Windows 10: Can't enable REAGENTC "Unable to update Boot Configuration Data."

I cannot see the advanced troubleshooting options when holding shift while right click restart in Windows 10. I tried using reagentc /enable REAGENTC.EXE in command prompt but got the error "Unable to update Boot Configuration Data."

:)

 

I can't enable ReagentC. Please help!

Hey all. I've had some trouble with Windows Updater, specifically with the WinRE update recently, where it can't be downloaded/installed.
I've tried to troubleshoot this myself a bit, but I'm getting stuck here in CMD prompt:

C:\windows\system32>reagentc /info

Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE) and system reset configuration

Information:



Windows RE status: Disabled

Windows RE location:

Boot Configuration Data (BCD) identifier: 132b39f3-fb36-11e8-a6db-a3a6dbeaa0f1

Recovery image location:

Recovery image index: 0

Custom image location:

Custom image index: 0



REAGENTC.EXE: Operation Successful.





C:\windows\system32>reagentc /enable

REAGENTC.EXE: Unable to update Boot Configuration Data.

Is there anyone who knows what this means? Thanks a lot!

 

ReAgentC will not enable

Oh derp!

Copying the Recovery folder from a known-good-working computer and pasting it to the not-working computer does not work. C:\Windows\System32\Recovery\ReAgent_Merged.xml1 file is custom created on-the-fly for each machine.

1. Check to see if Windows\System32\Recovery\ folder exists;
   • if N skip to next step;
   • if Y rename it RecoveryBUP or something similar, then continue;
2. using 7-Zip or similar navigate the installation media to ...\Sources\ install.wim or install.esd
3. double-click either and go to ...\1\Windows\System32\
4. click the Recovery folder and tell 7-Zip to extract it to the target machine at C:\Windows\System32\;
5. reboot
6. Go to Settings > Update & Security > click Recovery in the left menu list;
7. under Advanced startup click Restart now
8. You should now see the full Recovery console like this:

MBR2GPT.EXE is a Microsoft program included free in Windows. If running Windows 10 v 1803 or later and the objective is to convert MBR to GPT with NO data loss, MBR2GPT.exe will do that. It is fast and works well. MS posted a video of it in use at their site. There is also an updated step-by-step tutorial at WindowsCentral with pictures. The steps follow:

In order to enable UEFI on a UEFI-able system that has been using BIOS because it was running Windows 7 or some such, the MBR (master boot record) first must be converted to GPT (GUID partition table):

• click Command Prompt in the Recovery Console to open an elevated command prompt without the Windows GUI;
• that should bring you to C:\Windows\System32;
• type MBR2GPT.exe /validate;
• type MBR2GPT.exe /convert and await the successful conversion;
  • there may be an error message about reagentc.exe, you can ignore that until after you change the CMOS/BIOS settings

now change BIOS to UEFI:

• reboot and tap F12 continuously before the Windows logo appears (or whatever key your device requires to enter the BIOS settings)
• change boot to UEFI from BIOS & reboot
• DONE

Now, ensure the Recovery console is as you want it...

1. In Windows launch an elevated command prompt and navigate to C:\Windows\System32
2. type reagentc /info and tap [enter], if disabled
3. type reagentc /enable and tap [enter]

RESOLVED & DONE with much thanks to SIW2 and NavyLCDR!

 

How does Windows boot to advanced recovery option e.g. command prompt?

- that gives me a 454 'Unexpected error' This tells me that the BCD is partially corrupted.

The commands: shutdown.exe /r /o /f /t 00
or: %SystemRoot%\System32\Cmd.exe /c reagentc /boottore&shutdown /r /f /t 00
should boot into Recovery if everything is configured correctly.
FYI, If Windows is configured correctly:

1. If Reagentc is disabled, you still can get into Recovery but with limited options.
2. If Reagentc is enabled, you'll get all options.
3. If you boot Windows using Recovery USB stick, You'll get into Recovery with couple of options missing.

Here's my suggestion if you want to try:
OPTION 1: Will save the trouble of re-install Windows.

1. Download the image of my first 3 partitions (450MB Recovery, 100 MB EFI partition, and 16MB unformatted primary)
   EFI_Boot-00-00.7z - Google Drive
2. Run Macrium and restore the image from step 1, overwriting your existing 1st three partitions, leaving C alone.
3. Delete the 490MB Recovery partition.
4. From Macrium, run fix boot problems.
5. Reboot. Open Admin command prompt then run Reagentc /info to make sure that it is enabled. If not, enable it.
   if failed to enable, reboot and try again.

OPTION 2: Assuming you've already had Windows backup with Macrium.

1. Wipe out the first 5 parttiions. (450MB, 100MB, 16MB, C Drive, 480MB)
2. Fresh install Windows 10
3. Restore C drive from backup image, run fix boot problems
4. repeat step 5 from OPTION 1 above.