Refresh or Reset Windows 8 Without Installation Media

Here we can see, “Refresh or Reset Windows 8 Without Installation Media”

Without utilizing the installation disk, you can refresh or reset your Windows 8 system via this approach (the DVD or the USB drive).

The “Insert media” screen that appears when you try to Refresh or Reset will be removed if you follow these steps:

Insert media

Some files are missing. Your Windows installation or recovery media will provide these files.

Refresh vs. Reset

For example, a Refresh operation will not affect personal files, but a Reset operation will delete all personal files (if they aren’t backed up).

Before you conduct a Refresh, keep in mind the following:

• If you originally had Windows 8.0 and then upgraded to 8.1, the Refresh routine will revert you to Windows 8.0. After that, you’ll need to upgrade to 8.1.
• Since Windows 8/8.1’s installation, the applications you’ve installed will be deleted and relocated to a backup folder.

Before you conduct a Reset, keep in mind the following:

• All data on your Windows 8/8.1 PC will be erased if you perform a Reset procedure.
• If you first installed Windows 8.0 and then updated to 8.1, the Reset step will revert your Windows back to 8.0.

Easy Recovery Essentials: Browse/Backup Files allows you to back up your files.

1. Download Easy Recovery Essentials. Before downloading EasyRE, make sure to select your Windows version – XP, Vista, 7, or 8 – from the drop-down menu.
2. The ISO image should be burned.
3. Start your computer with the Easy Recovery Essentials CD or USB you made.
4. Click Continue after selecting “Browse/Backup Files.”
5. Your files are now available to you. In addition, you can save the files to an external USB drive as a backup.

Refresh without installation media

To make Windows 8/8.1 not ask for the installation media every time you wish to perform a Refresh, follow these steps:

Method 1

Using Method 1, as described below, you can do a Reset and Refresh without Windows prompting you for installation media.

1. Start your computer and navigate to Computer > C: where C: is the drive where Windows is installed.
2. Make a new folder on your computer. It’ll be called Win8.
3. Go to the Source folder after inserting the Windows 8/8.1 installation disc.

Download your official copy of the Windows 8/8.1 ISO image from your Microsoft account if you don’t have the installation media:

• • The ISO file can be downloaded here.
  • Right-click on the ISO file and select Properties.
  • Click the Mount button.

4. Copy the install.wim file to your hard drive.

5. In the Win8 folder, paste the install.wim file.

6. As an administrator, open Command Prompt.

7. Type:

reagentc.exe /setosimage /path C:\Win8 /target c:\Windows /Index 1

Substitute the drive letter on which Windows 8/8.1 is installed for C:

To copy-paste the install.wim file, replace Win8 with the name of the folder you just created.

8. The process is complete when the confirmation message reads: Method 2.

Method 2

Method 2 allows you to configure your Windows 8/8.1 to do a Refresh without using the installation disk.

For example, Method 1 allows you to conduct a Reset. However, the Reset operation will not function if you use Method 2.

Take the following steps:

1. Start your computer.
2. Make your way to the computer.
3. Go to the main drive, such as C: where Windows 8/8.1 is installed.
4. Make a new folder called Win8Image.
5. As an administrator, open Command Prompt.
6. Type:

recimg –CreateImage C:\Win8Image

7. Press the Enter.

Reset without installation media

To run the Reset operation without Windows 8/8.1 asking for the installation media each time, follow these steps:

1. First, start your Windows 8/8.1 computer.
2. Then, make your way to the computer.
3. First, go to the main drive, for example, C: This is where you’ll find Windows 8/8.1 installed.
4. Next, make a new folder with the name Win8.
5. Finally, go to the Source folder after inserting the Windows 8/8.1 installation disc.

If you don’t have the installation media, you can get the ISO image for Windows 8/8.1 from your Microsoft account:

• • The ISO file can be downloaded here.
  • Right-click on the ISO file and select Properties.
  • Click the Mount button.

6. From the Source folder, copy the install.wim file.

7. Copy the install.wim file to the Win8 folder you just made.

8. Open the Command Prompt window. To open it, type cmd into the Start screen. But, first, make sure Command Prompt is running as an administrator.

9. Type the following command:

reagentc.exe /setosimage /path C:\Win8 /target c:\Windows /Index 1

Make sure the following variables are replaced: Win8 and C:

10. You can exit Command Prompt when the output confirmation message reads Operation Successful.

REAGENTC.EXE: Operation Successful.

You may reset the Windows 8/8.1 system without the installation DVD if you follow these steps:

1. First, go to your computer’s settings.
2. Then, at the Reset, your PC section, click Get started.

Conclusion

I hope you found this information helpful. Please fill out the form below if you have any queries or comments.

User Questions

1. I don’t have any installation or recovery media for Windows 8, so how can I get it back?

• Start your Windows 8/8.1 computer.
• Make your way to the computer.
• Go to the primary drive, such as C: This is the hard drive on which Windows 8/8.1 is installed.
• Make a new folder with the name Win8.
• Go to the Source folder after inserting the Windows 8/8.1 installation disc.
• From the Source folder, copy the install.wim file.

2. How can I get my computer back up and running without installing Windows or recovery media?

While clicking the Power button on the screen, hold down the shift key on your keyboard. While clicking Restart, keep the shift key pressed. Keep the shift key pressed until the Advanced Recovery Options menu appears. Select Troubleshoot from the drop-down menu.

3. In Windows 8, how can I get rid of the installation media?

• Right-click on the C disk in “This Computer.” Open the C drive’s “properties.”
• Select “Disk cleanup” from the “General” menu.
• “Previous Windows installation(s)” should be checked. Then, to begin the cleaning procedure, click “OK.”

4. Refresh Windows 8

Refresh Windows 8 from windows

5. How to reinstall windows or reset pc? Windows 8.1

How to reinstall windows or reset pc? Windows 8.1 from techsupport