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  2. You cannot reset or refresh Windows 8.1 without erasing the disk partitions

You cannot reset or refresh Windows 8.1 without erasing the disk partitions

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Symptoms

Consider the following scenario:
  • You have a computer that is running Windows 8.1 with Windows image file boot (WIMBoot).
  • You start the computer by using external Push Button Reset (PBR) recovery media such as a thumbdrive.
  • You try to refresh or reset Windows with the No, keep the existing partitions option selected.
In this scenario, the operation fails, and the following error message is received:
This option is not supported when the PC started using a recovery drive or Windows installation media.

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Workaround

Some computers do not support resets or the refreshing of Windows together with the No, keep the existing partitions option when you use external PBR recovery media.

To work around this issue, use one of the following methods:
  • Use the Yes, repartition the drives option instead.
  • Start the refresh or reset operation within Windows. To do this, click Change PC settings, Update and Recovery, and then find the options in the Recovery page.

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More Information

For more information about the PBR feature, visit the following Microsoft website.
Push-Button Reset overview

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Keywords: kbexpertiseadvanced, kbsurveynew, kbtshoot, kb

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Article Info
Article ID : 2967194
Revision : 1
Created on : 1/7/2017
Published on : 5/15/2014
Exists online : False
Views : 277