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Start Up Tiles

Discussion in 'Legacy Windows' started by PAUL SHILLAM, 2013/01/08.

  1. 2013/01/11
    PAUL SHILLAM Lifetime Subscription

    PAUL SHILLAM Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    I have done the refresh but what a mess, the preloaded Apps now work but it has removed about 30 of our applications, like Microsoft Office, Windows Mail Live, Skype etc etc.
    In windows mail live we have lost a couple of years of data.
    I need urgently to reverse this and get everything back, I don't care if the pre loaded Apss don't work.
    How do I do this please, please?
     
  2. 2013/01/11
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    I doubt it. A Refresh doesn't touch user data. It should all still be there. If you did a Reset instead, yes your data would have been removed, but you got warned of that.

    So what did you do?
     

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  4. 2013/01/11
    PAUL SHILLAM Lifetime Subscription

    PAUL SHILLAM Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    I definately did a refrest not a reset, it has given me a list of Apps it has removed, some 30 of them. The Documents seem to be there but we can't open them because it has remove Microsoft Office which we paid over £100 for on a download. I have download Microsoft Live Mail but the folders are empty so were is the data? How do we get back all the programes it has removed? Lots of them came preloaded with this laptop as it doesn't have a DVD Drive?
     
  5. 2013/01/11
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Yes, as it advises: Apps you installed from discs or websites will be removed.

    So you'll have to re-download & reinstall.

    Start looking for a Windows Live Mail folder. Maybe at C:\Users\{User Name}\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail
     
  6. 2013/01/11
    PAUL SHILLAM Lifetime Subscription

    PAUL SHILLAM Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    So your saying I have to download and pay for all the preloaded software that came with the laptop (no DVD drive) because microsoft windows 8 upgrade (which I had to pay for) didn't work and I had to refresh. Which then deleted all my software which I had payed for including Microsoft Apps? Unbelievable!
     
  7. 2013/01/11
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    NO, I'm not saying that! I'm sure you are entitled to re-download software you have paid for.
     
  8. 2013/01/11
    kmstrube81

    kmstrube81 Inactive

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    Throwing my $.02 here, Paul can you access a system restore point to before you refreshed your PC? or when you refresh windows 8 does it clear out everything except for whats saved under Users? I'm not to familiar with Windows 8 and so I wouldn't be able to say so.

    Otherwise you'll most likely need to dig up all your documentation and what not to get your serial key for Office that came with either computer or download purchase.

    Not having media shouldn't be to big of a deal because you'd spend half the time installing updates after loading the DVD. I just hope your net is up for it.
     
  9. 2013/01/14
    PAUL SHILLAM Lifetime Subscription

    PAUL SHILLAM Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Well the original problem of some of the preloaded Apps not working was fixed by the refresh.But what a mess it left reemoving so much of my Apps and I still can't find my Windows Live Mail data I've looked for C:\Users\{User Name}\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail, but there is no AppData folder it seems to have removed that as well.
     
  10. 2013/01/14
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    The Refresh option removed everything except your user data. It's similar to using a a factory restore except your data is kept intact.

    The Reset option is like starting out all over again, all your apps and data are gone forever.

    System Restore won't help now, it's too late.

    Your user data is still there if you did a Refresh.

    If you cannot find them there will be an earlier copy of them in the C:\Windows.old\Users\username\ directory. See this:
    http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/recover-personal-files-from-windows-old-in-windows-8/
     
  11. 2013/01/14
    Nick Wright

    Nick Wright Inactive

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    I know this won`t help your present predicament but it might be worth bearing in mind for the future.
    Whenever I install any kind of desktop software I always keep a copy of the installer or set-up programs/files (e.g .msi files ,setup , exe installers & links) in a designated folder, which I make a point of backing up to both an external drive and DVD/CD Media.
    I recently had cause to attempt a system refresh and found the process of recovery, much easier because rather than having to download software again from multiple sources, everything was in one place. - I was able to print the microsoft list of removed Applications and tick them off one by one as I re-installed the desktop applications from my back-up.
    You should also make provision for saving personal files / Application data & files to a backup too. (I can`t really give advice on that count because I`m still trying to get my head around windows 8`s new back up faciltys myself :) ).
    Hope you get sorted..

    Edit:- Paul --What E-mail domain are you using? - is it a hotmail account or a different e-mail supplier -can you see your mail in a web-browser?

    Also if looking for local copies of the E-mails, Make sure you turn on `Hidden items` and check that `File name extensions` is unchecked in your view tab in File explorer before looking for the files.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: 2013/01/14
  12. 2013/01/15
    PAUL SHILLAM Lifetime Subscription

    PAUL SHILLAM Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Windows.old only has desktop and searches in it.
    I use Windows Live |Mail which saves the |Emails on the hard drive not on the web.
     
  13. 2013/01/15
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Oh, no, it is there. I forgot to tell you that this is a Hidden folder, so from Windows Explorer, you'll have to select View and check Hidden items.
     

