Solutions to majority of problems related to Restore/ Recovery / MSI F3 factory Reset

[Kall]

Hi guys, i don't know if i'm too late but i hope you guys respond this. I have the MSI Delta 15 laptop and a year ago (i think) i reinstalled my laptop using the "destructive" way as "Bsl K" mentioned (by formating the C and installed the windows ISO using USB Drive). Lately I've been feeling anxious because the "f3 recovery problem" is bugging me and i never cared about it before. But recently i have the problem with MSI Center which is whenever i press the hotkey (fn shortcut key for keyboard light, user scenario, etc.), sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't and requires a restart which is not certain (sometimes it still doesn't work) and i've been thinking to restore it to the factory os with pre-installed apps just like i bought it from the shop (which is still a gamble because I don't know if it will work even if I regularly update the MSI center app and keep my laptop out of windows 11 even if windows update ask for it).

The point is i wanted to reinstall my laptop just like i bought it from the store just because i had the MSI Center problem and other forums that i read it says it has to do with windows 11 and the solution was to change the date and time back to 2021 but it was a temporary and it still having the problem after booting the laptop from shutdown.

I read all your instructions and check the WinRE partition and BIOS_RVY partition and my laptop has both of partition, even when i assign to double check the contents of both partition. For WinRE partition it labelled as "WinRE Tools" on windows explorer and it has occupied 454 MB from 899 MB total and have 2 folders in it called Recovery and WinRE. For Recovery folder, i could not check beyond it because windows won't let me do it and for WinRE folder it doesn't have any contents. And for BIOS_RVY partition it contains the recovery image which i think is the windows 10 os just like when i bought it from the store (because it contains the swm format file) and it occupies 14 GB space or something because on my Explorer it says 1 GB left of free space.

I haven't try anything even the MSI F3 USB Recovery and i want to ask, should i just go using the MSI F3 USB Recovery method first, or do i have to follow your steps first? Because i don't know if both my winre partition and BIOS_RVY partition has the right contents or file for my laptop recovery. Thanks in advance and sorry for my bad English

 

[Bsl K]

Hi guys, i don't know if i'm too late but i hope you guys respond this. I have the MSI Delta 15 laptop and a year ago (i think) i reinstalled my laptop using the "destructive" way as "Bsl K" mentioned (by formating the C and installed the windows ISO using USB Drive). Lately I've been feeling anxious because the "f3 recovery problem" is bugging me and i never cared about it before. But recently i have the problem with MSI Center which is whenever i press the hotkey (fn shortcut key for keyboard light, user scenario, etc.), sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't and requires a restart which is not certain (sometimes it still doesn't work) and i've been thinking to restore it to the factory os with pre-installed apps just like i bought it from the shop (which is still a gamble because I don't know if it will work even if I regularly update the MSI center app and keep my laptop out of windows 11 even if windows update ask for it).

The point is i wanted to reinstall my laptop just like i bought it from the store just because i had the MSI Center problem and other forums that i read it says it has to do with windows 11 and the solution was to change the date and time back to 2021 but it was a temporary and it still having the problem after booting the laptop from shutdown.

I read all your instructions and check the WinRE partition and BIOS_RVY partition and my laptop has both of partition, even when i assign to double check the contents of both partition. For WinRE partition it labelled as "WinRE Tools" on windows explorer and it has occupied 454 MB from 899 MB total and have 2 folders in it called Recovery and WinRE. For Recovery folder, i could not check beyond it because windows won't let me do it and for WinRE folder it doesn't have any contents. And for BIOS_RVY partition it contains the recovery image which i think is the windows 10 os just like when i bought it from the store (because it contains the swm format file) and it occupies 14 GB space or something because on my Explorer it says 1 GB left of free space.

I haven't try anything even the MSI F3 USB Recovery and i want to ask, should i just go using the MSI F3 USB Recovery method first, or do i have to follow your steps first? Because i don't know if both my winre partition and BIOS_RVY partition has the right contents or file for my laptop recovery. Thanks in advance and sorry for my bad English

DM me.

