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

Anonymous
2013-01-21T18:18:26+00:00

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.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Performance and system failures

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Anonymous
2015-04-01T21:19:11+00:00

@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
2013-01-21T18:23:43+00:00

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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  1. Anonymous
    2013-05-21T18:59:34+00:00

    Okay... For those of you that have done the refresh, you should have noticed that you didn't free up any space on your hard drive therefore all the application files are still there. I'll try to explain it one more time for all of you. 

    1. When you do a "Refresh" it removes the icons from your start screen and therefore makes you assume the programs are no longer installed.
    2. If you navigate to "C:/windows.old/Program Files" or "C:/windows.old/Program Files (x86)" you will find your whole "C:/Program Files" or "C:/Program Files (x86)" there. All the program files will be there.
    3. So if you want to restore your programs simply move the files in that folder back to "C:/Program Files" or "C:\Program Files (x86)".
    4. After doing this most of my icons were restored to my start screen. And everything worked as it was although the programs will no longer be found in "Change or Remove Programs".

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-01-21T18:52:35+00:00

    That shouldn't be a problem.. :-)

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-01-21T18:41:46+00:00

    Thank you very much for replying, I'll do a custom refresh and set some restore points from now on.  A lesson learnt.  Do you know it will be possible to put the office licence back on also, my partner will have the codes etc?

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