Windows 10: Create Reset Recovery Image in Windows 10

How to: Create Reset Recovery Image in Windows 10

How to Create a Recovery Image used to Reset Windows 10


Information If you're having problems with Windows 10 on your PC, you can try to refresh, reset, or restore it.

When you reset your PC, it will remove everything and reinstall Windows 10 to start over completely with a clean install.

To be able to reset Windows 10 you may be required to first insert your Windows 10 recovery drive[/b] if there is not an OEM factory recovery image present.




This tutorial will show you how to create a recovery image that is used instead of OEM recovery image, installation media, or recovery drive for a push-button reset of Windows 10.



Note You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to create a reset recovery image.

A reset recovery image is basically like having your installation media always connected and ready to use to reset your PC with.

The reset recovery image will continue to still be available after a reset of Windows 10.





Here's How:

1. In File Explorer, create a new folder named ResetRecoveryImage at a location (ex: F: ) where you want to keep the recovery image stored at. (see screenshot below)


Tip It would be recommended to create the ResetRecoveryImage on a hard drive other than the one Windows is installed on to help protect you in case the Windows hard drive should fail.





2. If you have not already, 32-bit or 64-bit[/b] as your currently installed Windows 10.

3. Double click/tap on the ISO file to mount and open it. Open the sources folder, and copy the install.wim file. (see screenshot below)



4. Paste the install.wim file into the new ResetRecoveryImage folder from step 1 above. (see screenshot below)



5. Open an elevated command prompt.

6. In the elevated command prompt, type the command below, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
*Arrow reagentc /setosimage /path "location\ResetRecoveryImage" /index 1




Note Substitute location in the command above with the full path of where you created the ResetRecoveryImage folder at in step 1 above.

For example:

reagentc /setosimage /path "F:\ResetRecoveryImage" /index 1





7. When finished, you can close File Explorer and the command prompt if you like.


That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Reset Windows 10
• How to Show Location of Recovery Image used to Reset Windows 10
• How to Create and Customize a Windows 10 Image in Audit Mode with Sysprep Tool
• Create Custom Provisioning Package used to Reset Windows 10 or Create Recovery Drive
• How to Enable or Disable Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) in Windows 10

:)

 

Windows 10 Reset problems

Try this and then do a reset:

Reset Recovery Image - Create in Windows 10

 

Windows 10 ISO file's location

Reset uses a recovery image. Download the ISO, point the Reset recovery image and you are good to go:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/4287-create...

 

You could use the method in the tutorial below to create an ISO if you updated to 10240 and didn't clear the setup files. *Smile

ESD to ISO - Create Bootable ISO from Windows 10 ESD File

 

I have been using the Windows Update to get to build 10240. I have a "install.esd" dated 4/30/15 and a "install.wim" dated 5/3/15. I assume that these files are to old to make a 10240 ISO. I that correct? Thanks

 

It won't hurt to create an ISO with them to see what build number it shows for them. *Smile

 

I created the ISO as directed in the tutorial. It created 10074 and not 10240. I guess I will have to wait until 7/29 to do a clean install. Hopefully there will a new latest ISO available from MS. Thanks for your input.

 

You're welcome. At least it's not long until the 29th. *Smile

 

Hi am new to the forums. Is there any way to create a custom refresh with Win 10 as recimg used to do with Windows 8? I can't access the tutorial in the red box above and I am not sure if that even would help. Thanks, JJ

 

Hello JJ, and welcome to Ten Forums.

I'm afraid the recimg command for a custom refresh image has been deprecated in Windows 10, and is no longer available. *Sad

 

Thanks for the response! That is disappointing news however.

 

Hi Brink,

Is there a way to customize the install.wim to have applications and settings come down with a refresh, similar to recimage in Windows 8.1?

 

Hello Dave, and welcome to Ten Forums. *Sad

Unfortunately, recimage has been deprecated in Windows 10.

If you like, you could create an image backup to be able to restore as needed.

 

Hi Shawn,
Your instructions for creating this internal image look fairly straight forward. But I am confused about one point. You tutorial appears to highlight My PC (within file explorer) and then the File option at the top/left of the page...before creating the new drive letter (of choice) within one's hard drive. Is this also accomplished from going to Disk Management? In other words, it appears what you are describing is essentially the same thing as a hidden partition on a single physical hard drive (similar to an OEM factory reset image). I am just not entirely clear on getting that first step done as far as assigning the drive letter (such as F drive for the ResetRecoveryImage folder). I would not want to mess things up. Thanks.

 

Hello Scott,

Sorry for the confusion.

This basically creates a custom reset image that is saved into the "ResetRecoveryImage" folder. You can specify any "location" for where the folder is to be saved at. In the tutorial I just specified to have it saved to my F drive as an example. No need to do anything else special. *Smile