System Recovery Options - Boot to in Windows 8

How to Boot to "System Recovery Options" in Windows 8 and 8.1

This will show you how to boot to the System Recovery Options options screen to be able to refresh Windows 8, reset Windows 8, do a system restore, do a system image recovery, do a automatic repair, open a command prompt at boot, or open Advanced Boot Options to help in the recovery of Windows 8.




OPTION ONE

Boot to "System Recovery Options" using "Startup Options"



1. Boot to the Startup Options Menu, and click/tap on Troubleshoot. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: You will only see the Use another operating system option if you are mutli booting Windows, or added Safe Mode to the Windows Boot Manager.


Recovery-multi.jpg


2. From here, select the recovery option in Troubleshoot or Advanced options that you would like to do at boot. (see screenshots below)



Refresh your PC (Troubleshoot)



Reset your PC (Troubleshoot)



System Restore (Advanced options)



System Image Recovery (Advanced options)



Automatic Repair (Advanced options)



Command Prompt (Advanced options)

UEFI Firmware Settings (Advanced options)
NOTE: If your motherboard has UEFI, then you will have also have this option available in Advanced options. Check your manufacturer's uEFI BIOS manual for available settings in it.


Windows Startup Settings (Advanced options)
NOTE: You will not have this option if you booted from a system repair disc or recovery USB flash drive.



Recovery-4A.jpg

Advanced-options.jpg









OPTION TWO

To Open "Recovery" Options in Control Panel




1. While logged in to an administrator account in Windows 8, insert or connect your Windows 8 installation DVD or USB thumb drive, or ISO file if in a virtual machine.


2. Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Recovery icon. (see screenshot below)


Reset-3.jpg


3. From here, select the recovery option that you would like to do. (see screenshot below)

NOTE: If you click/tap on the If you're experiencing problems with your PC, you can refresh in PC settings. link, then you will be taken to step 4 in OPTION THREE below.



Refresh your PC


Reset your PC

Create a recovery drive/Create a System Repair Disc

Open System Restore


Configure System Restore



Recovery.jpg






OPTION THREE

To Open "Recovery" Options in PC settings


1. Open PC settings, and do step 2 or 3 below for the Windows 8 you have installed.


2. If you have Windows 8 or Windows RT, then click/tap on General on the left side, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)

General-reset.jpg

3. If you have Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1, then click/tap on Update & recovery on the left side. (see screenshot below)

Windows_8_1_PC_settings-1.jpg


A) On the left side, click/tap on Recovery, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)

Windows_8_1_PC_settings.jpg

4. On the right side, click/tap on the recovery option that you would like to do. (see screenshots below step 2 and 3A)

Refresh your PC (Refresh your PC without affecting your files)

Reset your PC (Remove everything and reinstall Windows)

Advanced startup





That's it,
Shawn


 

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Nicely done
 

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Hello Bill,

Yeppers. :)
 

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System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
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    Custom self built
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    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
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    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
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    Thermaltake Core P3
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    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
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    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Nice one, Shawn.
 

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Nice tutorial Shawn.
 

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    Windows 8.1 Pro x64/ Windows 7 Ult x64
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    76~2.0
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    Intel Core i5-3570K 4.6GHz
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    GIGABYTE GA-Z77X UD3H f18
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    8GB (2X4GB) DDR3 1600 CORSAIR Vengeance CL8 1.5v
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    Sapphire HD 7770 Vapor-X 1GB DDR5
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    Onboard VIA VT2021
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    22" LCD Dell SP2208WFP
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    1680x1050
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    Samaung 840Pro 128GB, Seagate 500GB SATA2 7200rpm 32mb, Seagate 1TB SATA2 7200rpm 32mb,
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    Corsair HX650W
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    Cooler Master Storm Scout
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    Corsair H80 w/Noctua NF P12 12cm fan, case fans 2X14cm
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    Opera Next
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    Haswell laptop: HP Envy 17t-j, i7-4700MQ, GeForce 740M 2GB DDR3, 17.3" Full HD 1920x1080, 16GB RAM, Samsung 840 Pro 128GB, 1TB Hitachi 7200 HDD,
    Desktop: eSATA ports,
    External eSATA Seagate 500GB SATA2 7200rpm,
Indeed, very nice, Shawn. :)

