Submit a contribution
Original post : Refresh or Reset Windows 8 Without Installation Media.
Name
Email
Description
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> > <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"]