[Guide] Reinstall or Repair Windows Using “Reset PC” and “Refresh PC” Options

UPDATE: This tutorial has been updated with new information and screenshots. Comparison between Reset and Refresh PC options has also been added.

Almost all Windows users install and test new software, games, etc regularly in their computer systems. There are also many customization lovers who love to install new themes, transformation packs in their computer to change Windows look-n-feel.

Many times when we install such kind of things, our computer system starts slowing down and we start facing problems and random error messages. Sometimes it might be due to a missing or corrupt system file or an incorrect Registry value. Many times we can fix these kind of problems by uninstalling those problematic software or transformation packs as given here and here but sometimes reinstalling Windows might be the last option to do.

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Formatting hard disk and reinstalling a fresh Windows is the ultimate solution to fix almost all PC problems but it requires some expertise and valuable time because you’ll need to first install Windows and then you’ll have to reinstall all device drivers, favorite software, games, etc. Oh yeah, you’ll also need to customize all your settings again.

If you are using Windows 8 or later operating system such as Windows 8.1 or Windows 10, here is something interesting information for you. Although many Windows 8 users might be aware of this built-in feature but there are many people who don’t know about it. So today in this tutorial, we are going to share detailed information about a cool built-in feature of Windows 8 and later which helps you in reinstalling or repairing Windows quickly and easily.

Actually Microsoft has introduced 2 new features in Windows 8 which are called:

  • Reset PC
  • Refresh PC

Reset PC: This feature is similar to “Reset to Default” or “Restore Factory Settings” feature found in mobiles and tablets. This feature removes everything from your PC and reinstalls Windows from scratch. So if you use this feature, make sure to take a backup of your important data first. Reset PC option deletes everything from your computer including personal documents, settings, 3rd party software and Metro apps. It first formats the hard drive partition and then reinstalls fresh Windows. Once you use this option, you’ll get absolute new Windows as you got it when you purchased your computer or when you installed Windows for first time.

Refresh PC: If you don’t want to reset everything to default in Windows but want to repair Windows, “Refresh PC” option will help you. It doesn’t remove everything from your PC. It reinstalls Windows but keeps your personal files, settings and Metro style apps, so you’ll not lose them if you use this option. It first copies your data to a different location and then reinstalls Windows from scratch. After reinstalling Windows, it restores the copied data. So after using this option you’ll have a brand new Windows OS along with your personal data and settings.

Comparison Between “Reset PC” and “Refresh PC” Options

Refresh PC option reinstalls Windows but keeps your personal documents, files, personalization settings and metro (modern) apps. On the other hand, Reset PC removes everything from your computer and reinstalls Windows. So you’ll lose all files, settings and apps if you choose Reset PC option.

3rd party software such as Microsoft Office, etc are not kept by any of these features. In other words, both Refresh and Reset PC options remove 3rd party software programs from your computer.

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Following comparison chart will help you in understanding the difference between both these features easily:

Features

Refresh PC

Reset PC

Windows reinstallation

Yes

Yes

Personal documents and files

Kept

Removed

Metro (modern) apps

Kept

Removed

Personalization settings

Kept

Removed

Start Screen settings

Kept

Removed

3rt party software programs

Removed

Removed

List of removed software

Saved on Desktop

No

Installation media (setup disc or USB) required

Yes

Yes

Total time

15-20 minutes

15-20 minutes

 

NOTE: Both Reset and Refresh PC options require Windows installation disc or recovery media to restore default files. If you don’t have Windows setup disc, you can copy Windows setup files to a USB drive and attach to your computer and these features will accept it as installation media.

How to Use “Reset PC” Option in Windows 8 and Later?

To use Reset PC option, follow these simple steps:

1. Move your mouse cursor to top-right corner to show Charms Bar. Alternatively, you can press Win+C keys together to access it.

2. Now click on Settings and then click on “Change PC settings” option.

3. It’ll open new Metro Control Panel screen.

For Windows 8 Users:

Click on “General” tab and in right-side pane, you’ll see “Remove everything and reinstall Windows” option.

For Windows 8.1 and Later Users:

Click on “Update and recovery” and then “Recovery” tab and in right-side pane, you’ll see “Remove everything and reinstall Windows” option.

