drive than the Windows 8 drive. This way if something should ever happen to the Windows 8 drive, the custom refresh image will remain unaffected.

If you deregister your custom refresh image, then Windows 8 will automatically request you to connect or insert your Windows 8 installation media to do the refresh with if you do not have a factory recovery partition on the hard drive. If you do have a factory recovery partition on the hard drive, then it will automatically be used instead to do the refresh with.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[VRakesh]

Hi Shawn,

Thank you for your response. It clarifies a lot.
My laptop came with Windows-8 pre-installed and without any CD/DVD. Based on the attached snapshot of my disc management view, am I right in presuming that by default, the Windows-8 uses the last un-named 20 GB partition for refresh/reset ??

Thanks again,

Rakesh

 

[Brink]

Rakesh,

That would be about the right size of a factory recovery partition. All new PCs that come with Windows preinstalled will have one.

 

[VRakesh]

Hi Shawn,
Thank you very much for clarifying all doubts....

Regards,

Rakesh

 

[Dirty Butter]

I corrupted the Recover partition on my new computer while trying to use Partition Manager. I've since re-installed 8, but no longer have the factory installed recover partition. This sounds like the perfect way for me to revive the Refresh ability. So would a 20GB partition be big enough?

 

[Brink]

Hello Dirty Butter, and welcome to Eight Forums.

A custom recovery image is like creating a system image except that it's only for Windows 8 and is used through Refresh. You can save the recovery image to where you like just like any other file.

As for size, it depends on how large your Windows 8 installation is, but here's an example with mine to help.

My Windows 8 takes up 32.1 GB, and the custom refresh image was 9.2 GB in size.

 

[Dirty Butter]

I created a partition on my 3TB external drive and created the wim file there - thanks for the great directions. But I don't want to test using it until I'm reassured that Windows 8 will recognize that file on the connected external drive. If so, if I hide that partition will it still be used?

 

[Brink]

It depends on how you will go about hiding that partition. If you hide the partition by removing it's drive letter, then Windows 8 will no longer be able to see the .wim and will use the normal refresh instead of your custom one.