 

[adrianospina010157202df]

Hello Bsl K, thank you for your post. I'd really like your help. I will make it as short and concise as possible.
A year ago when I upgrade to Win11 from my MSI GE66 RAIDER 10SGS, then I discovered I lost F3 function I proceed to (noob error) clean install windows 10 and formatting all partitions and merging into 1 (I lost everything related to F3 and BIOS). Then I discovered from my mistake I could bring to life using idk what software I use to recover some things of that BIOS. Took several hours but the program did his job. What I have now? This:

and some other folder above.
With that into a USB I can bring back MSI OEM Windows 10, but F3 keeps not appearing
I tried the instructions, I read all the pages, but can't get it done. I mean I could make the partitions in order

I could use reagentc to make the partition 4 my recovery (first disable it, then express the part to use, then enable it*
But I had two come ups here. Because I could clear when read it what order and folder and files should be in each partition (WinRE and BIOS_RVY) but first try when enabled reagentc was successful but didn't could get back the F3 and the second try trying some other sort off then reagentc even though I enable it says successful but when use his info command it shows disabled

What I mean with F3 is this:

I know that this

can use it to maybe have things back but I need help with sorting or dont know
Extra things:

"Install.swm" is the only one that when I look up in with 7zip shows me

and inside of it this

but I see the data inside of each are lost?

And the others Install#2-7.swm are all like this

As I said, I have all this in a pendrive that I can use to restore MSI back to factory, some files in there may help

Inside WinRE Partition: 2 folder I created when creating the WinRE partition following this guide but as I said, I got confuse on what should be created and what files should be there:
Inside WinRE partition: 2 folders ("WinRE" and "Recovery") and 1 hidden ("System Volume Information")

Inside WinRE there is nothing and
inside of Recovery: 2 folders
"Logs" and "WindowsRE"
and inside of this last one WindowsRE

BIOS PART:
And inside the BIOS partitions I create:

And inside recovery image:

And thats it, I would really appreciate your help to have my MSI as factory. Can I get your help please

 

[Bsl K]

first let me ask you one thing, have you already formatted the whole pc with the recovery usb?
if yes, then looking from the image of winre tool partition that you provided here, it seems you already have the winre file there, you just need to manually set the location of reagentc.
you can do that by first assigning a letter to the winre partition. then manually set the location of the reagentc. use the following command.
-diskpart
-sel dis 0
-sel par 4
-assign
-exit
-reagentc /disable
-Reagentc /setreimage /path D:\Recovery\WindowsRE (replace "d" with the assigned letter of the winre tool partition)
-reagentc /enable

you will be good to go.. if you don't have winre.wim file inside windowsRE folder, then you can use
THIS FILE .

 

[adrianospina010157202df]

Yes I have the Winre. But could you help me more specific how would the the folders and subfolders and wich files should I put for each partition (WinRE & BIOS), that part I´m not getting it how would be the sort off. Meanwhile I will do what you mentioned. Thank you

 

[adrianospina010157202df]

Can I get help please?????

 

[Bsl K]

wich files should I put for each partition

Didn't you use recovery usb to restore your pc? If you have used the recovery usb then you don't have to do anything.
Or are you doing it manually?
Anyways, the folder and file structure should be like this.
For WinRE tool
Recovery\WindowsRE. The winre.wim file should be inside that WindowsRE folder.

For BIOS_RVY
All the files (instal.swm files, truecolor, and other files) should be inside RecoveryImage folder.

 

[adrianospina010157202df]

Didn't you use recovery usb to restore your pc? If you have used the recovery usb then you don't have to do anything.
Or are you doing it manually?

Im doing it manually because F3 do not show because I do not have WinRE & BIOS partition. And manually I mean: The pendrive I´m using IS NOT the one that MSI provides with F3 function. Is MY PENDRIVE with the ISO I could save one time from this computer with a recovery tool after deleting the partitions. That tool save my life but there are two things to solve now. One is the partitions and set that again and the other is I hope I can put all install.swm inside of BIOS because you will see below.

Also I could see in your first post, you show DISM, backup tool to save new image from the current version. But Im little bit noob, dont know what to do here

My thought process don´t know what is asking me. I mean my common sense think, Okay, backup tool, then it starts without other issue, but what is asking me?

For WinRE tool
Recovery\WindowsRE. The winre.wim file should be inside that WindowsRE folder.

WindowsRE should be inside of Recovery? Or they are 2 separate folders inside WinRE? If it is 2 separate folder then what should be inside Recovery?

