If your Windows 8 or 8.1 computer is experiencing issues and you don’t have the original installation media, there are still ways to repair or reset the operating system without a CD or USB drive. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of refreshing, resetting, or restoring your Windows 8 PC using the built-in recovery options.
Refresh Your PC
The Refresh option in Windows 8 allows you to reinstall the operating system while keeping your personal files, settings, and most of your apps. Here’s how to do it:
Swipe in from the right edge of the screen and tap Settings, then tap Change PC settings.
Tap or click Update and recovery, then tap or click Recovery.
Under Refresh your PC without affecting your files, tap or click Get started.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the refresh process.
Keep in mind that some apps you installed may be removed during the refresh process, but you can reinstall them later.
Reset Your PC
If you want to start fresh with a clean installation of Windows 8, you can use the Reset option. This will remove all your personal files, apps, and settings, but keep the apps that came pre-installed with your PC. Here’s how to reset your PC:
Swipe in from the right edge of the screen and tap Settings, then tap Change PC settings.
Tap or click Update and recovery, then tap or click Recovery.
Under Remove everything and reinstall Windows, tap or click Get started.
Select Next, then choose whether you want to Clean the drive fully or Just remove my files.
Click Reset to confirm and begin the reset process.
The **Clean the drive fully** option takes longer but makes it harder for your data to be recovered, while **Just remove my files** is faster but leaves open the possibility of data recovery using special software.
Restore Your PC
If you think a recently installed app or driver is causing issues, you can restore your PC to an earlier point in time using System Restore. This won’t affect your personal files, but it may remove recently installed apps and drivers. Here’s how to restore your PC:
Swipe in from the right edge of the screen and tap Search.
Enter Control Panel in the search box and tap or click Control Panel.
Enter Recovery in the Control Panel search box and tap or click Recovery.
Tap or click Open System Restore, then follow the on-screen instructions.
Keep in mind that System Restore is not available for Windows RT 8.1.
If you encounter issues during the refresh, reset, or restore process, or if your PC won’t start, you can boot into the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) by using the installation media or a recovery drive. From there, you can access advanced troubleshooting options and tools.
In conclusion, while having the original installation media is ideal for repairing Windows 8, there are still several options available if you don’t have a CD or USB drive. By using the built-in refresh, reset, and restore features, you can address various issues and get your PC back to a working state without losing all your data and settings.