Windows 8 "refresh" removed applications

And in no way was I criticizing what you've done on this forum, just this thread in particular. My point still stands because in no way have you helped any of the users that were trying to get it in THIS tread. Once again you go back to being a smartass without even taking what I said into account. And the reason why I have only been on here for such a short time was because I only came here to see if programs would actually be removed if I refreshed my pc. And with that being said I have better things to do than to keep going back and forth with you so I've said my peace.

I don't ever write on community forums but Gordon B-P you've honestly spent more time being an **** towards people than you have helping them out. I like other people am having issues with my computer but I came here to see if my programs would be uninstalled because an program or app is something I have installed and use which does make it a personal file.If 

All the people whining and complaining about Gordon B-P's responses are going to face the same problems again in the future, because you are so focused on being butthurt about having your dumb mistakes and flaws pointed out to you, than you are about learning something valuable from what he said.  His responses are chock-full of ACCURATE and USEFUL information, that, if read and taken to heart and understood, will make you a more savvy user and help prevent unfortunate mistakes in the future.  Instead of throwing a tantrum about the perceived tone of the messages, learn something from your experience, and from Gordon B-P's very wise advice, or you will have similar problems in the future.

Some people have a hard time accepting that the problem is their lack of understanding, not the software. The software did what it was designed to do.   The makers of the software, however, are partially to blame for your bad experience for failing to describe it clearly enough or assuming everyone's vocabulary is modern and up-to-date. But they can only go so far, they can't tailor the help message to use your private personal vocabulary and your personal understandings of word-meanings.

In the Windows world, your personal files and settings are everything located within your personal folder ("\Documents and Settings\Username" in the past, and now  \Users\Username). and includes the Desktop, My Documents, and all the other directories within your personal user directory.   Programs/Apps are NOT your personal files.as they may be used by other users of the PC, and are stored in a central place, NOT in your personal directory.  They are stored in "\Program Files" and similar or related directory names; they are also listed under the Programs and Features panel in the Control Panel (inconsistent naming by Microsoft -- a big part of the problem, and clearly their failing), Do yourself a favor and learn this concept, remember it. The description and warning of the refresh says you will keep one (personal files and settinings--your personal user directory) and lose the other (apps--all the programs listed in Programs and Features).  (If any personal files or settings related to an app get lost, it is the fault of makers of that software, for not following the recommended  practices as to WHERE they put a user's settings and files related to that softare; not Microsoft's.)

On a personal note, I used the Refresh feature myself yesterday.  I fully understood the warnings, and the result was mostly as I expected (with one big exception -- a list of removed apps was NOT saved to my desktop or anywhere else as far as I can tell).  Doing a Refresh was my last resort in trying to recover from a disastrous failure, I knew it wasn't a magical solution to undo the catastrophe, but it was a BIG help in getting me semi-recovered to a fair extent, in very little time, compared to the alternative.

Well guys it seems that I have been led down the prim row path as well. Very Very very misleading information on the refresh of windows 8 professional.

REFRESH is a bad word and implies a quick fix to errors that have cropped up in the OS not a complete reinstall of the OS.

Screwed me up royally here on a Sunday night at 12 midnight. Need to work in the morning so now it is 3 AM and still loading my software.

Hey Microsoft I am going to send you a bill for my time. I make $125 / hour so expect a bill for 4 hours at least.

You Jerks should warn users before you stick it to them then laugh at our stupidity.

FIX IT!

I had the same problem.  I lost my apps, I lost Office and other programs.  I may need to repurchase some,  I HATE windows 8 and I believe Microsoft is responsible.  I want my money back.  Any lawyers out there> can anyone say Class Action???

If you bother to read before doing the refresh you would have know what to expect. This is not A Windows 8 or Microsoft problem but a user one. You chose to go blindly ahead without knowing what you were doing or what would happen. I don't feel sorry for you in the least bit, you suffered the results of your own ineptness. Hope this helps and if you need further assistance post and we will be glad to assist you.

The above opinion is mine and mine alone and doesn't necessarily reflect that of Microsoft, it's employees, or any other member of this forum.

"When we try to pick out-anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." -John Muir