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  14. 2013/01/15
    Nick Wright

    Nick Wright Inactive

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    Oh Well, it was just a thought, -it does of course depend upon how you`ve set up your E-mail account and whether you delete your E-mails off the server , but I thought that your E-mails may still exist on the server.
    e.g. if it was a microsoft or hotmail account , you could sign on here:- http://tinyurl.com/baqeqsx

    Did you check your windows.old files for the E-mails with that hidden file box checked?
     
    Last edited: 2013/01/15
  15. 2013/01/15
    PAUL SHILLAM Lifetime Subscription

    PAUL SHILLAM Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    I have looked for appdata with the hidden items checked also in windows.old but my email folders have gone.
    My email provider is BTYahoo but using Windows Live Mail has not saved them on the server.
     
  16. 2013/01/15
    Nick Wright

    Nick Wright Inactive

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    That`s a shame, - I use BTYahoo too (B.T. being my I.P.) and I use the WebMail with Firefox ( http://tinyurl.com/2ewkr8 ) If away from my P.C. (Lol its just one of my MANY mail accounts - I have too many - accumulated over the years) . Anything I want to save is plonked into an Archive folder - there`s stuff in there thats 3/4 years old - and I can access it from any browser. - It might be something to consider in case of future mishap.

    Edit:- If you are absolutely sure that the files HAVE been deleted & you really need them back then it may be worth looking at these data recovery programs.

    http://pcsupport.about.com/od/filerecovery/tp/free-file-recovery-programs.htm

    Although its not listed in this link , I use a program called "Easeus Data Recovery and it has saved me on many occasions.
    I believe "Recuva" (which is listed) is quite similar in operation.
    As a general rule, when using this type of program it makes sense to install a "portable" version on a thumb drive and run it from there to avoid further data loss, although if you have been using your computer since the refresh and started installing your applications again you may already have overwritten the files you are trying to recover.
     
    Last edited: 2013/01/15
  17. 2013/01/15
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    in windows.old it should be in:
    AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail
     
  18. 2013/01/16
    PAUL SHILLAM Lifetime Subscription

    PAUL SHILLAM Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    I think we might as well close this thread as the original problem has been sorted.
    I have started loading my Apps that were removed and I have found some of my Emails on an old backup on an external drive.
    Thanks for all your Help
    Paul
     
  19. 2013/01/22
    Nick Wright

    Nick Wright Inactive

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    I was curious about the refresh process and posted on a Microsoft forum asking why all the desktop apps were deleted during one.

    its because you return the computer to a default image set up when no desktop Applications had been installed.

    You can create a custom image to perform a refresh and include desktop Applications in it.
    This is the process (copied and pasted from the answer):-

    It is recommended, after installing Windows 8 and all of your other Apps, that you create a Custom Refresh Image.

    When you do this, the Custom Refresh Image will be used whenever you refresh the computer and you will not lose all of the software programs/apps that you have manually installed.



    To create a Custom Refresh Image, perform the following steps.



    Important: Exit all running programs. If you are using a portable computer, plug in the AC Adapter while you create the image.



    1. On the Start Screen, type cmd.exe.

    2. In the results, right click cmd.exe and select Run As Administrator icon on the Apps Bar.

    3. In the command window, type the following command.

    recimg.exe /createimage C:\RecoveryImage

    Press Enter.

    (Note the 2 spaces in the command)



    The creation process will show 4 steps.

    Initializing - 100%

    Creating Snapshot - 100%

    Writing Image - 100%

    Registering Image - 100%



    Note: The Writing step will not start immediately and will take approximately 30 - 45 minutes to complete, the other 3 steps are very quick.

    After the command completes, open Windows Explorer and navigate to the C:\RecoveryImage folder. You should see a file named CustomRefresh.wim.

    It's recommended that you create a custom refresh image occasionally to update any changes you have made to the computer.



    Source:

    Refresh and Reset your PC - Building Windows 8:

    http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2012/01/04/refresh-and-reset-your-pc.aspx

    Edit:- it should be mentioned that this procedure should be done when your system is working normally - if as in the case of the O.P. you have problems with Metro Apps (or whatever) theres no point in doing it THEN. -you would only be creating an image of the computer complete with the fault you are trying to cure on it!
    In these circumstances a refresh to the default or factory settings image would be necessary if you could not find the actual cause of your fault/problem.
     
    Last edited: 2013/01/22
  20. 2013/01/24
    PAUL SHILLAM Lifetime Subscription

    PAUL SHILLAM Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Thankyou for that Nick I have now made a custom refresh image once I worked out how to do a command prompt as administrator.
    Pity Microsoft didn't make it clear what a Refresh would mess up, deleted all data and even removed all Apps that the laptop manufactor put on. A reinstall of Windows 8 wouldn't havew done this.
     
  21. 2013/01/24
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    They did tell you:
     

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