Do Some Computers/10 Versions Lack Advanced Option Features?

vindows · 09 Apr 2017

I got a new laptop from dell (7559) about 2 months ago and already ran into an issue that seems like I'm going to have to do a system refresh. Before doing that I wanted to try the startup repair functionality, however, I can't seem to find it on my pc.

Using this pic as reference, the only options I have here are "UEFI Firmware settings" and "startup settings", the rest simply aren't there.

Is this yet another reason for me to hate Dell? Do some windows 10 versions not have these options, or do I just need to enable them somewhere?

NavyLCDR · 09 Apr 2017

Your Windows Recovery Environment is not set up correctly.
What results do you get if you open a Command Prompt (Admin) and run:
reagentc /info

You should see something like:

Code:

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.15063]
(c) 2017 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

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\partition1\Recovery\WindowsRE
    Boot Configuration Data (BCD) identifier: d86c01ce-d523-11e6-a328-d8cb8a71f683
    Recovery image location:
    Recovery image index:      0
    Custom image location:
    Custom image index:        0

REAGENTC.EXE: Operation Successful.

I'll bet yours says Windows RE Status: Disabled

vindows · 09 Apr 2017

NavyLCDR said:

Your Windows Recovery Environment is not set up correctly.
What results do you get if you open a Command Prompt (Admin) and run:
reagentc /info

You should see something like:

Code:

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.15063]
(c) 2017 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

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\partition1\Recovery\WindowsRE
    Boot Configuration Data (BCD) identifier: d86c01ce-d523-11e6-a328-d8cb8a71f683
    Recovery image location:
    Recovery image index:      0
    Custom image location:
    Custom image index:        0

REAGENTC.EXE: Operation Successful.

I'll bet yours says Windows RE Status: Disabled

Hi, yes, you are correct, windows re status: disabled.

Is there an easy way to enable this? Atm I can only boot up my pc into safe mode due to the problem I am currently facing with it.

Just trying command: reagentc /enable doesnt work
REAGENTC.EXE: Unable to update boot configuration data.

NavyLCDR · 09 Apr 2017

More than likely you are going to have to boot the computer from the system recovery drive that you created when the computer was fairly new - or a Windows 10 installation USB flash drive which you can use the Media Creation Tool to make:
Download Windows 10

vindows · 10 Apr 2017

NavyLCDR said:

More than likely you are going to have to boot the computer from the system recovery drive that you created when the computer was fairly new - or a Windows 10 installation USB flash drive which you can use the Media Creation Tool to make:
Download Windows 10

I never created a system recovery drive when the computer was fairly new (?). And I am unable to create one now. However, this computer has a pre-installed hidden recovery partition from dell. Although I am not sure how to boot from that or access it. TBH, I'm not even sure what that does on windows 10? Can I restore my laptop to dells factory default by using that recovery partition, even if I cannot access normal mode or enable the windows recovery environment?

Here is a picture of my partitions if it helps:

Do Some Computers/10 Versions Lack Advanced Option Features?-partitions.png

I also put windows 10 onto a usb flash drive as you instructed. I tried to install it with the upgrade: installation option, but that won't work unless I do it from normal mode, which I can't get into.

At this point its starting to look like my only option is to do a custom: installation and re-format the C: drive. My concern is that I received this laptop from dell already installed with windows 10, so I don't have license key. If I format the drive and re-install windows 10, won't I need to enter a license key which I dont have?

Also, wondering if I should delete all of those partitions except my harddrive?

Edit: I just noticed the 11gb recovery partition on my disk 1. Shortly after I got my laptop I used samsung data migration to transfer windows over from my hdd to ssd. Is the reason I have no recovery functionality because it left behind that 11gb partition? Can it be transferred over to ssd/disk 0 to fix my issue?

dalchina · 10 Apr 2017

As you have a working bootable Windows, you can follow this procedure. You will need a large external drive for the disk image.

0. Shrink your Windows partition by at least 1Gb so you can get all Windows partitions on the same drive.
1. Create a disk image using Macrium Reflect (free) of what you have now
1.1 Create Macrium's boot medium
2. Format disk 0.
3. Delete redundant Windows partitions from disk 1.
4. Clean install Windows on disk 0.
5. Check it boots.
5a. Optional: If you like, just to protect progress to date, create a new disk image (Windows Backup).
6. Boot from Macrium's boot medium and replace the new Windows partition with that from your disk image.
7. Run startup repair.

You should then have a consistent set of Windows partitions on disk 0.

The purpose of a manufacturer's recovery partition is to be used to restore the PC to as bought.

You don't need a key- activation info is held on MS's servers and should be automatic

Also make sure your BIOS is configured to use AHCI for the best SSD performance before you install Win 10.

Note we strongly and frequently recommend the routine use of disk imaging. This will be a good time to start.

NavyLCDR · 10 Apr 2017

vindows said:

At this point its starting to look like my only option is to do a custom: installation and re-format the C: drive. My concern is that I received this laptop from dell already installed with windows 10, so I don't have license key. If I format the drive and re-install windows 10, won't I need to enter a license key which I dont have?

You can boot from the Windows 10 USB flash drive, select the custom install option, delete every partition on the SSD, select the unallocated space and do a clean install to the SSD. No product key will be required. Then make sure that the install created the required EFI System Partition on the SSD, and if it did, you can delete all the extra partitions on the hard drive and expand the data partition to fill the empty space. At this point it is unlikely you would be able to use the Dell recovery partition to go back to factory software. Others may know how you could use it, if you really wanted the factory software load back on. If you ever wanted to try that, just don't delete that partition.