Fix The Windows Re Image Was Not Found Safe and Easy

If you are facing the error: The Windows RE image was not found, don't worry. Here are safe and easy steps to fix this issue and get your Windows system up and running smoothly again.

The Windows Preinstallation Environment has a WinRE, which helps repair issues with the unrebooting operating system. If you try to reboot your Windows and receive an error Windows Recovery Environment not found then, this article is for you.

There are many possible causes of such an error, making you struggle. You may receive such an error because of the winre.wim file is corrupted, the disk installation is broken, your Windows RE status is disabled, or your firmware or hardware has issues. This post will explain five methods for solving the Windows RE image was not found error.

Method 1. Recover WinRE Image File With Data Recovery Software

The first step in recovering Winre image files is using data recovery software. I recommend the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard as the most secure and reliable software.

It is compatible with most Windows, be it seven or eleven. Besides using this EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard to recover your WinRE image file, it can also recover any lost files on your PC. This tool can help you recover permanently deleted files and can perform Recycle Bin recovery.

To save yourself big time, download this highly-rated EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard on your PC and follow the steps below to get your lost WinRE image files back:

Step 1. Choose the exact file location and then click the "Search for Lost Data" button to continue.

Step 2. After the process, locate the deleted or lost files in the left panel using the "Path" or "Type" feature. Or, you can apply the "Filter" feature to find the deleted files.

Step 3. Click the "Recover" button and save the restored files – ideally, it should be different from the original one. You can choose a cloud storage, such as OneDrive, Google Drive, etc., and click "Save" to save your recovered files.

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Method 2. Fix Windows RE Image Was Not Found by Enabling Recovery Environment 

Enabling a recovery environment can fix the reagent.exe Windows RE image that was not found. Check out how to do it!

Step 1. In your search box, type "CMD."

Step 2. Press "Enter."

Step 3. Right-click on the "Command Prompt" that will appear.

Step 4. Click "Run as administrator."

Step 5. Type "reagentc /info."

Step 6. Press "Enter."

Step 7. If disabled, type reagentc /enable.

After re-enabling the Windows recovery environment, you should be able to find the recovery environment. But if not, you should check whether the Windows recovery environment location is valid.

Method 3. Check and Set Path for winre. wim File to Solve Windows RE Image Missing

Checking the set path for wire. wim can help fix the error Windows RE image not found on your computer. You will need to see if the BCD contains entries to restart in recovery mode.

Step 1. With a priority permission, run "cmd."

Step 2. Type bcdedit /enum all.

Step 3. You will access a current "BCD (Boot Configuration Data)" store.

Step 4. Scroll down to see a "Windows boot loader area" and locate the "identifier={current}."

Step 5. Again, locate the "recovery sequence" with the GUID recovery sequence attribute value.

Step 6. Identify the Windows boot loader with "identifier value and the GUID recovery sequence attribute value" and ensure the Windows RE  description on the device and the OS device are the same.

Step 7. If not the same, then set the path by typing bcdedit/set {current} recovery sequence {FoundGUID}. Next, click "Enter" to execute.

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Method 4.  Copy winre.wim File Manually to Fix Windows RE Image Not Found

Another possible method of fixing the Windows RE image not found is by copying the winre.wim file manually.

The following steps will guide you on how to set it manually.

Step 1. Go to your PC  and locate the "winre.wim" file.

Step 2. Run "cmd" with the administrator priority.

Step 3. Type "dir /a /s c:\winre.wim."

Step 4. Press "Enter."

Step 5. If not in the system partition, then assign a drive letter to try again

Step 6. If in C: drive, enter the command to access the file and the copy:

Step 7. Copy and paste reagentc /setreimage /path C:\windows\system32\recovery to replace the winre.wim file path in the recovery agent configuration.

Step 8. Type the command line reagentc /info or reagentc /enable to enable the recovery environment.

Method 5. Restore winre.wim File Using Installation Disc to Fix Windows RE Image Not Found

Another method is using an installation disc. Here is how to do it!

Step 1. Go to your PC and open "View."

Step 2. Open "Folder Options" to enable hidden system files.

Step 3. Go to "installation disc-" and open the "Source folder."  Copy and paste the "winre.wim file."

Step 4. Run "cmd" as administrator. In the command prompt, type md c:\test\. Click "Enter."

Step 5. Mount your image to the created folder" dism /mount-image /imagefile:"D:\sources\install.wim" /index:1 /mountdir:C:\test\ /readonly  in your PC.

Step 6. Copy the file from the folder to C:\Windows\System32\Recovery folder.

Step 7.  Type reagentc /setreimage /path C:\windows\system32\recovery in the command prompt and run.

Step 8.  Enter dism /unmount-image /mountdir:C:\test\ /discard to unmount your install.wim image file. Enable recovery environment. 

Conclusion

You can reboot your computer without trouble using the various methods of resolving the Winre image. When such an error occurs, try checking the set path for Winre. wim, copying Winre. wim manually, enabling the recovery environment, and using the installation disc to restore Winre. wim to solve the problem. But before trying all the possible methods, you can use the safest and most highly rated software, like the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard.

FAQs on Windows RE Image Not Found

1. Where is the Windows RE image?

A WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment) is found in the Windows Preinstallation Environment. That is in the \Windows\System32\Recovery folder hence, you cannot see it directly.  It helps repair issues with the unrebooting operating system.

2. How do I enable WinRE in Windows 10?

Do you need help enabling Winre on your Windows 10? Check out these easy steps!

• Step 1. Click on "Start."
• Step 2. Find "Command Prompt."
• Step 3. Right-click on the "top results."
• Step 4. Select "Run as administrator."
• Step 5. Type reagentc /info.
• Step 6. Click "Enter."
• Step 7. Type reagentc /enable and press "Enter."

3. How do you install a Windows recovery image?

Check out how to install a Windows recovery image on your PC.

• Step 1. Go to the search box and type create a recovery drive.
• Step 2. Open the "backup system files to the recovery drive."
• Step 3. Click "Next."
• Step 4. Select the "hard drive" on the PC to save the images.
• Step 5.  Click "Next."
• Step 6. Choose "Create" to create a recovery drive.