Windows Experience Index - Update or Refresh WEI Score in Windows 8

How to Update or Refresh Windows Experience Index (WEI) Score in Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

The Windows Experience Index (WEI) measures the capability of your computer's hardware and software configuration and expresses this measurement as a number called a base score. A higher base score generally means that your computer will perform better and faster than a computer with a lower base score, especially when performing more advanced and resource-intensive tasks.

Each piece of hardware in your PC gets its own score called a subscore. The total base score for your PC is determined by the lowest individual subscore, rather than an average of them all. You can view the subscores to see how the hardware you care most about is performing, which can help your decide whether to upgrade some parts of your PC.

This will show you how to update or refresh your Windows Experience Index (WEI) score in Windows 8 and 8.1 to help measure the capability of your computer.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to run Windows Experience Index (WEI).

   Note

In Windows 8, the WEI scores range on a scale of 1.0 to 9.9.

The WEI log file is located at: C:\Windows\Performance\WinSAT\winsat.log

In Windows 8.1, the Windows Experience Index (WEI) feature can no longer be updated and viewed though the System or Performance Information and Tools screens.

Instead, you must use OPTION TWO or OPTION THREE below to update and view your PC's WEI scores in Windows 8.1.

   Tip

If you have a K or KN edition of Windows 8 and get the error below when you try to run WEI, then you can download and install the Media Feature Pack at the Microsoft link below to allow you to run WEI afterwards.

The Media Feature Pack for N and KN editions of Windows 8 will install Media Player and related technologies on a computer running Windows 8 N, Windows 8 Pro N, Windows 8 Enterprise N, or Windows 8 KN, Windows 8 Pro KN, or Windows 8 Enterprise KN editions.

Download Media Feature Pack for N and KN versions of Windows 8 from Official Microsoft Download Center

Description of the Microsoft Windows Media Feature Pack for N and KN Versions of all Windows 8 Editions

CONTENTS:

• Option One: To Update and View WEI Score in Windows 8
• Option Two: To Update and View WEI Score in Windows 8.1 using Command Prompt
• Option Three: Update and View WEI Score in Windows 8.1 using "ChrisPC Win Experience Index"

OPTION ONE

To Update and View WEI Score in Windows 8

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1. Do step 2, 3, or 4 below for how you would like to open System to update WEI.​

NOTE: If your PC (ex: laptop) s running only on battery power, then you will need to connect it's AC adapter first or WEI will not run.​

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2. Press the :winkey: + Pause/Break keys and release, and go to step 5 below.​

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3. Open the Power User Tasks Menu, click/tap on System, and go to step 5 below.​

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4. Open the Control Panel (icons view), click/tap on the System icon, and go to step 5 below.​

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5. Depending on what option you have, click/tap on either the System rating is not available, Windows Experience Index, or Your Windows Experience Index needs to be refreshed link. (see screenshots below)​

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6. Depending on what option you have, click/tap on the Rate this computer button, Re-run the assessment link, or Refresh Now button. (see screenshots below)​

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7. You will now see this status window. (see screenshot below)​

NOTE: To get the best WEI score possible while it is updating, it would best to let the computer sit idle with nothing else opened or running in the background.​

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8. When it's finished, you will see your updated WEI base score (ex: 7.9 for mine). (see second screenshot below step 6)​

NOTE: It will take a few minutes or so for your WEI score to finish updating or refreshing.​

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OPTION TWO

To Update and View WEI Score in Windows 8.1 using Command Prompt

NOTE: While you could also use this option in Windows 8, it would be much easier to use OPTION ONE instead if you like.

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1. Do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.​

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2. To Update WEI Score in Windows 8.1​

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A) Open an elevated command prompt.​

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

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Winsat formal -restart clean​

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C) When it's finished updating your WEI score, you can close the command prompt if you like. (see screenshot below)​

NOTE: This will take a few minutes to finish running. To get the best WEI score possible while it is updating, it would best to let the computer sit idle with nothing else opened or running in the background.​

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3. To View WEI Score in Windows 8.1​

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A) In File Explorer, navigate to and open the DataStore folder below. (see screenshot below)​

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C:\Windows\Performance\WinSAT\DataStore​

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B) Open the Formal.Assessment (Recent).WinSAT.xml with the most recent date. This file will open in your default web browser. (see screenshot above)​

NOTE: If you do not have a recent Formal.Assessment (Recent).WinSAT.xml file listed, then it means that you will just need to do step 2 above to update your WEI score first.​

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C) Look for the part between the <WinSPR> tags to see what your individual WEI scores are. SystemScore will be your overall WEI score for your PC. (see screenshot below)​

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OPTION THREE

Update and View WEI Score in Windows 8.1 using "ChrisPC Win Experience Index"

NOTE: This would to use the free program ChrisPC Win Experience Index program. You will not be able to use this option in Windows RT or RT 8.1 since it is a desktop app.

