Windows 8 "refresh" removed applications

Anonymous
2012-12-21T18:21:35+00:00

Why did Windows 8 "Refresh" remove about 30 applcations from my PC?  Outlook is gone, as is Excel and Word.  I did a upgrade from 7 on one of my PC's and the new system had not even been operating long enough to create a "Restore" point.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

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Anonymous
2012-12-22T07:58:25+00:00

Hi Rodgerr,

I can imagine how frustrating it could be when most of the applications have been removed on the computer.

Since, you have refreshed the PC; all the applications installed will be removed.

The apps that came with your PC or you installed from Windows Store will be reinstalled, but any apps you installed from other websites and DVDs will be removed. You'll find a list of the removed apps on your desktop after refreshing your PC.

Refer: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-IN/windows-8/restore-refresh-reset-pc

I would recommend you to reinstall all the applications on windows 8 to work.

Let us know the status.

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-05-04T21:56:35+00:00

    Not to be a know-it-all, but I thought I should correct this so people don't get mixed-up:

    Reset: Erase the drive and only reinstall Windows.

    Refresh: Erase the drive, reinstall Windows, restore personal settings and Store apps.

    Restore: Erase the drive and reinstall from an earlier point in time (basically reverting the whole system to a backup).

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  2. @CmdrKeene 90,631 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2013-05-04T21:37:31+00:00

    I think we can all agree that this warning message needs to note on the last bullet point what will happen to apps that aren't from the Windows Store.  This is the pain spot for most users.  It says the Windows Store apps will be kept, but it doesn't outright say that the non-store apps will be lost.

    You can also install all your software and extra (non-store) programs just the way you want, then use that point as you refresh image snapshot.  If you ever one-click-refresh again, that will be the configuration used to restore back to.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-05-04T19:52:50+00:00

    Refreshes only save the files you created, not applications that you downloaded.  You will need to reinstall all those applications, but it will probably have been worth it if you get your computer working again.  Also, it will have saved you a list of the apps you need to reinstall on your Desktop.

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-05-04T16:30:14+00:00

    So, after starting my machine after weeks of not using it, Windows 8 did some updates and kept crashing on start up. I got that newer blue screen of death 'Your PC ran into problems and needs to restart' one. The error seemed to be a driver of sort.

    After a few of these, Windows offered me the option to 'Refresh' my machine. I read it as it wont change my files just the Windows ones. I followed the instructions.

    So I was surprised too when all my apps were missing but didn't gain any hard drive space back. I researched online and that's were I came across this thread. It's only when I clicked on the links in this thread and taken to the Microsoft page explaining what happens when you do this that I realised your applications will be lost.

    So I want to point out to @Gordon B-P, that it may be clear on the the support page but if you weren't looking at the support pages because Windows gave up this option after it kept rebooting then a clear warning would have been helpful. It could have been much clearer.

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