Setting recovery partition to active then boot from there

jgcvaleroso

New Member
Messages
34
so this is an on-going problem for me. It started from a broad problem and with some help from good people:thumb:, ive narrowed down my situation. I lost my restore link to the recovery partition after i installed another version of windows.
Partitions.jpg

This is a ASUS x550L with a pre-installed Windows 8 inside. What i need to do is set my recovery partition as active, boot from there, use that to reformat/re-install windows on drive C. I just dont know how to do it.

I saw this links while i was searching for solutions though i dont know if i can use them.
[SOLVED] Need help booting Asus recovery partition. [Archive] - My Digital Life Forums
Set boot partition as Active partition.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
I wish I had more accurate info for you, but I don't have an OEM system, so I am not familiar with how it might have been set up originally. But since you have a UEFI system, you don't really set a partition to "Active".

Since you are wanting to Reset your system to Factory specs, I assume the system originally had some process to do that which required some special key combination at boot. Do you know what that was and do you know for sure it no longer works?

If you create a Recovery Drive in Windows 8.1, does it show the "Copy Recovery Partition Contents" check box as being active?

Could you open an administrative command prompt and type the following command. Copy and paste the results in your next response.

reagentc /info

I think your answer is going to be in the original Recovery Partition. If we had a copy of the BCD store in that partition, we might be able to set up your system to use it again as a boot option, but I cannot say for sure.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Grown
    CPU
    i7 3770K
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8Z77 -v Pro, Z87-Expert
    Memory
    16 G
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GTX 680 Classified (2)
    Hard Drives
    Kingston SSD 240 GB
@Saltgrass
ok so heres the whole story. I downloaded an evaluation version of win8.1 enterprise, burned it, and installed it in my drive C. I did not reformat any other drives other than C and D. Now, when i try to reset at factory default, which is windows 8 (pro, i think), it asks for a boot media thing(which i dont have because i didnt make a recovery drive at first). All i can do is insert the windows 8.1 evaluation drive again to continue.

For this prosses and special key, i really have no idea what those are nor how to check for them.

No, the "Copy Recovery Partition Contents" are grayed out.

Heres what came up after using the command:

C:\Windows\system32>reagentc /info
Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE) and system reset configuration
Information:


Windows RE status: Enabled
Windows RE location: \\?\GLOBALROOT\device\harddisk0\partition2\Recove
ry\WindowsRE
Boot Configuration Data (BCD) identifier: bcf5bc08-00eb-11e3-add2-f7fae2dfb9
cc
Recovery image location:
Recovery image index: 0
Custom image location:
Custom image index: 0


REAGENTC.EXE: Operation Successful.


Whats BCD, and how can i show it to you?


@theog
yeah ive tried pressing f9 during boot up. From there, the same thing happened; it asks for a boot media to start the reset.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
The reagentc command shows no image is registered for a reset on your system. So, unless you know there is a ~ 15 GB Recovery partition on your system, you may need the factory recovery media.

You should be able to find out what the recovery process for your system is. On some systems it might be hold some key when you turn the system on, but they all seem to be different....You have the manuals...please check.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Grown
    CPU
    i7 3770K
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8Z77 -v Pro, Z87-Expert
    Memory
    16 G
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GTX 680 Classified (2)
    Hard Drives
    Kingston SSD 240 GB
If you can find the install.wim or install.swm on your recovery partition, you can register it. Hopefully it will then be available on the create recovery drive thing.

Are you able to see the contents of the recovery partition ? The install.wim will likely be in a folder called "sources".

If you can't see it, then use a free partition manager to give it a letter. If it doesn't want to give it a letter, then change the partition ID to 0x07 first.

part-id1.jpg


part-id2.jpg

Best Free Partition Manager Freeware and free partition magic for Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Vista and Windows XP 32 bit & 64 bit. MiniTool Free Partition Manager Software Home Edition.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
When you have found the install.wim, open an elevated cmd and type : ( this assumes install.wim is in N:\sources folder change it to the location of your install.wim )

reagentc /setosimage /path N:\sources /index 1 /target C:\Windows

( then press enter )

reagentc /enable

(then press enter)

recoverydrive

(then press enter)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
As SIW2 mentions, to register the factory image to reset your system, you need to run the command he shows. I had forgotten you did show a 30 GB recovery partition which probably contains the install.wim file you need. But you do need the path to that file for the command.

I would suggest you use Diskpart from an Adminsitrative command prompt to assign a drive letter to the partition and then you can first, find the path you need, and then use that drive letter in the command mentioned.

Diskpart
lis dis
sel dis 0 <-- if this is the correct drive
lis par
sel par 6 <-- if this is your 20 GB partition Restore partition
assign letter="N"

To remove the letter later, use the same sequence above except change assign to remove

remove letter="N"

SIW2 has forgotten the system is a UEFI install and the Partition ID he mentions is not appropriate since it needs to be a GUID number. But you should not have to change that anyway, but as he suggests, it might be a special ID used by OEMs.

