Accidentally installed windows 7 on my Recovery Partition D:\

Khraum said:

gregrocker said:

Sorry to interrupt but may I ask what you hope to do here?

Actually I was hoping to clean format my whole computer and start completely over.

Clean Reinstall Windows 7 Factory OEM

SIW2 said:

you don't have hidden files showing - go to folder options and show hidden files and show protected operating system files.

Attachment 200494

Just did this, and got 3 folders in Recovery. However, I can't open them because the computer says I'm not authorized to do so. How can I unlock them.

Actually I was hoping for a totally clean start, but I'm just interested in what you are offering. Maybe I can do this before a total clean reformat tomorrow. But if I can restore to factory condition tonight I'd settle with this too. I'm indifferent either way.

Here's the folders

The dell bootable wim is in the windowsre folder.

You should be able to add it to the boot menu using easybcd.

I would have done it with a couple of commands - much quicker - but it will easier for you to use easybcd.

Free version is here:

EasyBCD Download Registration Page — NeoSmart Technologies

You don't have to give an email address - just click the download button.

These commands from an administrator command prompt will let you access the recovery folder:

attrib -s -h D:\Recovery\*.* /s

takeown /f D:\Recovery /r /d y

icacls D:\Recovery /grant administrators:F /t

SIW2 said:

These commands from an administrator command prompt will let you access the recovery folder:

attrib -s -h D:\Recovery\*.* /s

takeown /f D:\Recovery /r /d y

icacls D:\Recovery /grant administrators:F /t

Hi, it's asking me to buy the software. Which older version is good? (I think they are free)

and for the commands, are you talking about using them in EasyBCD or in Windows 7?

If it is in Windows 7, how can I access the administrator command prompt in it?

Run Commands to access Recovery from WIn7 Elevated Command Prompt.

For Easy download go to EasyBCD Download Registration Page — NeoSmart Technologies, click on Download free for limited, non-commercial use, leave the name info blank and click Download. It's free.

Add New Entry, select Portable Media, WinPE, then Win Image, browse to bootable .wim.

gregrocker said:

Run Commands to access Recovery from WIn7 Elevated Command Prompt.

For Easy download go to EasyBCD Download Registration Page — NeoSmart Technologies, click on Download free for limited, non-commercial use, leave the name info blank and click Download. It's free.

Add New Entry, select Portable Media, WinPE, then Win Image, browse to bootable .wim.

got to bootable.wim, I is actually called winre.wim, what do I do when I browsed to it?

Khraum said:

got to bootable.wim, I is actually called winre.wim, what do I do when I browsed to it?

In EasyBCD, Select Add New Entry, select Portable Media, WinPE, then Win Image, browse to bootable .wim and select it as a boot menu entry, Save, reboot to see.

It may be another .wim file but you can try all that are found when you browse from EasyBCD>Add Entry>Portable>WinPE>Wim image.


click to enlarge

Command Prompt - Elevated

Run the commands from an admin ( elevated ) cmd prompt in windows.

Then use the free ( community edition ) easybcd - it is what you download from the link I posted. No need to buy anything.

Click Add New Entry

Click the Winpe Tab

Clcik the little browse button next to where it says Path

Browse to wim inside the windowsre folder ( it might in a sub folder in there)

Click Add Entry

restart pc

select NST Winpe image from the boot menu.


(Looks you are using an older version Greg - 2.12 is the newer one on general release)