Solved Recovery partition present but Windows can't find/use it

under

New Member
Messages
15
Hi all,

I did a clean install of Windows 8.1 basic on my new device, as I'm not a big fan of bloatware etc. Unfortunately I can't use the existing product key to activate the clean Windows installation, so I need to restore to factory settings using the recovery partition. Here's where the problems arise.

The recovery partition is present on the hard drive, but I don't think Windows knows where. Here's the output from reagentc /info via the command line:

DqPtUJe.png


As you can see "Recovery image location" is empty and "Recovery image index" is 0. I think I need to tell Windows where the recovery partition etc. is, but I'm not sure how.

Any help is appreciated, thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    WIndows 8.1
Use the setreimage parameter:

C:\WINDOWS\system32>REAGENTC.EXE /setreimage /?
Sets the location of the custom Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE) image.


REAGENTC.EXE /setreimage /path <dir_name> [/target <dir_name>]

/path <dir_name> - Specifies the directory that contains the custom
Windows RE image (winre.wim).
/target <dir_name> - Specifies the Windows installation. If this argument
is not specified, the running operating system is
used.

Example:
REAGENTC.EXE /setreimage /path r:\Recovery\WindowsRE
REAGENTC.EXE /setreimage /path r:\Recovery\WindowsRE /target C:\Windows

REAGENTC.EXE: Operation Successful.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
Unfortunately I can't use the existing product key to activate the clean Windows installation,

Why ?. As long as you install the correct edition, it should accept the key and activate. Install media created with MS official "Media Creation" tool doesn't even require inputting the key manually. It will auto detect the BIOS OEM key during setup if one is present.

[video]https://youtu.be/meWKm6lWtmw[/video]
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
right click start flag > command prompt(admin)
type> diskpart
type> select disk 0
type> list partition

You will see a lot of volumes without drive letters assigned.. Find the 10-20GB volume number
type> select volume # (# being the volume number without a drive letter)
type> assign letter=R

You can now browse thru R and find Install.wim or Install.swm(s) - those are your Factory recovery Images..

Note: Assuming the install* file(s) are on "R" and in a folder called "RecoveryImage"
Note: Change "drive letter" and "folder name" to suit your system setup

type> Reagentc /Setosimage /Path R:\RecoveryImage /Target C:\Windows /Index 1

reboot PC
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Thanks to everyone who has responded so far, and sorry for the delayed response.

Use the setreimage parameter:

Thanks, looking into this now (also using the info KYHI provided).

Unfortunately I can't use the existing product key to activate the clean Windows installation,

Why ?. As long as you install the correct edition, it should accept the key and activate.

The device came pre-installed with Windows 8.1 with Bing, apparently you can't use these keys to activate the non-Bing version (unfortunately I only found this out after I had performed a clean install). The Windows 8.1 with Bing ISOs aren't made publicly available.

Did you try Refresh instead.

I don't think this is an option right now as it will just take me back to a refreshed version of the current Windows install which cannot be activated.

right click start flag > command prompt(admin)
type> diskpart
type> select disk 0
type> list partition

You will see a lot of volumes without drive letters assigned.. Find the 10-20GB volume number
type> select volume # (# being the volume number without a drive letter)
type> assign letter=R

You can now browse thru R and find Install.wim or Install.swm(s) - those are your Factory recovery Images..

Note: Assuming the install* file(s) are on "R" and in a folder called "RecoveryImage"
Note: Change "drive letter" and "folder name" to suit your system setup

type> Reagentc /Setosimage /Path R:\RecoveryImage /Target C:\Windows /Index 1

reboot PC

Now this is what I think I'm after, thank you so much for the "newbie friendly" instructions, KYHI! I'm going to give it a go now and will update this post ASAP.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    WIndows 8.1
The device came pre-installed with Windows 8.1 with Bing, apparently you can't use these keys to activate the non-Bing version (unfortunately I only found this out after I had performed a clean install).

Yes, sadly that is true. Currently there is no legit way to obtain a copy of "Windows 8.1 with Bing" ( a leaked version is available on net ).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
right click start flag > command prompt(admin)
type> diskpart
type> select disk 0
type> list partition

You will see a lot of volumes without drive letters assigned.. Find the 10-20GB volume number
type> select volume # (# being the volume number without a drive letter)
type> assign letter=R

You can now browse thru R and find Install.wim or Install.swm(s) - those are your Factory recovery Images..

Note: Assuming the install* file(s) are on "R" and in a folder called "RecoveryImage"
Note: Change "drive letter" and "folder name" to suit your system setup

type> Reagentc /Setosimage /Path R:\RecoveryImage /Target C:\Windows /Index 1

reboot PC

Okay, I've done everything listed above apart from running the /Setosimage command, as I want to verify a few things first. There are a few different *.wim files located on the recovery partition:

R:/recovery/WindowsRE/Winre.wim
R:/Windows Images/custom.wim
R:/Windows/ESP.wim
R:/Windows/Install.wim

Which folder should I use for /setosimage /Path? Also, do I need to run a /setreimage command - this keeps popping up in other guides that I'm trying to get my head around, just thought I should mention it here too.

Thanks :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    WIndows 8.1
your WinRE is already set (registered)

But after seeing what you have and where.. How big is your drive??

It appears your system is (was) using WIMboot images

the Install.wim is the wim you want to register BUT

you also have a custom.wim in another folder, usually these two .wim files are in the same folder

as the custom.wim contains to customazitions made to the install.wim

One thing FOR SURE - copy that whole partition and all files including those wim files to a backup drive and save them
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Hi KYHI,

Thanks for your help so far.

