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This guide details <strong>how you can refresh or reset your Windows 8system without using the installation media</strong> (the DVD or the USB drive).

<p class="info">You need to have the installation media or the original ISO file (from your Microsoft account) to configure your system. Afterwards, you can refresh or reset Windows 8/8.1 without the installation media.</p>

Following these steps will <strong>remove</strong> the <em>"Insert media"</em> screen that's being displayed when you are trying to perform Refresh or Reset:

[caption id="attachment_3238" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/03/windows-8-insert-media.jpg" alt="Windows 8 Insert Media Screen" width="1024" height="400" class="size-full wp-image-3238" /> Windows 8 Insert Media Screen[/caption]

<pre>Insert media

Some files are missing. Your Windows installation or recovery media will provide these files.</pre>

<h2>Refresh vs. Reset</h2>

A Refresh operation will not affect personal files, but a Reset operation will remove any personal files (if they aren't backed-up).

Before you perform a Refresh, note that:

<ul>
<li>If your original Windows version was 8.0 and you upgraded to 8.1, the Refresh procedure will restore the Windows 8.0 back. You'll need to upgrade to 8.1 afterwards.</li>
<li>Applications you've installed since installing Windows 8/8.1 will be removed and moved to a back-up folder.</li>
</ul>

Before you perform a Reset, note that:

<ul>
<li>A Reset procedure will remove all data from your Windows 8/8.1 system.</li>
<li>If your original installed Windows version was 8.0 and you've upgraded to 8.1, the Reset procedure will restore your Windows to the 8.0 version.</li>
</ul>

You can back-up your personal files using the <strong>Browse/Backup Files</strong> feature of <strong>Easy Recovery Essentials</strong>:

[partial name="easyre_browse_backup_files"]

<h2>Refresh without installation media</h2>

Follow these steps to prepare your Windows 8/8.1 to not ask for the installation media each time you want to perform a Refresh:

<h3>Method #1</h3>

Using <a href="#Method_1">Method #1</a> explained below allows you to perform a Reset and Refresh without Windows asking for the installation media.

<ol>
<li>Boot into the system and go to <strong>Computer</strong> &gt; <code>C:</code>, where <code>C:</code> is the drive where your Windows is installed on.</li>
<li>Create a new folder. Name it <code>Win8</code></li>
<li>Insert the Windows 8/8.1 installation media and go to the <strong>Source</strong> folder.
If you don't have the installation media, download your official copy of Windows 8/8.1 ISO image from your Microsoft account:
<ul>
<li>Download the ISO file</li>
<li>Right-click on the ISO file</li>
<li>Click <strong>Mount</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Copy the <code>install.wim</code> file</li>
<li>Paste the <code>install.wim</code> file to the Win8 folder</li>
<li>Open Command Prompt as an Administrator</li>
<li>Type:
<pre>reagentc.exe /setosimage /path C:\Win8 /target c:\Windows /Index 1</pre>
Replace <code>C:\</code> with the letter of the drive where Windows 8/8.1 is installed on.
Replace <code>Win8</code> with the name of the folder you've just created to copy-paste the <code>install.wim</code> file.
</li>
<li>The process is successful when the confirmation message is:
<pre>REAGENTC.EXE: Operation Successful.</pre>
</li>
</ol>

<h3>Method #2</h3>

<a href="#Method_2">Method #2</a> allows you to configure your Windows 8/8.1 to perform Refresh without having the installation media to create this configuration.

<a href="#Method_1">Method #1</a>, for example, allows you to perform a Reset as well. Using <a href="#Method_2">Method</a> #2 will not work for the Reset procedure.

Follow these steps:

<ol>
<li>Boot into your system</li>
<li>Go to <strong>Computer</strong></li>
<li>Go to the main drive where Windows 8/8.1 is installed on, e.g. <code>C:</code></li>
<li>Create a new folder: <code>Win8Image</code></li>
<li>Open <strong>Command Prompt</strong> as an Administrator</li>
<li>Type:
<pre>recimg –CreateImage C:\Win8Image</pre>
</li>
<li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
</ol>

<h2>Reset without installation media</h2>

Follow these steps in order to run the Reset procedure without Windows 8/8.1 asking for the installation media each time:

<ol>
<li>Boot into your Windows 8/8.1</li>
<li>Go to <strong>Computer</strong></li>
<li>Go to the main drive, e.g. <code>C:</code> This is the drive where your Windows 8/8.1 is installed on.</li>
<li>Create a new folder, called <code>Win8</code></li>
<li>Insert the Windows 8/8.1 installation media and go to the <code>Source</code> folder.
If you don't have the installation media, use the Windows 8/8.1's ISO image that's available for download from your Microsoft account:
<ul>
<li>Download the ISO file</li>
<li>Right-click on the ISO file</li>
<li>Click <strong>Mount</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Copy the <code>install.wim</code> file from the <code>Source</code> folder</li>
<li>Paste the <code>install.wim</code> file to the recently created <code>Win8</code> folder</li>
<li>Open <strong>Command Prompt</strong>. You can type <code>cmd</code> at the Start screen to open it. Make sure you run Command Prompt as an Administrator.</li>
<li>Type this command:
<pre>reagentc.exe /setosimage /path C:\Win8 /target c:\Windows /Index 1</pre>
Make sure to replace the following variables: <code>C:</code> and <code>Win8</code>
</li>
<li>When the output confirmation message is <strong>Operation Successful</strong>, you can exit Command Prompt:
<pre>REAGENTC.EXE: Operation Successful.</pre>
</li>
</ol>

After following these steps, you can reset the Windows 8/8.1 system without the installation media:

<ol>
<li>Go to <strong>PC Settings</strong>

[caption id="attachment_1722" align="alignnone" width="980"]<img src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/02/windows-8-advanced-startup-screen-pc-settings-1024x687.png" alt="The Windows 8 Advanced startup screen in PC settings" width="980" height="657" class="size-large wp-image-1722" /> The Windows 8 Advanced startup screen in PC settings[/caption]
</li>
<li>Click <strong>Get started</strong> at the <strong>Reset your PC</strong> section</li>
</ol>

<h2>More Information</h2>

[partial name="partial_moreinfo" versions="8"]