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FolderRisk: Caution

Recovery C:\Windows\System32\Recovery

Initial location of the Windows Recovery Environment image (winre.wim), later copied to the recovery partition.

Updated on By AltF4 Formation

What it’s for

Windows first drops the Windows Recovery Environment image, winre.wim, in \Windows\System32\Recovery on the Windows partition. During the specialize configuration pass, the image is copied to a separate recovery partition, so WinRE can still boot if the Windows partition has a problem. WinRE powers the troubleshooting tools and PC reset.

What it contains

  • winre.wim: the recovery environment image, as long as it has not been moved to the recovery partition.
  • ReAgent.xml: the recovery agent configuration, the one reagentc reads and edits.
  • The folder is almost empty when the image resides on the recovery partition.

Risks and best practices

  • Without winre.wim, startup troubleshooting options and reset can fail. To move, enable or disable WinRE, use reagentc rather than the files.
  • WinRE on its own partition stays accessible even when the Windows partition is BitLocker-encrypted.
  • Check WinRE status (reagentc /info) after a partitioning change or an upgrade.

Useful commands

Fenêtre de terminal
# WinRE status and image location (as administrator)
reagentc /info


# Folder contents (hidden)
Get-ChildItem -Force "$env:windir\System32\Recovery"

Folder contents

Files 1

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