Windows 10: Unable to Access Windows Recovery Environment on Alienware X15 R2 After Installing Ubuntu

Hello, [1] Environment: - Laptop Model: Alienware X15 R2 - Windows Version: Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.4169 - Processor: 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-12700H 2.30 GHz - Installed RAM: 32.0 GB 31.7 GB usable - System Type: 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor [2] Context & Problem: Two days ago, I installed Linux Ubuntu 20.04 LTS as a multi-boot system alongside Windows. Both Ubuntu and Windows function properly. However, when I attempt to recoverfactory reset the Windows system, I encounter the error message: "Could not find the recovery environment. Insert your Windows

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Unable to access Windows Recovery Environment normally

Some entries in the bcd for the recovery environment is either corrupted or missing. To fix the problem, you;d need to rebuild the entries for the recovery environment.
Here's the steps:

1. Turn on folder options to show hidden files/folders. Open admin command then type: reagentc /disable
   - This will move 2 files from the recovery partition reagent.xml and winre.wim to C:\windows\system32\recovery
2. If you have the Windows 10 ISO, double click on it to mount to a virtual cd/dvd else If you have the Windows 10 USB then navigate to Sources folder and look for install.esd or install.wim.
3. Use 7-ZIP to open install.esd or install.wim, select and index. eg. 6 then navigate to Windows\system32\recovery. You'd see 2 files: Winre.wim and reagent.xml.
4. Remove everything from C:\windows\system32\recovery (ie. your current winre.win and reagent.xml)
5. Copy the new winre.wim and reagent.xml from the install.esd/install.wim to C:\windows\system32\Recovery
6. From admin command, type: ReAgentc /enable

Reboot to recovery. This will also fix the problem with shutdown /r /o

 

windows recovery environment server2012 r2 thinks it is Vista

I have a Windows 2012 R2 server with a bad hard drive. I make backups every night, so i am not afraid of losing data.

Steps I have taken:

I booted into the OS Media and chose "Repair your computer"-> "Troubleshoot"->"Windows System image recovery".

I selected the latest system image backup,

Installed the correct drivers Dell perc s110 so I could see the hard drive.

Chose Format and Repartition disks.

Chose only restore System Drive only

Accepted the options and hit next

Fairly quickly I'm told that my backup is not for a Vista system. makes no sense. I booted up using my Dell Windows 2012 R2 x64 DVD.

Any ideas? Suggestions?

Thank you,

Curt Davenport

 

Missing Recovery Environment

Hi Alan,

Here is a link containing several useful suggestions to help you recover Windows 10. Since the error message that you got tells you to insert your Windows installation or recovery media. We suggest the perform the steps listed under
Use a recovery drive to restore or reset your PC or you can also follow the steps under
Use installation media to restore or reset your PC. Please see the link below for more details:

Recovery options in Windows 10.

Regards.