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12 March 2024  John Weaver  Senior Program Developer
 

Summary
Find the solution for the error "could not find recovery environment" when resetting your Windows 10 system. Backup crucial files before resetting to avoid data loss.



Table of contents

table iconI. How to solve the prompt that cannot find recovery environment?
table iconII. (Extended information) Before resetting the computer, use Renee Becca to back up important files
could not find recovery environment

I. How to solve the prompt that cannot find recovery environment?

Windows 10 comes with a built-in “Reset this PC” feature, designed to help users swiftly reset their system. Should you come across the error message stating “recovery environment cannot be found”, it’s typically indicative of a disabled Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE) or a corrupted Windows RE file. To remedy this problem, consider the following solutions.
the recovery environment cannot be found

1. View and enable Windows RE through the command prompt

If the Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE) is disabled, you may encounter the “Cannot find the recovery environment” issue. To check the status of Windows RE, use the command prompt.
Step 1: On Windows 10, type cmd in the search box at the bottom left, right-click the result, and choose Run as administrator to open an elevated command prompt.
run as administrator
Step 2: Type reagentc /info into the command prompt and press Enter. This action will reveal the current status of the Windows Recovery Environment (RE). If the status indicates “Disabled,” this signifies that the recovery environment is currently not enabled.
reagentc info command
Step 3: Enter the command reagentc /enable and press Enter to enable Windows RE. Afterwards, attempt to reset the computer.
reagentc enable command
If your Windows Recovery Environment (RE) status is enabled but you encounter the “Cannot find the recovery environment”  issue, it could be due to a damaged Windows RE file. To resolve this, you can reset your computer using the Windows installation media. Follow the instructions provided below.

2. Reset the PC via the Windows installation media

Step 1: Create Windows installation media and insert it (DVD or USB) into the target computer. Restart the computer and press F2, F10, DEL, or ESC (depending on the computer’s brand) to enter the BIOS setup. Configure the boot priority to prefer the installation media, save the changes, and proceed to boot from it. On the “Install Now” screen, select the “Repair your computer” option to access the recovery environment.
windows installation repair your computer
Step 2: At the “Choose an option” screen, select Troubleshoot, then Reset this PC. This feature allows you to either keep or delete your files while reinstalling Windows.
click to format windows computer or nec laptop
Step 3: Select Keep my files to retain your personal data, or choose Delete everything to remove all files. Opt for Erase All Content before selling or donating your device to ensure data cannot be recovered.
keep my files
Step 4: After the computer has rebooted, select your account name, if required, input your password. Then click “Continue”.
reset this PC and select an account
Step 5: Confirm the reset details and click Reset. The computer will reboot and begin the system initialization process, which may take a while. Please be patient and wait until it is fully completed.
reset this PC
The solution provided addresses the “Cannot find the recovery environment” error encountered during a Windows 10 reset, which can fix several system issues. However, there is a risk of losing personal files if not done correctly. It is advisable to back up valuable data beforehand. A fast and effective backup technique will be outlined below for those interested.

II. (Extended information) Before resetting the computer, use Renee Becca to back up important files

1. What is Renee Becca

Renee Becca is a versatile tool for system and hard disk data backup and restoration, capable of securing your important computer data including programs, system settings, emails, photos, videos, documents, and bookmarks. By utilizing advanced incremental/differential backup technology, it saves time and conserves disk space. It supports a range of functions such as system, partition, and hard disk backup, file backup, disk cloning, and system migration to cater to diverse backup requirements.
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2. How to use Renee Becca to backup data?

Step 1: Launch Renee Becca on your computer after downloading and installing it. Choose File Backup from the Backup section of the main interface. For backing up an entire disk or partition, select Disk/Partition Backup instead.
click to back up files in renee becca
Step 2: Select the source file from your device for backup, choose the destination partition on the hard disk to store the backup data, and click Backup to begin the backup process.
Tip: For consistent data protection, it is essential to enable Task Scheduler within your system to set up regular backups. This tool allows you to configure backups to occur on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis at times that best suit your schedule. When determining your backup strategy in the Backup Scheme, select a Scheme Type that aligns with your data recovery objectives. Renee Becca provides a diverse range of options, including version chain mode, single version mode, full mode, and incremental backup mode and differential backup mode.
how to back up files in renee becca
Step 3: Monitor the backup progress in the task bar. Once completed, use the Recovery button to recover files to a chosen hard disk as needed.
recover backup files from renee becca
Step 4: Select the target location where the file should be restored and click the Recovery button.
files recovery location