One can never stress enough on the importance of creating system backups. No matter how many you create, you are always one short. Backups are used to copy the entire hard drive and give the PC a restoring point in case of any mishaps or severe system errors. Acknowledging its significance, Microsoft introduced a similar feature in Windows 8 in the form of PC Refresh. PC Refresh works by restoring the PC to a system image stored in some hidden restore partition, and keeping all the personal data, settings, and Metro style apps intact. The beauty lies in its extremely easy to use operations, and its highly secure means of returning the device back to its working state. Unfortunately, though, things are not as calm and smooth for the Windows 8.1 users. If you have installed this latest update from the Windows Store, you may soon realize that the refresh process will require you to first insert the installation media; a component you don’t possess since you downloaded the Windows 8.1 from the Store. Furthermore, your original Windows 8 media or recovery partitions won’t be accepted either. So what to do to work around this issue and get back the all-important refresh function? Simple: create a custom refresh image and use that created screenshot instead.
Prior to proceeding this piece for the solution, let be advised to first Scan and Fix your system’s concealed disorders which most probably is eliciting the inconsistencies:
- Step 1 : Download Systimizer – PC Cleaner & Internet Booster (Works on Windows 10, 8, 7 & XP)
- Step 2 : Click “Scan” to find system issues
- Step 3 : Click “Fix” to repair all anomalies
Custom Refresh Image can be thought of as an updated version of the default image, containing all the important system programs and files required to boot and run the system. Moreover, this image will also comprise of all the non-metro applications installed from the Store, and thus save your system from losing all your data.
To create a custom refresh image and give your system an added cushion, carefully read the instructions below and execute them perfectly:
- Open Command Prompt with administrative rights by pressing Windows + x and choosing Command Prompt (Admin)
- Check you are in C:\Windows\system32 path.
- Create a new directory named RefreshImage at the root of your C: drive by entering the following command
mkdir C:\RefreshImage
- Initiate the image creation process by typing the following command and hitting Enter
recimg /CreateImage C:\RefreshImage
This will start creating the image and place it in the folder we created in Step 3
- Wait until the system takes a screen shot and writes the image file into your hard drive. No user intervention is required at this step.
- Upon successful completion, you will see the following statement
Recovery image creation and registration completed successfully.
- Verify the completion by navigating to C:\RefreshImage path and notice the custom image file now created.
You’re all done! All that is needed now is to perform the PC Refresh and restore your system if needed .