For BIOS_RVY
All the files (instal.swm files, truecolor, and other files) should be inside RecoveryImage folder.

should I put all install.swm eventhough from 2 to 7 are like this inside?

Thanks in advance, I truly appriciate!

 

[adrianospina010157202df]

I can see that know after installing the OS with the pendrive image I had (the one i mentioned I could recover and transform it into a ISO), it has create by himself a new partition, I guess the Winre tool partition.

But I assign a letter to see what it put inside of it but I cannot access, neither with 7zip

 

[adrianospina010157202df]

I need an extra help and will be it please

 

[Bsl K]

But I assign a letter to see what it put inside of it but I cannot access, neither with 7zip

you need special privilege to access that folder. use winaero tweak software to enable "take ownership" option on right click of mouse. then after enabling take ownership option, take ownership of that folder.

PS: DM me for further help.

 

[pandarengur156502dc]

Hey, @Bsl K

Is there a way I can install the MSI Windows 11 OS on a totally blank SSD? One that has no partitions, no OS, nothing on it? It's brand new, and I want to use it as the new OS drive, since it's faster. I'm typing from my old MSI SSD, which is slower.

Thanks for all your help here!

 

[Alan J T]

Hey, @Bsl K

Is there a way I can install the MSI Windows 11 OS on a totally blank SSD? One that has no partitions, no OS, nothing on it? It's brand new, and I want to use it as the new OS drive, since it's faster. I'm typing from my old MSI SSD, which is slower.

Thanks for all your help here!

Umm Yes quite easy to do

Windows 11 Clean Installation

Step by step instructions to clean install Windows 11 to switch Insider Preview Channel.

www.microsoft.com

 

[pandarengur156502dc]

Umm Yes quite easy to do

Windows 11 Clean Installation

Step by step instructions to clean install Windows 11 to switch Insider Preview Channel.

www.microsoft.com

I mean the Windows 11 install using the MSI F3 Recovery USB software...I can use it on the blank SSD? It will create the partitions needed and install on them automatically?

@Bsl K @Alan J T

 

[Alan J T]

I mean the Windows 11 install using the MSI F3 Recovery USB software...I can use it on the blank SSD? It will create the partitions needed and install on them automatically?

@Bsl K @Alan J T

Oh that not a clue as the first thing I do with any New Laptop or Desktop is remove all portions and the Factory install and do a format and Clean install of Windows

 

[Bsl K]

I mean the Windows 11 install using the MSI F3 Recovery USB software...I can use it on the blank SSD? It will create the partitions needed and install on them automatically?

@Bsl K @Alan J T

You need to understand this, f3 recovery is used to restore captured image from another recovery partition to windows partition. The answer to your question is that yes you can do that. But then you have to manually create partitions, capture image and save it. you can follow the tutorial and get the idea.
if you already have recovery usb, then OfCourse you can restore os to new blank ssd.

 

[part0652157d02df]

If you get the error " The recovery procedure from RecoveryDVD has not been successfully finished...", then its probably because BIOS_RVY partition is not the last partition. I had this problem, i made my partitions in order [system-MSR-windows-Winre tools-BIOS_RVY- D-E-F] which resulted in that error. Later i realized that BIOS_RVY partition should be the last one for MSI recovery dvd software to detect it. later i manually changed it which made it work again.

how to move partition to another location

-If f3 recovery option is missing, and has multiple small recovery partitions, most probably this is because you probably have clean installed windows by old traditional DESTRUCTIVE method from USB by formatting C drive and installing. Never do that, Please understand the logic behind it.

and how to install windows correctly in GPT partitions

 

[part0652157d02df]

-If f3 recovery option is missing, and has multiple small recovery partitions, most probably this is because you probably have clean installed windows by old traditional DESTRUCTIVE method from USB by formatting C drive and installing. Never do that, Please understand the logic behind it.

what could i do to install windows on GPT partitions correctly

 

[part0652157d02df]

I am using windows 11 and use the wrong way to install windows using USB, the recovery partition is still there but i cannot use it and how to rearrange partitions

 

[part0652157d02df]

how can I do it

first check if your winre is in 4th partition or not by running command "reagentc /info" in cmd. If not then change it. How? Either google it or ask me in comments, i will try to assist you.