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1. If you have not already, you will need to download and run the latest version of the free ChrisPC Win Experience Index program.​

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2. Run the ChrisPC Win Experience Index program, and click/tap on the Re-run the assessment link to update your WEI score. (see video below)​

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3. When the assessment is complete, click/tap on Close to see your new WEI score. (see video below)​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Open Advanced Tools in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Reset the Windows Experience Index (WEI) in Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8
• How to Generate and View a System Health Report in Windows 8.1
• How to Generate and View a System Performance Report in Windows

 

[I AM LEGEND]

one thing I add in this,, when starting WEI on laptop, must have the plugin charger. charger must be connect to laptop.

 

[Brink]

That a definite. Note added.

 

[Dwarf]

That's a bit convoluted for Windows 8.1. The former way of doing it, as in Vista, Windows 7 and earlier versions of Windows 8 was much better.

 

[Brink]

You got that right. I'm thinking WEI is on it's way out for good though by Windows 9.

 

[DustSailor]

[DEL]Brink, could I get some clarification? Performance Information and Tools, as well as the entire WEI scorecard, seem to be missing from 8.1. I cannot find it on my home computer, and I think MS may have removed it for good. Running pro x64, not yet checked any other win8 - 8.1 computers.

Couldn't find definitive answers on the net[/DEL]

Nevermind I'm daft. Think I've found the answer in option 2

 

[Brink]

No problem Dusty. If not, then please let me know.

 

[DustSailor]

Guess they realized just how useless it was and hid it on the back burner. Kinda sad to see it go though. Think it is all but gone for good

 

[davehc]

If anyone is interested in getting the wei figures, here is a little .bat file that will do it all for you. I has to be run in Admin mode. When you first try it, if you have protected mode on, it may pop up with the usual warning, Select the option to "run anyway".

View attachment WEI.bat

 

[xXEightXx]

My WEI is mssing.

 

[Brink]

My WEI is mssing.

See Option Two for Windows 8.1.

 

[xXEightXx]

See Option Two for Windows 8.1.

I presume you was refering to me.

If so here are the results, also my "run time" is very different from yours.

 

[Brink]

Not a bad WEI score or time to complete.

 

[OneandonlySunny]

Thanks for the method of windows 8.1

 

[astral2k5]

My WEI is mssing.

See Option Two for Windows 8.1.

Thanks for this. I've used this method 1 month ago.
Today I found a new method for WEI on Windows 8.1 using a free software:
ChrisPC Win Experience Index - Get back the Windows Experience Index on Windows 8.1 - Get WEI Base Score, CPU Score, Memory Score, Gaming Score, Graphics Score, Storage Score - FREE Download - Chris P.C. srl
Hope it helps others too

 

[Brink]

Thank you Astral, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Added the ChrisPC Win Experience Index program as Option Three in tutorial.

 

[astral2k5]

Thank you Astral, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Thanks again for your work on this forums!

 

[ICit2lol]

Hello Shawn I am obviously not following this right or my machine is not up to the job but I have tried Options 1 & 2 and am getting nowhere.
The copy / paste doesn't work and the other leaves me with what is in the pic.

Edit Huh neither is manage attachments either but with the system approach there is no offer to do the WEI.

 

[Brink]

Hey John,

Are you using Windows 8 or 8.1?

If 8.1, how does Option Three work for you?

 

[ICit2lol]

Hiyya Shawn mate I am using 8.1 and I haven't tried the option 3 yet as it looked quite involved but I will have a go when I get back from a short trip.

My set up is a 7 upgraded to 8 then upped to 8.1 after that would that have bearing on what I am seeing??

PS Oops I meant option 2 looked involved