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The Dell Factory Image Restore or Reset options may not appear in the WRE on some Dell Systems

Summary: This article describes missing Factory Image Restore and Reset options in the Windows Recovery Environment on some Dell Systems shipped with Windows 10 pre-installed.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.

Symptoms

Dell Systems shipped with Windows 10 support the abilities to restore the original factory image or reset the system by default. On some systems, however, this option may not appear in the Windows Recovery Environment screen as expected.

Cause

Cause information is not available.

Resolution

Follow these steps to restore the missing recovery options:

  1. Open the command prompt by typing "cmd" (DO NOT PRESS ENTER) on the start menu, then right click Command Prompt on the search menu and click Run as administrator to open a command Windows with Administrative rights. (You can also right click on the start menu button and choose Command Prompt (Admin))
    NOTE: If the option to "Run as Administrator" does not appear, then your user account on the system doesn't have local administrative rights and you need to consult your IT department.
  2. At the C:\> prompt type the following exactly: (Do not include the quote marks. Include all spaces)
    • "reagentc.exe /enable"
  3. Press the Enter Key to execute the command.
  4. Type "Exit" and press the Enter Key to close the command window.
  5. Restart your system (save all work and close all open apps.)

You should now see the Factory Image Restore and Reset options in the Windows Recovery Environment menu.

NOTE: If the Factory Image Restore or Reset options are not visible in the Windows Recovery Environment after following these steps, the OS or Hard Drive may be corrupted or damaged and a manual reinstallation may be required. To reinstall Windows 10 with Recovery Media, reference Dell Knowledgebase article How to Reinstall Windows 10 on your Dell computer.

Additional Information

Article Properties
Article Number: 000135137
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 24 Jul 2023
Version:  5
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