Windows Recovery Environment

Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) is a boot option available for Microsoft Windows versions starting with Windows Vista that allows the user to enter a Windows Preinstallation Environment option with recovery tools.

Windows Vista and Server 2008
In Windows Vista, the Recovery Environment is only available as an option on the installation disk. It included options such as Startup Repair, System Restore, Windows Complete PC Restore, Windows Memory Diagnostic and Command Prompt.

Like its client counterpart, Windows Server 2008's Recovery Environment is available only in the installation disk. Recovery tools are the same as Vista's, but without Startup Repair and System Restore.

Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2
Windows 7 was the first version to install the Recovery Environment tools into the hard disk, whose tools are present inside the System Reserved partition, and build 6519 is the earliest leaked build as of August 2020 with this capability. Tools present on Windows 7's RE are not different from Vista's, except Windows Complete PC Restore being replaced by System Image Recovery.

Like its client counterpart, Windows Server 2008 R2 installs the Recovery Environment tools into the System Reserved partition in the hard disk. Like in its earlier release, Startup Repair and System Restore are not available and Windows Complete PC Restore was replaced by System Image Recovery like in the client version.

Windows 8, Server 2012-onwards
Windows 8 introduced a redesigned Recovery Environment based on the Metro interface. Recovery tools now include Refresh your PC and quick access to the Advanced Boot Options (known as Startup Settings) and UEFI settings.

Windows 10's Recovery Environment didn't have interface changes respecting to Windows 8. There is now an option on the main page to boot to a CD, DVD or flash drive. The Refresh your PC tool was replaced by Reset your PC keeping personal files and there is now an option to roll back to the previous version or Insider build. Since Manganese build 19536, the user no longer needs to enter the credentials of an administrator account if entering through OS-related methods.

The Windows Server family from Server 2012 onwards uses the Metro interface for the Recovery Environment, like their client counterparts. However, the Troubleshoot option sends the user directly to what the Advanced Options are in the client versions. Reset your PC, Startup Repair and System Restore are not available. UEFI settings are not available in the Server 2012 family.

First design
The first design of the Recovery Environment is used in Windows Vista and 7, including their server counterparts. It features a screen with the setup background and a window that uses the Windows Classic theme. It has buttons to shut down or restart the computer on the bottom right and displays links to recovery tools that run as separate windows (like Command Prompt) or on separate screens (like System Restore). When accessed from an installation media, a list with available installations to recover appears, where the user can select one and view its options. However, when accessed from the OS, Startup Repair is automatically triggered in an attempt to fix issues without using advanced tools, although the user can skip this through a Cancel button to see the rest of the tools.

Second design
The second and current design is used since Windows 8 and Server 2012. It refreshed the interface by featuring a new full screen that follows the Metro design lines, and divided the environment into several pages. The home or start page features four links: one to restart the computer into the OS, another to see troubleshooting options, another to shut down the computer, and another to boot to another operating system, which only shows if there are multiple installed. Another link was also added in Windows 10, which is present only when entering from the OS and allows the user to boot into any detected external media with additional options without modifying the BIOS boot order. The Troubleshooting page has two elements: a link to Refresh this PC (Windows 8 and 8.1 only), another to Reset this PC, and another to the Advanced options page, which contains the rest of the tools.

Since pages now are full-screen, they don't use a theme. However, tools that open in extra windows now use the Windows Basic theme instead of Classic, being one of the few times it can be spotted in this OS family due to its removal for desktop use.

This design also removed the automatic Startup Repair trigger from the OS and the installations list from the installation media, and it also updated Startup Repair to no longer work in a window. Instead, it was modified to work on a boot-like sequence while diagnosing the computer and performing repairs.

Through installation disk

 * 1) Enter the installation disk into the machine's drive.
 * 2) Boot the machine to the disk by changing BIOS settings or entering the OEM's boot menu.
 * 3) When Setup loads, select a language or keyboard input method and click Next.
 * 4) On the Install screen, select the option located at the bottom of the screen that says "Repair your computer."

Through recovery drives or repair disks
Please note that you must have created a recovery drive or a repair disk through the  or   tools, respectively.


 * 1) Enter the drive or disk into the machine's port or drive.
 * 2) Boot the machine to the drive or disk by changing BIOS settings or entering the OEM's boot menu.
 * 3) When the machine boots, select a keyboard input from the prompt that appears. Note that you won't be able to change this later.

Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2

 * 1) Shut down the machine if you have it on.
 * 2) Turn on the machine.
 * 3) Before the OEM logo or boot screen appears, press many times the corresponding key to access the Advanced Boot Options menu.
 * 4) When the Advanced Boot Options menu appears, select the "Repair your computer" option.
 * 5) Introduce a language (if there are multiple installed), keyboard input, and the credentials from an administrator account.

Windows 8 and Server 2012

 * 1) Open PC settings.
 * 2) Choose General use from the left pane.
 * 3) At the bottom of the section, you'll find the Advanced startup header. On it, select the Restart now tool.
 * 4) Once the machine restarts, introduce the credentials from an administrator account.

Windows 8.1 and Server 2012 R2

 * 1) Open PC settings.
 * 2) Choose Update and recovery section from the left pane.
 * 3) Select the Recovery section from the left pane.
 * 4) Select the Restart now button from the Advanced startup header.
 * 5) Once the machine restarts, introduce the credentials from an administrator account.

Windows 10, Server 2016 and Server 2019

 * 1) Open Settings.
 * 2) Choose the Update and Security page.
 * 3) Select the Recovery section.
 * 4) Select the Restart now button from the Advanced startup header.
 * 5) Once the machine restarts, introduce the credentials from an administrator account (if you're on Manganese build 19536 or higher, you'll no longer need to introduce this).

Through power options (Windows 8-10/Server 2012-2019)

 * 1) Go to the power options in the start menu, lock screen or Ctrl+Alt+Delete screen.
 * 2) Select the Restart option while holding the Shift key.

Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2

 * 1) While the machine is booting, hold press the power button (if virtual, restart or reset it) to shut it down.
 * 2) On the next boot, you should see Advanced Boot Options. There, click the "Repair your computer" option.

Windows 8 onwards

 * 1) While the machine is booting, hold press the power button (if virtual, restart or reset it) to shut it down and repeat this three times.
 * 2) If Automatic Repair appears, click "Advanced options."
 * 3) If prompted, introduce the credentials from an administrator account.