Can I undo a refresh on windows 8, I have no restore points but would like to go back 24hours?

Anonymous

I've recently got a new computer with Windows 8, I was having trouble with it and decided to refresh to clean up all the bits and pieces I'd added to start again. The windows office package was installed recently by partner before he went away as he bought two licences and it has now gone.

Can I undo the refresh in any way? I have tried and tried but it seems there were no restore points. Very grateful for any advice as have just managed to get some work for first time this year and need word, excel etc.

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Anonymous

@Shawn yes make the users wrong for not understanding Windows 8's arcane messages. Microsoft can do no wrong (sarcasm.)

Raul Freitas

tech wizard

(not a Microsoft apologist)

For the record Windows 8 is worse than both Vista and ME.

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Anonymous

No restore points = no going back. I don't think that you can go back anyway, certainly there is no easy way.

Your other stuff will have to be re-installed..

If you are going to need Refresh in the future, make a CUSTOM Refresh image that better reflects what is installed and running. The new image is not perfect but better than the default Refresh..

http://www.howtogeek.com/108944/how-to-create-a-custom-refresh-image-in-windows-8/

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110 additional answers

Anonymous

2014-09-29T21:50:26+00:00

Wish I read these post before I refreshed my windows. Like most have said, refresh don't state your installed applications will be removed. Now for us computer smart people, we are not going to choose an option that warns us that our installed applications will be deleted unless we are OK with that. We will research for a better option and if we cant find one then we will resort to that.

I agree there should be a restore point created on clicking refresh but even if not Microsoft has to consider that people don't want to spend the time to re-install all the programs removes.

Though I have everything backed up it will take 3 hours to re-install my Adobe Suite, and several hours to re-install all other programs I had. Even my Office has to be re-installed. This affects my work production and puts me behind a day in a half if im lucky.

So those of you saying people are complaining do consider we just don't want to have to spend the time to re-install all the programs again, update our drivers, and create new settings, new restore points, re-install our Cloud drivers and other things. Its sad.

I actually like windows 8 and advocate it over MAC to all my friends and students but trust me I will make them all aware of this problem until it is fixed.

I cant get my time back. Also this all happened because my windows wouldn't load so it gave me options. I am very careful with my computer, I dont use fake software or visit crazy sites.

Consider me very loving of my laptop so when it malfunctioned i was perplexed and totally disappointment that windows 8.1 did this. Seem old school and I thought the company has passed silly issues and bugs like this.
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Anonymous

2014-08-13T03:40:39+00:00

I found this folder but all are empty this refresh thing is bs Microsoft can kiss my butt im with the other person mac here I come
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Anonymous

2014-07-27T11:43:58+00:00

after pushing refresh in PC Settings

Went in and got the same message that showed when it had wiped out the audio drivers, killed my print drivers, removed Office and Excel, plus many others.

Message said

'Insert Media . Some files are missing. Your windows installation or recovery media will provide these files'.

(Having just performed this action, Why are some files again missing !)

Had performed a scannow BEFORE doing the Refresh, as past experiences were that 'odd' PC actions were corrected by doing so. Got the message from Scannow that 'nothing' showed up to correct, at which point I did the Refresh resulting in the messed up PC.

So something is still 'wrong' with Win 8.1, as Scannow found nothing to correct, but Refresh said 'Files' missing.

Did not want to further 'screw up' the progress made since that mess took place, so did 'Cancel' the event, as I don't recall if there was an opportunity given to cancel, once started.

Sorry, I still say, that Win 8.1 is for hand held devices, and not for serious desktop users.
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