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

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• 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

 

[Brink]

OMG, I'm feeling quite incapable right now, but I am stuck on Step 2 of the Tutorial, where all I should need to do is copy/paste. When I open the command-prompt it shows c:\Users\{my username}> and if I copy/paste it comes back with `V. I don't know how to get it to show C:\Windows\system32 to put in the command.

I am on Windows 8.1 on HP desktop (came with 8.0 and I upgraded to 8.1 last year) . I'm attempting to create a custom refresh point...but guess I need the simplest instruction ever.

P.S. I am logged in as Admin.

Hello,

You need to open an elevated command prompt instead. A command prompt will not open elevated just because you are an admin. See link below.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2754-elevated-command-prompt-open-windows-8-a.html

 

[way2ob2se]

Oops, color me red. I didn't realize there was a difference, but once I followed your instruction, it worked like a charm. Thank you!!

 

[Brink]

Great news.

 

[burko01]

Hi Brink,
I have my daughters grad papers stuck in a CustomRefresh.wim file I was lucky enough to make BEFORE hard drive went South. Bought a new hd, just to find out my win8 dvd was some sort of "time bomb" version that won't install no matter what. How to get these precious papers out, short of visiting data recovery company, if possible, since the original win8 refuse to
install ?
I have CustomRefresh.wim file on a different internal hard drive in the computer and on a memory stick, of course.
Files can't be seen in either place when try to go thru Advanced option in Repair. Tried to load SATA and USB drivers to no
avail !?
Thanks a mill in advance B !

 

[Cliff S]

Try connecting it to a running PC on a 2nd SATA port and use 7 Zip file manager to browse and copy it to the other drive.

 

[Brink]

Hello Burko, and welcome to Eight Forums.

I agree with Cliff. You should be able to do this on another computer to use 7-Zip to open and browse the .wim file on the drive to recover the file from it.

 

[burko01]

Thank you Cliff & Brink.
Wow! 7 zip - who would think !? Knowledge rules, word! Once again it was proven " you live, you learn"!
Unfortunately, there was nothing to be saved. That drive was with few partitions on it; I wasn't smart enough to check where was the bulk of
her doc, ppt etc files being saved. It appears on some drive other than c ...
I'll go back to drive itself and try to deal with damaged SATA terminal to see if I could get it recognized by windows and go from there.
Thanks a bunch guys; all the best !

 

[Brink]

Your welcome Burko. Sorry that it wasn't in your .wim file.

 

[Joycekyle]

Thank you! It's workable for me

 

[Vincenzo]

I'd like to try creating a custom image. I see in the instructions it says;

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

I want to be clear on the difference between reset and refresh. Are they essentially the same with the difference being that refresh leaves the user files intact when it restores the rest of the system back to the way it was when the image was made - while reset restores the entire system back to the way it was when the image was made ?

Thanks

 

[Cliff S]

Yes.

But a custom refresh keeps your program(that you have installed at the time of creation), so you won't have to download them all again You'll just need to update them. Read Brinks tutorial through, and you can also take a look at Everything You Need to Know About Creating Custom Recovery Images for Windows 8 at How to Geek.

 

[Brink]

Yes.

But a custom refresh keeps your program(that you have installed at the time of creation), so you won't have to download them all again You'll just need to update them. Read Brinks tutorial through, and you can also take a look at Everything You Need to Know About Creating Custom Recovery Images for Windows 8 at How to Geek.

In addition instead of going to another site:

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

 

[Vincenzo]

OK thanks. I've always avoided Refresh because I assumed it was not as complete of a restoration as Reset, so I always chose to backup the user files and then select Reset.
Is it correct to assume that a Refresh will move the user files to a safe place, completely restore the hard back to the way it was when the image was made, then move the user files back to where they belong?

Thanks

 

[Brink]

Hello Vincenzo,

Correct. A Refresh is basically the same as doing a repair install in Windows 7. The Refresh tutorial will give you more details about it.

 

[Vincenzo]

Thanks, Brink. I've read through that tutorial now, and have more understanding of it. I will have to give this all a tryout.

Has the Refresh function been reliable for people, generally working without any problems?

Thanks

 

[Cliff S]

It works pretty good, but you should really think about making monthly(or after major changes) system images, so you won't have to always update windows and your programs after a refresh. And if your drive suffers from a catastrophic failure you can also re-image on to a new drive.

 

[Brink]

It has worked well for me so far. As Cliff posted, it's always a good idea to keep several different forms of backups and images to be safe though.

 

[Vincenzo]

OK thank you both for the info.

 

[Cliff S]

You're welcome Vincenzo.

 

[Brink]

Glad we could help.