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
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, System Image Recovery, Windows Memory Diagnostic and Command Prompt. OEM manufacturers could also integrate some of their recovery tools into it so that the user could have quick access to them.

Windows 7
Windows 7 was the first version to install the Recovery Environment tools into the hard disk, and the user could now enter to them by selecting the "Repair your computer" option from the Advanced Boot menu. Tools present on Windows 7's RE are not different from Vista's.

Windows 8/8.1
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 and UEFI settings.

Windows 10
Windows 10's Recovery Environment didn't had much changes respecting to Windows 8. The Refresh your PC tool was replaced by Reset 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 from the operating system.

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

 * 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 F8 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

 * 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

 * 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 (versions 1507 to 2004)

 * 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).