My PC will not reset even though i have a recovery media device installed

Anonymous
2024-07-17T15:29:27+00:00

When I try to reset my PC, it will not let me because it could not find a recover environment/media even though i have in installed.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Performance and system failures

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Ramesh Srinivasan 88,100 Reputation points Independent Advisor
2024-07-17T16:05:09+00:00

Hi Devin, This is Ramesh.

Resetting the PC requires access to the Windows Recovery Environment. You have two options.

  1. Fix Windows RE so that the Reset can work correctly.

(or)

  1. Backup the data to an external drive and then clean install Windows 11 using the USB setup disk.

To create a USB setup disk, you'll need a USB stick of 8GB or higher capacity. Note that the contents of the USB stick will be erased during the setup disk creation process.

Download Windows 11 Media Creation Tool (MCT) from this link:

https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2156295

Run MCT and create a bootable USB disk.

After creating the USB setup disk, boot the computer using it. To do so, you may need to change the boot order in the BIOS/UEFI settings. Consult your system or motherboard manual to learn how to access the UEFI settings for your model.

Then, clean install Windows using the on-screen instructions. Also, here's an article that explains the process with screenshots.

https://pureinfotech.com/clean-install-windows-...

Standard Disclaimer: There is a link to a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to provide accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

Note:

If you want to pursue option 1 (i.e., fixing WinRE), let me know so that I can post the required steps.

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  1. Ramesh Srinivasan 88,100 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2024-07-19T23:38:25+00:00

    Devin,

    Run:

    diskpart
select disk 0
select part 4
assign letter=S
set id=ebd0a0a2-b9e5-4433-87c0-68b6b72699c7
gpt attributes=0x0000000000000000
exit

del c:\windows\system32\recovery\reagent.xml  /a
del S:\Recovery\WindowsRE\winre.wim /a
dir c:\windows\system32\recovery\  /a
rd S:\Recovery\WindowsRE /s /q
md S:\Recovery\WindowsRE
xcopy /h C:\Windows\System32\Recovery\winre.wim S:\Recovery\WindowsRE\
reagentc /setreimage /path S:\Recovery\WindowsRE /target C:\Windows

    Note: If a command fails to run correctly, don't proceed to the next command.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-07-19T19:44:25+00:00

    I've finished the first option.

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  3. Ramesh Srinivasan 88,100 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2024-07-19T14:27:02+00:00

    The C drive couldn't be shrunk due to immovable files. Turning of paging file and System Restore should help shrink the partition but the required size.

    Other options:

    An easier option is to extract a copy of Winre.wim (which will be <500 MB) from the ISO and try running reagentc again.

    Download Windows 11 Media Creation Tool (MCT) from this link:
    https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2156295

    Run MCT and download the ISO it recommends for your system.

    Right-click on the downloaded ISO and choose "Mount." This assigns the ISO a drive letter.

    In the \Sources\ folder of the ISO, find "install.esd" or "install.wim". Open it using 7-Zip.

    Browse to the following folder inside the WIM/ESD file:

    \Sources\install.wim\1\Windows\System32\Recovery\

    Copy Winre.wim to the Desktop.

    Open C:\Windows\System32\Recovery\

    In the above folder, rename winre.wim to "winre.wim.original". Note that "winre.wim" may be a hidden file.

    Move winre.wim from your desktop to "C:\Windows\System32\Recovery"

    For screenshots, see https://www.winhelponline.com/blog/extract-file...

    Please post back once you extract and copy winre.wim to the Recovery folder.

    (or)

    Option 2:

    Turn off Bitlocker on the OS partition, then enable WinRE so that Winre.wim will be moved to the OS partition. After resetting the PC, you can enable BitLocker.

    Standard Disclaimer: There is a link to a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to provide accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-07-19T14:18:12+00:00

    Screenshot.

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