Windows recovery environment

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The Windows Recovery Environment , english Windows Recovery Environment is one on a separate partition installed Windows PE , in order to restore the actual installation of Windows from Microsoft is used. Additional functions are system diagnostics, as well as guided troubleshooting and the option of setting up additional drivers on the installed Windows.

functionality

The recovery environment was introduced with Windows 7. With each installation, an additional, hidden partition is automatically created on which Windows RE is set up, as well as an additional start partition.

If the installed Windows now has startup problems, the recovery partition normally remains unaffected and can therefore repair the Windows that no longer starts. An additional recovery medium such as an installation DVD or a bootable USB stick is no longer necessary.

Setup during installation

Usually, the Windows installer will automatically create a separate Windows recovery partition. However, there are differences between MBR and GPT partitions. Windows can only be installed on an MBR in BIOS mode, i.e. when it is started on a PC with BIOS. This also applies to a UEFI system if the CSM is used to start , as this provides the function of a PC BIOS on a UEFI system. In the native UEFI mode, however, Windows can only be installed on a GPT partition.

MBR partitioning has a limit of four primary partitions. In order to leave possible partitions free for other operating systems (e.g. a previous Windows version, hidden recovery partition from the manufacturer, an extended partition for logical drives), Windows only places an additional one during the automatic installation, depending on the Windows version 100 and 550 MB large partition for booting on which an NTFS file system is set up. From Windows 8, Windows RE is here. The actual Windows is installed on a second NTFS-formatted partition, but the first partition is hidden in this. B. not shown in Windows Explorer . Manual installation in just one partition is possible, but it severely limits the chance of recovery.

The situation is similar on a system started in UEFI mode with GPT partitioning. However, additional partitions are created here. These are:

  • Windows 7:
    • 100 MB Bootloader
    • 128 MB MSR(Microsoft Reserved)
    • the remaining space for Windows
  • from Windows 8:
    • 300-450 MB Windows RE
    • 100 MB ESP(EFI system partition)
    • 128 MB MSR, from Windows 10 only 16 MB
    • the remaining space for Windows

Since the Windows RE partition is only 300 MB in size in Windows 8, but Windows 10 requires a 450 MB recovery partition, the Windows installation partition is reduced by 450 MB during an upgrade, followed by an additional 450 MB partition created for Windows RE. Therefore the partitioning after an upgrade from Windows 8 (new installation) to Windows 10 (via upgrade) looks like this:

  • 300 MB Windows REof Windows 8
  • 100 MB ESP
  • 128 MB MSR
  • Rest: Windows 10 installation after upgrade, except:
  • 450 MB Windows REof Windows 10

Functions

The main functions of the recovery environment include:

  • Automatic repair and other troubleshooting tools
  • Reset (for a desktop version of Windows from Windows 8 )
  • System image recovery (for a server version of Windows from Server 2012 )

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Axel Vahldiek: Windows doesn't want GPT despite the UEFI mode. In: Heise online . January 8, 2016 . Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  2. ↑ Axel Vahldiek: Windows 10 setup wants GPT partition partout. In: Heise online . 2nd September 2016 . Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  3. ↑ Axel Vahldiek: Multiple subdivisions, The partitioning of modern Windows PCs. In: Heise online . February 16, 2018 (c't 05/2018, p. 146, paid article). Retrieved April 2, 2018.