[Windows 8] Trying reset feature


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So i'm gonna try this handy feature but what all would be cleaned? Can anyone explain?

I will lose everything in the Windows Directory and all Metro apps or there is some other thing behind it too?

Thank you

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There are two totally different options available actually, depending on what you are trying to achieve. See this article for more details:

http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/how-to-refresh-or-reset-your-windows-8-pc-complete-guide/

Basically though, the Refresh option is used to restore your Windows system to its default state, whilst preserving your data (but non-Metro applications are not reinstalled however a handy file is saved on your desktop that lists items that need to be reinstalled if need be). The reset option from what I understand, will wipe the data on your hard drive and then reinstall Windows.

I have only tried the Refresh option though, just out of curiosity...

Hope this helps!

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If you had read the article posted by 'dafin0' properly, you would have seen this for the Reset option:

"Windows RE erases and formats the hard drive partitions on which Windows and personal data reside."

This means only the OS partition and not any other partition that you may have created yourself on any hard drive to separate your data files (movies, pictures etc.) from the Windows files for example.

The Refresh option would be best in your case unless you have a really nasty Windows problem or a particularly elusive virus...

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If it's an elusive virus you should boot up from Knoppix or some other live CD, do a low level format and then do a clean install.

I don't think there's a terribly good reason to use Reset over Refresh, unless you really just want to start from scratch. I have used Reset btw, and it's pretty much just re-installing the system.

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Yes OK that's fair enough about the virus migo; sorry I was on my lunch break and was posting from my iPhone to give an example.

I haven't used the Reset feature but yes it would just be a straight reinstall of Windows from the sounds of it. I have used the Refresh feature just to try it out and it seemed to work quite well - I did also get a nice HTML file on my Desktop pointing out to me what programs that I would need to reinstall, as they were non-Metro applications.

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I tried it. Reset your PC. (Not refresh)

My observations:

1. It surprisingly asked me for Windows 8 installation CD to be inserted. (That is stupid and defeats the purpose of going media free.)

2. The reset took me exactly 20 minutes. Which is the same time taken to install Windows 8 from CD drive. I can install it in under 10 minutes using a bootable USB flash drive

3. Then I went ahead to do a factory reset again.

4. This time, it didn't ask me for installation CD and completed the whole process in 18 minutes.

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