But when the image is registered, it will be available to copy to a flash drive and be available for a reset operation. How this may interact with the OEM processes, I do not know.

Just to see if there are any OEM options set up to boot a special Recovery image, you might use the Administrative command prompt and type the command below. You can right click and mark the listing and then copy and paste it to your response. It may not help, but not sure right now.

bcdedit /enum all
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Grown
    CPU
    i7 3770K
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8Z77 -v Pro, Z87-Expert
    Memory
    16 G
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GTX 680 Classified (2)
    Hard Drives
    Kingston SSD 240 GB
ok. i have assigned a letter drive for the recovery using command promp.
When i tried to look inside the new drive in My Comp, it was empty. Is there something wrong with it?
But when i explore the drive using a manager, i can see the folders and the .wim file.
wim.jpg
reagentc /setosimage /path N:\sources /index 1 /target C:\Windows
should i just change "sources" to "recoveryimage"?

@Saltgrass
heres what came out after typing in bcdedit command

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.3.9600]
(c) 2013 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.


C:\Windows\system32>bcdedit /enum all


Firmware Boot Manager
---------------------
identifier {fwbootmgr}
displayorder {bootmgr}
{bcf5bc02-00eb-11e3-add2-f7fae2dfb9cc}
{d1931cec-4acd-11e3-825a-806e6f6e6963}
{d1931ced-4acd-11e3-825a-806e6f6e6963}
{d1931cee-4acd-11e3-825a-806e6f6e6963}
timeout 2


Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier {bootmgr}
device partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume1
path \EFI\Microsoft\Boot\bootmgfw.efi
description Windows Boot Manager
locale en-US
inherit {globalsettings}
integrityservices Enable
default {current}
resumeobject {bcf5bc0a-00eb-11e3-add2-f7fae2dfb9cc}
displayorder {current}
toolsdisplayorder {memdiag}
timeout 30


Firmware Application (101fffff)
-------------------------------
identifier {bcf5bc02-00eb-11e3-add2-f7fae2dfb9cc}
description UEFI OS


Firmware Application (101fffff)
-------------------------------
identifier {d1931cec-4acd-11e3-825a-806e6f6e6963}
description UEFI:CD/DVD Drive


Firmware Application (101fffff)
-------------------------------
identifier {d1931ced-4acd-11e3-825a-806e6f6e6963}
description UEFI:Removable Device


Firmware Application (101fffff)
-------------------------------
identifier {d1931cee-4acd-11e3-825a-806e6f6e6963}
description UEFI:Network Device


Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier {bcf5bc07-00eb-11e3-add2-f7fae2dfb9cc}
device ramdisk=[\Device\HarddiskVolume2]\sources\boot.wim,{ramd
iskoptions}
path \windows\system32\boot\winload.efi
description WinPE
osdevice ramdisk=[\Device\HarddiskVolume2]\sources\boot.wim,{ramd
iskoptions}
systemroot \windows
nx OptIn
detecthal Yes
winpe Yes


Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier {bcf5bc08-00eb-11e3-add2-f7fae2dfb9cc}
device ramdisk=[\Device\HarddiskVolume2]\Recovery\WindowsRE\Win
re.wim,{bcf5bc09-00eb-11e3-add2-f7fae2dfb9cc}
path \windows\system32\winload.efi
description Windows Recovery Environment
locale en-us
inherit {bootloadersettings}
displaymessage Recovery
osdevice ramdisk=[\Device\HarddiskVolume2]\Recovery\WindowsRE\Win
re.wim,{bcf5bc09-00eb-11e3-add2-f7fae2dfb9cc}
systemroot \windows
nx OptIn
bootmenupolicy Standard
winpe Yes


Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier {current}
device partition=C:
path \Windows\system32\winload.efi
description Windows 8
locale en-US
inherit {bootloadersettings}
recoverysequence {bcf5bc08-00eb-11e3-add2-f7fae2dfb9cc}
integrityservices Enable
recoveryenabled Yes
isolatedcontext Yes
allowedinmemorysettings 0x15000075
osdevice partition=C:
systemroot \Windows
resumeobject {bcf5bc0a-00eb-11e3-add2-f7fae2dfb9cc}
nx OptIn
bootmenupolicy Standard
detecthal Yes


Resume from Hibernate
---------------------
identifier {bcf5bc05-00eb-11e3-add2-f7fae2dfb9cc}
device partition=C:
path \Windows\system32\winresume.efi
description Windows Resume Application
locale en-US
inherit {resumeloadersettings}
recoverysequence {bcf5bc08-00eb-11e3-add2-f7fae2dfb9cc}
recoveryenabled Yes
isolatedcontext Yes
allowedinmemorysettings 0x15000075
filedevice partition=C:
filepath \hiberfil.sys
bootmenupolicy Standard
debugoptionenabled No


