How to Refresh Your Windows 7/8/8.1/10/11 PC Without Affecting Files

David Darlington

Dec 16, 2024 • Filed to: Windows Computer Solutions • Proven solutions

Every user likes to use a fast system, one that completes tasks and functions in the quickest of times. However, if your computer has been getting overworked, it may act like a human: become "tired" in a manner of speaking. Now, just as humans need to refresh after overworking themselves, so also your computer needs to refresh once its functions begin to get affected.

This article has been designed to help you know how to refresh your system and not just that, but to be able to do this without affecting your files. You will also be introduced to a tool that will help you recover your files if, for some reason, they get missing after refreshing.

Why Do You Need to Refresh Your PC?

What are some factors that will prompt you to refresh your PC? Discussed below are some of the reasons why you will need to refresh your PC:

• You need to refresh your Windows PC when you are having trouble booting your PC. By going to the "Windows Recovery Environment", you can refresh your Windows to deal with the problem of starting your PC.
• Again, you need to refresh your PC if it is having difficulty performing its functions as it should, even after you have started and restarted it
• You need to refresh your computer to enable it to free up accumulated or clogged space in your system memory. Hence, if your Windows registry gets larger, it becomes slower to access files. A good old system refresh will fix the problem.
• If you have made changes to your desktop, for instance, shortcuts, moved or created files, sometimes it may not display until you make a system refresh. This is why you need to do it.

What Happens When You Refresh a Windows PC?

After you have refreshed your Windows PC, you can be sure to get the following benefits or results:

• First and foremost, the immediate effect of refreshing your system is that it becomes more active; thus, fixing any slow function
• Your Windows will be reinstalled and your settings or files will be kept intact as from before the refreshing
• It will also keep the apps that your PC came with. Thus unlike "Reset", your files will not be deleted to return your system to factory settings
• When you refresh your Windows PC, it fixes screen distortions and rebuilds all your screen pixels.
• Windows PC refresh helps to display files that have been created on your desktop perhaps with the use of a third-party application
• A Windows refresh can re-align the icons on your desktop if they are not organized properly

How to Refresh your Windows 7 PC Without Affecting Files

You may have noticed that Windows 7 does not have a function to "Refresh your PC" or "Reset" it. This is unlike the other versions of Windows that will be discussed here: Windows 8,8.1, and 10. However, there is a way around this. You can perform a non-destructive reinstall of your system to restore everything to a good condition without affecting your files. If you can still access your desktop, then follow the steps below to reinstall Windows 7, thereby refreshing:

• Startup your PC, install either the USB disk or installation DVD.
• The "AutoPlay" Windows will appear. From here, choose "Run Setup.exe". Alternatively, open "Windows Explorer" and launch your DVD drive, then find the "Setup.exe" and double-click

• You will be led to the install page of Windows 7. Choose "Install now"

• Select the option to "Go online to get the latest updates for installation" from "Get important updates for installation", the dialog box that pops up.

• The next window will ask you which type of installation you want, choose the option "Upgrade"

• You may have to input the "Product Key". Now, select "Next"

• Choose the tab "Use recommended settings"

• Choose the current location of your Windows, check to ensure your time and date settings are in order. Finally, wait as your installation is completed.

How to Refresh your Windows 8/8.1 PC Without Affecting Files

The steps for refreshing Windows 8 and 8.1 are the same, which is why they are both combined in this section. The steps are outlined as follows:

• First, locate the "Settings" button.

• Next, click "Update and Recovery".
• Choose the option "Recovery".
• Select "Get started", an option beneath the tab "Refresh your PC without affecting your files".

• A new window will appear with the caption "Here's what will happen", under the heading "Refresh your PC". This way, you will know what will happen once you do the refresh.

1. Your computer will restart a few times as it refreshes. Sometimes, you will see a screen displaying the progress of your system refresh. The system you are using will determine how long the process will take. The more files you have that you wish to be kept safe, the longer the refresh process will take.

It is important to note that you may need to reconfigure your system to its originally preferred state after you have done the refresh. Some programs that may require reconfiguration and set up include Google Chrome, desktop shortcuts, reset file associations, and so on.

How to Refresh your Windows 10 PC Without Affecting Files

When refreshing your Windows 10, it will be reinstalled and in the process, any apps you may have installed will be deleted. It is important to note that previous versions of Windows 10 contained "Refresh Windows" in the "Windows Defender" window. This has been removed from the newest version of Windows 10, perhaps because of the identical "Reset this PC" feature. With this feature, you can decide whether to keep your files or not. Since this is the goal here, follow the steps below to achieve this (as well as refresh in such a way that you don't lose installed apps):

• Connect the installation disc of Windows 10 to your computer. You can also download the latest ISO file of Windows 10 or any previous version.
• Open the ISO file or installation disc and run "Setup.exe" at the root directory. Alternatively, go to "Resources folder" and run "Setup.exe" from there.

• After a brief moment, the Windows 10 Setup window will appear. Choose which updates you wish to download and ignore those you don't wish to. Choose "Next" option.

• The option "Change what to keep" should be chosen under "What needs your attention".

• Of the three options under "Choose what to keep", select the option to "Keep personal files, apps, and Windows Settings".

• Select "Install". The refresh process will start. You can know that there is progress when your system keeps restarting.

What to do When Data Gets Lost After Refreshing Your PC

Refreshing your PC comes with the advantages that have been mentioned above. However, in some cases, one or two data might get missing in the process. Now, if you did not back up your files before the refresh, you will need a powerful tool to help you get back those missing files. Today is your day! Why do you ask? Well, a powerful enough tool has been provided for you and it's the Recoverit Data Recovery tool, an application that can scan through hard drives, SD cards, corrupted or damaged systems, crashed systems, and so on, to retrieve files that you may have lost due to one reason or the other. If you have mistakenly or purposely deleted your files and formatted your hard disk, this app can find the files contained in them and recover them for you.

This app can be used in all the versions of Windows that have been discussed in this article i.e. Windows 7, 8,8.1, 10, as well as Mac systems. It can also retrieve files of different formats of videos, images, audios, zipped files, and other documents.

Step 1: Select a Location

Begin with choosing the location from where your file or data is missing. Next, click "Start" and the scanning process will begin.

Step 2: Scan the Location

The time Recoverit Data Recovery will spend on finding the lost files will depend on the size of the files and how heavy or light they are. You can either pause or stop the process by clicking the icon representing each of these functions at the top right of the app's interface.

Step 3: Preview and Save

The preview feature found in Recoverit Data Recovery comes in handy after your files have been recovered. With this tool, you can view all your recovered files to be sure everything is in order before you click "Recover" and save them.

The Bottom Line

Once in a while, a little system refresh s required to clean up your PC and return it to its former glory, free of instability. After using the steps for a refresh that applies to your version of Windows, you will need the assistance of a professional recovery tool to get back any data that may have got lost during the recovery process. Recoverit Data Recovery is the tool you need.