Advanced_Startup_Options_Windows_8.png

4. Click on “Get started” button and Windows will show you Reset PC wizard.

Reset_Windows_8_PC.png

5. Just follow the instructions given on screen and your Windows computer will reset to default settings i.e. it’ll reinstall Windows from scratch.

NOTE: If you have more than one drive i.e. D:\, E:\, etc, Reset PC will ask your choice to remove files only from C: drive where Windows is installed or from all disk drives. In other words, you can choose whether you want to remove files from C: drive only or from all drives.

Remove_Files_All_Drives_Reset_PC_Windows_8.png

How to Use “Refresh PC” Option in Windows 8 and Later?

To use this feature, follow these simple steps:

1. Similar to “Reset PC” option, “Refresh PC” option is also present in new Metro Control Panel screen. So first follow the same 1-3 steps given above.

2. Now in right-side pane, look for “Refresh your PC without affecting your files” option.

3. Click on “Get started” button and Windows will show the Refresh PC wizard.

Refresh_Windows_8_PC.png

4. Follow the instructions given on screen and it’ll repair Windows without removing your files, settings and apps.

NOTE: Refresh PC option will save an HTML file “Removed Apps.html” on Windows Desktop which contains a list of all 3rd party software programs removed by it.

Removed_Apps_List_Refresh_PC_Windows_8.png

How to Use “Reset PC” or “Refresh PC” Options When Your Computer Can’t Boot?

Now one question arises if your Windows computer can’t boot, how will you access “Reset PC” or “Refresh PC” options to reinstall or repair Windows? Here is the answer!

Windows 8 and later allows you to use both these options from troubleshooting screen as well which is shown when Windows can’t boot. Its a part of the new advanced boot loader or advances startup screen introduced in Windows 8. You can read more about it in following topic:

How to Access and Use Windows 8 Metro Boot Loader and Advanced Boot Options?

So we can say that Reset and Refresh PC options are really very useful features present in Windows 8 and later. Did you know about them? Have you tried them in past? Feel free to share your feedback and experience about them in your comment…

Also Check:

Download “Refresh Windows Tool” to Perform Clean Install of Windows 10

Published in: Troubleshooting Guides, Windows 8

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

NOTE: Older comments have been removed to reduce database overhead.

  1. Hello,
    i am using Sony 14e laptop. it is showing black screen with cursor and task manager is not opening. pls help…

  2. I am using a different laptop to google I just bought a hp windows 8 lapltop. It was used but cleaned out I saw it work When I said I would take it my roommate had turned it on. I can only guess that it was updating because it was saying 35% and my roommate pulled the plug n it shut off. Now when I turn it on it will say hp like it is opening than a message will show up At the top says install windows big red x it say The computer restarted unexpectedly or encountered an unexpected error. Windows installation cannot proceed To install windows click ok to restart the computer, and then restart the installation. I do that and it just does the same thing over again am I suppose to hit something when it come back on Please help me I tried to use shift + f8 to safe mode won’t work

  3. This is urgent I really wanted to reset my PC and remove everything on it! On the settings (recovery) says “Remove everything and reinstall Windows” I clicked get started and it always says “There was a problem resetting your PC” I clicked for solution problem and it still says problem. Need help for this please!

  4. Please Sir,
    am having issues with my WiFi adapter, i have a WiFi which i normally connect to browse but it no longer works, the access point doesn’t come up even when it dictates the WiFi, and my Bluetooth doesn’t work again, it cant even on again unlike before. Am using a Hp 650 note, window 8.

    I am considering a “Refresh your PC” from my window 8 general settings,
    Please, Will it get my Bluetooth and WiFi Adapter working again?or Will i have to Loose my drivers?

    please suggest other possible solutions for me. Aside that, my laptop is in a good shape

  5. ^^ If its a software related problem, refreshing PC might help. But if its a hardware related problem, you’ll have to ask a technician to check the system.

  6. I am having issues with my computer. mircosoft said I need to let them in my computer to fix it alot of things are suddenly off. I am not computer savy per say, if i refresh my computer will it fix it back to where those programs are running? such as my printer and will it speed up my computer because suddenly it is super slow. I have malware and anti virus and have not had anything that I know of as far as a virus that i know of..

  7. Currently, i had my Windows 8 only and upgrade to Windows 8.1(NON-PRO) and then to Windows 8.1 Pro. After installing Windows 8.1 Pro to my computer, it will restart(as usual process and it is already to use. But when i reset my computer as i want to clean my computer for certain reason, then, it will automatically change back to previous Windows 8 only. It makes me need to reinstall back the Windows 8.1 Pro. So, how is these things happen, sir?