Resume from Hibernate
---------------------
identifier {bcf5bc0a-00eb-11e3-add2-f7fae2dfb9cc}
device partition=C:
path \Windows\system32\winresume.efi
description Windows Resume Application
locale en-US
inherit {resumeloadersettings}
recoverysequence {bcf5bc08-00eb-11e3-add2-f7fae2dfb9cc}
recoveryenabled Yes
isolatedcontext Yes
allowedinmemorysettings 0x15000075
filedevice partition=C:
filepath \hiberfil.sys
bootmenupolicy Standard
debugoptionenabled No


Windows Memory Tester
---------------------
identifier {memdiag}
device partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume1
path \EFI\Microsoft\Boot\memtest.efi
description Windows Memory Diagnostic
locale en-US
inherit {globalsettings}
badmemoryaccess Yes


EMS Settings
------------
identifier {emssettings}
bootems No


Debugger Settings
-----------------
identifier {dbgsettings}
debugtype Serial
debugport 1
baudrate 115200


RAM Defects
-----------
identifier {badmemory}


Global Settings
---------------
identifier {globalsettings}
inherit {dbgsettings}
{emssettings}
{badmemory}


Boot Loader Settings
--------------------
identifier {bootloadersettings}
inherit {globalsettings}
{hypervisorsettings}


Hypervisor Settings
-------------------
identifier {hypervisorsettings}
hypervisordebugtype Serial
hypervisordebugport 1
hypervisorbaudrate 115200


Resume Loader Settings
----------------------
identifier {resumeloadersettings}
inherit {globalsettings}


Setup Ramdisk Options
---------------------
identifier {ramdiskoptions}
description Ramdisk options
ramdisksdidevice partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume2
ramdisksdipath \boot\boot.sdi


Device options
--------------
identifier {bcf5bc09-00eb-11e3-add2-f7fae2dfb9cc}
description Windows Recovery
ramdisksdidevice partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume2
ramdisksdipath \Recovery\WindowsRE\boot.sdi
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
so i changed "source" to "recoveryimage" and it said the operation was successful. Im still not sure though if that was correct but i continued on. after typing in the last command, the recovery window appeared and i could access the checkbox below. then it asked for a 16gb flash drive to continue on.

question: can i use an existing partition or an external hard drive instead of a USB for copying the recovery files? i only have an 8gb usb and an empty external drive.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Looks like the path is correct, check the results with the reagentc /info command and it should show an entry for the Recovery Image location.

The RecoveryBoot folder looks interesting.....

The BCD store shows two Ramdisk options. I recognize the WindowsRE one but the boot.wim one is unknown for me. SIW2 probably knows what it might be for, possibly related to an OEM recovery or diagnostic process.

To see the file structure in a Hidden folder you need to use the dir /a command. Otherwise, you will not see the entries.

You can use an external drive as a Recovery Drive, but it will take the entire thing. Better to use a flash drive.

You are copying the contents of the Recovery Partition to a safe location other than the Recovery Drive? Since you have the drive letter on it, you could do that now, if you wanted.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Grown
    CPU
    i7 3770K
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8Z77 -v Pro, Z87-Expert
    Memory
    16 G
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GTX 680 Classified (2)
    Hard Drives
    Kingston SSD 240 GB

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
yea i went on ahead and copied the recovery files to my empty external drive. Now, I dont know what to do with it. I tried the windows 8 restore option, it asks for a boot media, then I re-plug my hard drive but it says the media is invalid. I also tried setting the boot priority to my external drive but when i reboot, nothing happens. It just continues on to windows log-in screen.

@theog
what do i need to do with the Backtracker? sorry, im kinda new to this.:eek:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
isn't the one i copied to my external drive the recovery files already? I'm confused.

yea i went on ahead and copied the recovery files to my empty external drive. Now, I dont know what to do with it. I tried the windows 8 restore option, it asks for a boot media, then I re-plug my hard drive but it says the media is invalid.

ASUS Recovery Disk/s will be valid.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
ahahah! this is one of the core reasons why I need to reset to factory default so badly.

error.jpg

every time i try to install an ASUS driver, this kind of message appears. Its like my laptop is laughing at me.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
nope, still wont let me install. I didn't have any anti-virus installed in the first place so I tried the DISM thing and restarted by system.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
isn't the one i copied to my external drive the recovery files already? I'm confused.
If you allowed the Recovery Partition to be copied to the external drive using the checkbox, that is a Windows 8 image you should be able to use to reset your C: partition and possible install on a new drive.

If you just copied the files, there is nothing built into the system to use those unless they are located in an appropriate place.

I still wonder what the Boot.wim ramdisk is for. I will have to assume it is meant to be an option for a special key sequence or an F8 option. But if you go to the PC Settings and get to the Advanced recovery options, then look for a "use a device" type option, what shows up there? For instance, if you had booted your system with the Recovery flash drive attached, it should show up. Sorry I can't be more specific about the location, but I am in Windows 7 right now.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Grown
    CPU
    i7 3770K
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8Z77 -v Pro, Z87-Expert
    Memory
    16 G
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GTX 680 Classified (2)
    Hard Drives
    Kingston SSD 240 GB
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