As an aside, how do y'all get screen caps of the booting process?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8, x64, DP8102 - Win7 Ultimate x64, Dual Boot
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba
    CPU
    Core 2 Duo T5500
    Motherboard
    Intel
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel 965
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Laptop 17", Gateway 20"
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 (x2)
Well, I went into options and changed the boot order to favor Win 7 and now I can't get back the Win 8 OS selection screen. Any ideas?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8, x64, DP8102 - Win7 Ultimate x64, Dual Boot
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba
    CPU
    Core 2 Duo T5500
    Motherboard
    Intel
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel 965
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Laptop 17", Gateway 20"
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 (x2)
Hello Mike,

You should be able to boot from your Windows 8 installation media into the recovery options to do a "automatic repair" (startup repair) on Windows 8 if it's listed.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Hello Mike,

You should be able to boot from your Windows 8 installation media into the recovery options to do a "automatic repair" (startup repair) on Windows 8 if it's listed.
Yeah, I tried that. I received the message there was nothing to repair. I could even change the default OS selection using F8 but, even afterward, I still get the old OS choice (a la Win 7) screen.

Mind you, I can still boot either OS (Win7 Ultimate x64 or Win 8 DP 8102 x64) but I am now stuck with the old OS choice screen after changing the default selection via the Win 8 options choice.

In the end, I suppose, it's not a big deal but I really liked the Win 8 OS choice screen. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8, x64, DP8102 - Win7 Ultimate x64, Dual Boot
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba
    CPU
    Core 2 Duo T5500
    Motherboard
    Intel
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel 965
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Laptop 17", Gateway 20"
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 (x2)
Hello Mike,

You should be able to boot from your Windows 8 installation media into the recovery options to do a "automatic repair" (startup repair) on Windows 8 if it's listed.
Yeah, I tried that. I received the message there was nothing to repair. I could even change the default OS selection using F8 but, even afterward, I still get the old OS choice (a la Win 7) screen.

Mind you, I can still boot either OS (Win7 Ultimate x64 or Win 8 DP 8102 x64) but I am now stuck with the old OS choice screen after changing the default selection via the Win 8 options choice.

In the end, I suppose, it's not a big deal but I really liked the Win 8 OS choice screen. :)

Ah, ok. I suppose that while you are in Windows 8, you could do use the refresh Windows 8 option that replace the Windows 7 boot manager back with the Windows 8 one.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Ah, ok. I suppose that while you are in Windows 8, you could do use the refresh Windows 8 option that replace the Windows 7 boot manager back with the Windows 8 one.
Thanks, Brink.:)

After the Football game is over (watching on Win 7), I'll give it a try. I was wanting to stay away from a re-install as I have already extensively customized Win 8 and customized Firefox on Win 8.

I'll be back later to update.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8, x64, DP8102 - Win7 Ultimate x64, Dual Boot
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba
    CPU
    Core 2 Duo T5500
    Motherboard
    Intel
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel 965
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Laptop 17", Gateway 20"
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 (x2)
Crap. It wasn't worth it just to get back the Win 8 OS selection screen. I'll update more as I get set back up on Win 8.

The "Refresh" is pretty much the same as a re-install in Win 7 over the top of the existing OS. You're left with a Windows.old which I deleted by using a SIW2 PE DVD (I couldn't delete it from Win 8 or change permissions to do so).

Be back later, as I mentioned, to update.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8, x64, DP8102 - Win7 Ultimate x64, Dual Boot
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba
    CPU
    Core 2 Duo T5500
    Motherboard
    Intel
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel 965
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Laptop 17", Gateway 20"
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 (x2)

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Mike,

You should have been able to delete the Windows.old folder in Windows 8 using the same method as in Windows 7 below.

Windows.old Folder - Delete - Windows 7 Forums
Hi, Brink!
I tried that. No permissions. Access denied, yadda yadda.

I did find an interesting item on my desktop, though, as an HTML file titled "Removed Apps.html":

Capture.3JPG.JPG

MS is improving and my assertion the "Refresh" was the same as reinstalling Win 7 over the exisiting Win 7 OS was not entirely accurate.

Still, the experience is the same. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8, x64, DP8102 - Win7 Ultimate x64, Dual Boot
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba
    CPU
    Core 2 Duo T5500
    Motherboard
    Intel
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel 965
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Laptop 17", Gateway 20"
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 (x2)

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Hi, Brink! :)

I just saw that. I would've given you some love but I have to spread it around a bit first. :D

Thanks!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8, x64, DP8102 - Win7 Ultimate x64, Dual Boot
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba
    CPU
    Core 2 Duo T5500
    Motherboard
    Intel
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel 965
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Laptop 17", Gateway 20"
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 (x2)
No problem mate. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Hello Shyam,

There's not as many options available from Recovery in the Control Panel, but I added it just for you. ;)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
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