How To Reinstall Windows 8.1 Without Cd

This guide details how you can refresh or reset your Windows 8system without using the installation media (the DVD or the USB bulldoze).

You need to have the installation media or the original ISO file (from your Microsoft account) to configure your system. Subsequently, you lot can refresh or reset Windows 8/8.1 without the installation media.

Following these steps volition remove the "Insert media" screen that'south being displayed when you are trying to perform Refresh or Reset:

Windows 8 Insert Media Screen

Windows eight Insert Media Screen

Insert media  Some files are missing. Your Windows installation or recovery media will provide these files.

Contents

1 Refresh vs. Reset
two Refresh without installation media
- two.1 Method #1
- two.two Method #ii
three Reset without installation media
four More Information
- iv.one Back up Links
- 4.2 Applicable Systems

Refresh vs. Reset

A Refresh operation will not bear upon personal files, but a Reset functioning will remove whatsoever personal files (if they aren't backed-up).

Before you perform a Refresh, note that:

If your original Windows version was 8.0 and y'all upgraded to 8.1, the Refresh procedure will restore the Windows 8.0 back. You lot'll need to upgrade to 8.ane afterwards.
Applications you lot've installed since installing Windows eight/8.1 volition be removed and moved to a redundancy folder.

Before y'all perform a Reset, note that:

A Reset procedure will remove all information from your Windows eight/viii.ane system.
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 eight.0 version.

You lot can dorsum-up your personal files using the Browse/Fill-in Files characteristic of Piece of cake Recovery Essentials:

Download Easy Recovery Essentials. Make sure to select your Windows version – XP, Vista, 7 or eight – earlier you download EasyRE.
Fire the ISO image. Our guides will help you do this: how to fire EasyRE on a CD/DVD, how to create a bootable EasyRE recovery USB drive.
Boot upwardly your PC from the Easy Recovery Essentials CD or USB you created.
Choose the "Browse/Backup Files" option and click Proceed.

Browse/Backup Files from EasyRE
Y'all at present have access to your files. Yous can backup the files on an external USB bulldoze.

Browse files from EasyRE directly

Download Easy Recovery Essentials by clicking this link.

Refresh without installation media

Follow these steps to prepare your Windows 8/8.1 to not enquire for the installation media each time you want to perform a Refresh:

Method #1

Using Method #1 explained below allows you to perform a Reset and Refresh without Windows asking for the installation media.

Kick into the system and go to Computer > C:, where C: is the drive where your Windows is installed on.
Create a new binder. Name it Win8
Insert the Windows eight/viii.one installation media and go to the Source binder.
If you don't have the installation media, download your official copy of Windows eight/8.1 ISO image from your Microsoft account:
- Download the ISO file
- Right-click on the ISO file
- Click Mount
Copy the install.wim file
Paste the install.wim file to the Win8 binder
Open Command Prompt as an Administrator
Type:
```
reagentc.exe /setosimage /path C:\Win8 /target c:\Windows /Index ane
```
Supervene upon C:\ with the letter of the alphabet of the drive where Windows viii/eight.1 is installed on.
Supersede Win8 with the name of the binder you've just created to copy-paste the install.wim file.
The process is successful when the confirmation message is:
```
REAGENTC.EXE: Operation Successful.
```

Method #2

Method #2 allows you to configure your Windows eight/viii.1 to perform Refresh without having the installation media to create this configuration.

Method #one, for example, allows you to perform a Reset as well. Using Method #2 will not work for the Reset procedure.

Follow these steps:

Boot into your system
Become to Computer
Go to the primary drive where Windows 8/8.1 is installed on, e.m. C:
Create a new folder: Win8Image
Open up Command Prompt as an Ambassador
Type:
```
recimg –CreateImage C:\Win8Image
```
Printing Enter

Reset without installation media

Follow these steps in order to run the Reset process without Windows 8/8.1 asking for the installation media each time:

Boot into your Windows eight/8.1
Go to Computer
Go to the main drive, e.yard. C: This is the drive where your Windows eight/eight.one is installed on.
Create a new folder, chosen Win8
Insert the Windows eight/8.1 installation media and go to the Source folder.
If you don't accept the installation media, use the Windows 8/8.ane'south ISO prototype that'south available for download from your Microsoft account:
- Download the ISO file
- Right-click on the ISO file
- Click Mount
Copy the install.wim file from the Source folder
Paste the install.wim file to the recently created Win8 folder
Open up Command Prompt. You can type cmd at the Start screen to open it. Brand certain you run Command Prompt as an Administrator.
Type this command:
```
reagentc.exe /setosimage /path C:\Win8 /target c:\Windows /Index 1
```
Make sure to replace the following variables: C: and Win8
When the output confirmation message is Performance Successful, you tin leave Control Prompt:
```
REAGENTC.EXE: Performance Successful.
```

After following these steps, yous can reset the Windows 8/8.one organization without the installation media:

Go to PC Settings

The Windows 8 Avant-garde startup screen in PC settings
Click Go started at the Reset your PC section

More Information

Support Links

Easy Recovery Essentials for Windows – our repair and recovery disk.
Information technology's an easy-to-use and automated diagnostics disk. It'south available for Windows eight, Windows 7 and Windows Vista. It's also available for Windows XP and Windows Server.

Read more at Windows Recovery Disks.
The NeoSmart Support Forums, member-to-fellow member technical support and troubleshooting.
Go a discounted cost on replacement setup and installation discs: Windows 8.

Applicable Systems

This Windows-related knowledgebase article applies to the following operating systems:

Windows 8 (all editions)
Windows eight.i (all editions)

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