- Refresh and Reset: Whats the Difference?
- Refreshing Your Windows 8 Computer
- Resetting Your Computer
- Getting to Refresh and Reset in Times of Trouble
Getting to Refresh and Reset in Times of Trouble
In previous versions of Windows, you could display the Windows Recovery Environment by pressing F8 during startup, and Windows 8 is no exception. Because the startup time is dramatically shorter than it was in previous versions; however, you need to press F8 immediately after pressing the power button (and for best results, continue pressing F8 until Windows RE appears). Tap or click Troubleshoot and the Troubleshoot window appears, giving you the option of refreshing or resetting your PC (see Figure 5).
Figure 5 You can also refresh or reset your computer using the Troubleshoot tools available when you press F8 during startup.
In addition to choosing refresh or reset, you can tap Advanced Options to display other Windows RE tools: System Restore, System Image Recovery, Automatic Repair, and Command Prompt.
Final Thoughts
No matter why you’re looking for a solution that will take your computer back to an easier, simpler time, one of the two easy-to-use toolsRefresh or Resetare sure to make your tech life simpler. These Windows 8 tools are designed to be as pain-free as possible. In fact, maybe they are easy enough that Aunt Edna will be able to figure them out on her own. Here’s hoping!