  8. ^^ Since the base Windows version is Windows 8, it’ll always restore it whenever you use Reset PC feature.

  9. i have a problem i cant do a normal recovery or a refresh because it appears to have gotten corrupted after my last windows update so i am forced to do a reset so i searched if it is possible to backup my files to my hdd (secundairy drive non boot) and keep them after the reset i have made a backup of them but when i do reset it doesnt give me the choice to erase all drives or the boot drive i dont have acces to a external hdd and dont feel like spending 60 euros to buy one i am running windows 8.1

  10. hi
    thanks for this trick
    but i cant reset.when i click on get started it says ” some files are missing” and then nothing happens
    what should i do?
    😕

  11. Hi. I have a doubt,
    My Lenovo Y50 laptop (Windows8,.1) has gone into the automatic repair loop. I wouldnt mind resetting my PC but only if i can keep the data other drives on which windows is not installed. Is this possible? As far as I understood resetting is similar to a factory reset, but does that mean it will delete all my partitions and all data on it? I am not able to refresh due to administrator issues.

  12. ^^ It only formats and resets the system drive where Windows is installed. Also you get options to select which drive/partition do you want to reset.

  13. Hi..

    With ref to above said solution, I have a query..
    I had been asked to update my windows 8, samsung laptop. when I pursued this action all my data got crashed and now every time I reboot system it keeps recover/reset the system. Could you please suggest me how can I stop this and make my laptop functioning properly as earlier.

  14. Hi..

    Thanks for the immediate response..
    BT actually I haven’t got any disc when I purchased .

  15. ^^ You’ll need to repair or reset the Windows to make it working. If its asking to reset the Windows, just follow the instructions. Sorry but nothing else can be done.

  16. i bought my cpu with windows 8 , ran perfect ! 8.1 was forced on it , now it crashes kernel power. I went back to 8 factory reset , it still crashes , upgraded to 8.1 again , still crashes , went to 10 , it crashes back to 8 crashes , 8.1 crashes 10 crashes . now im back to windows 8 , dammit it crashes . I have done a factory reset every time . I ran every test possible !!! all is good ! so tell me what did they do to my cpu ? I know many people have the same problem and I also know our cpu’s didn’t just
    have the same item go out . 8.1 done something to our cpu !

  17. hellooo, i tried to remove and reinstall every thing as per your tutorial but it shows like some files are missing ,and i dont have any recovery media of my running 8.1, so is there any alternate way to reset evrything

  18. I refreshed my computer, and now it will not read my SD card in Pictures Gallery. Any suggestions?

  19. when I am restart (in advance startup) my win 8.1 laptop. my all windows apps and Microsoft app like Microsoft excel powerpoint etc. is delete .so now what can I do .help me

  20. OK, now for the what if and has any data recovery tool or firm been able to retrieve data
    from having used F12 on a HP LAPTOP which launches a Recovery Tool that offers Reset or
    Refresh but to be on the safe side from viruses Reset is used but no backup performed so
    all that valuable data is lost. And Microsoft has done more than just a reformat cause they
    have taken up a data protection policy just too make it that little bit more difficult.

    Windows just hasn’t caught up with a sensible standard of O/S APPS disk/ part and DATA
    disk / part so that RESET can be directed to doing just O/S APPS and leave DATA alone.

  21. i keep trying to remove everything and reinstall windows on my HP laptop, i believe i have windows 8.1 and i don’t have a disk port. every time i try to reset it, it will say no change was made and when i press “check for problem” nothing happens. if anyone can help me remove everything that would be great!

  22. Am using HP 2000 window8; it always ask for an upgrade to window 8.1 when ever I start it.

  23. If I upgrade from Win 8 to 8.1 and do a factory reset using in built media to what OS will it get RESET to … 8 or 8.1???

    Same question for 8.1 to 10 ?? Which OS will my laptop get RESET to 8.1 or 10????

  24. ^^ If you use Windows’s built-in feature “Reset this PC”, it’ll reset to the latest Windows version.

  25. iam using windows 8 and i went to change pc settings and then general and then clicked remove everything and reinstall windows but they are telling that some files are missing. your windows installation or recovery will provide these files. what should i do?

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