It's a 30GB tablet SSD. The recovery partition is ~5GB. I cloned the partition earlier, before I assigned it drive letter R.

I messed up the file structure when I was typing it out, you're right - the custom.wim. ESP.wim and Install.wim are located in the same folder:

R:/recovery/WindowsRE/Winre.wim
R:/Windows Images/custom.wim
R:/Windows Images/ESP.wim
R:/Windows Images/Install.wim

R:/Windows Images/ResetConfig.xml contents as requested:

Code:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!-- ResetConfig.xml -->
<Reset>
    <Run Phase="BasicReset_BeforeImageApply">
            <Path>\MSRM.cmd</Path>
            <Param>A</Param>
            <Duration>20</Duration>
    </Run>
    <Run Phase="BasicReset_AfterImageApply">
            <Path>\MSRM.cmd</Path>
            <Param>B</Param>
            <Duration>20</Duration>
    </Run>
    <Run Phase="FactoryReset_AfterDiskFormat">
        <Path>\MSRM.cmd</Path>
            <Param>C</Param>
            <Duration>20</Duration>
    </Run>
    <Run Phase="FactoryReset_AfterImageApply">
        <Path>\MSRM.cmd</Path>
            <Param>D</Param>
            <Duration>20</Duration>
    </Run>
    <SystemDisk>
        <WIMBoot>1</WIMBoot>
        <DiskpartScriptPath>Repartition.sp</DiskpartScriptPath>
        <MinSize>10000</MinSize>
        <WindowsREPartition>4</WindowsREPartition>
        <WindowsREPath>Recovery\WindowsRE</WindowsREPath>
        <OSPartition>3</OSPartition>
        <RecoveryImagePartition>4</RecoveryImagePartition>
        <RecoveryImagePath>Windows Images</RecoveryImagePath>
        <RestoreFromIndex>1</RestoreFromIndex>
        <RecoveryImageIndex>1</RecoveryImageIndex>
    </SystemDisk>
</Reset>

I didn't run Get-ImageInfo as R:\windows does not exist (sorry about that typing hiccup, my mistake).

Thanks :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    WIndows 8.1
<WIMBoot>1</WIMBoot>

your system WAS using wimboot images

your OS Registeration PATH string is

Reagentc /Setosimage /Path "R:\Windows Images" /Target C:\Windows /Index 1

After you register your OS image - you can then RESET your PC back to factory
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Now - we are hoping that the clean install of windows did not overwrite your factory WinRE.wim
As your tablet is a touch screen - the factory adds your drivers to the WinRE.wim so you have usuable hardware while in recovery..

If it has been over written, then you will not be able to use the tablet to recover the factory images, as you will not have the keyboard or touch features
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
<WIMBoot>1</WIMBoot>

your system WAS using wimboot images

your OS Registeration PATH string is

Reagentc /Setosimage /Path "R:\Windows Images" /Target C:\Windows /Index 1

After you register your OS image - you can then RESET your PC back to factory

Awesome! I'll run that command and let you know the results.

Before I do, one quick question: you mentioned that the custom.wim file contains the (manufacturer's?) customizations - is there a way of excluding these customizations and instead recovering a clean(ish) 8.1 using just the Install.wim? I'm probably way off the mark here but I thought I'd at least ask.

Thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    WIndows 8.1
We will work on that LATER if you want to experiment..

Right now we have to get back into factory mode - as there are certain things we need to aquire from the system first..

then we can prep the images as we want to..

is there a way of excluding these customizations

problem right NOW is we do not know what the customizations actually are or where
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Now - we are hoping that the clean install of windows did not overwrite your factory WinRE.wim
As your tablet is a touch screen - the factory adds your drivers to the WinRE.wim so you have usuable hardware while in recovery..

If it has been over written, then you will not be able to use the tablet to recover the factory images, as you will not have the keyboard or touch features

I have an OTG cable, USB hub, mouse and keyboard, I think this would work (if required).

We will work on that LATER if you want to experiment..

Right now we have to get back into factory mode - as there are certain things we need to aquire from the system first..

then we can prep the images as we want to..

is there a way of excluding these customizations

problem right NOW is we do not know what the customizations actually are or where

I'm going to run Reagentc /Setosimage /Path "R:\Windows Images" /Target C:\Windows /Index 1 and see what happens. If all goes correctly I should be able to create a Windows 8.1 recovery USB which includes the recovery partition files (via the "Copy the recovery partition from the PC to the recovery drive" option). From my understanding this is the recommended (and only) way of restoring a Windows 8.1 device via the recovery partition.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    WIndows 8.1
you would create the recovery USB from control panel > recovery > create a recovery drive..

From my understanding this is the recommended (and only) way of restoring a Windows 8.1 device via the recovery partition.

You can refresh and reset via the Host OS - BUT it is dependent on HD files being present and works slightly different from
the USB Recovery which allows you to RESET a bare hard drive, so no need for Host OS
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
you would create the recovery USB from control panel > recovery > create a recovery drive..

From my understanding this is the recommended (and only) way of restoring a Windows 8.1 device via the recovery partition.

You can refresh and reset via the Host OS - BUT it is dependent on HD files being present and works slightly different from
the USB Recovery which allows you to RESET a bare hard drive, so no need for Host OS

Okay, thanks for that. I'm creating a recovery USB (including files from recovery partition) now, will keep you posted.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    WIndows 8.1
once you get it created
go into the "sources" folder on the USB
Unhide your system files
and post a pic of the folders contents..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Back
Top