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I am using Windows 10 Home (currently, ver 1909).

I would like to remove the C:\Recovery\ folder, which takes 3.61GB on my C: partition.

From what I read on the internet, the C:\Recovery\ folder is used by WinRE,
and since I already use a 3rd party program for creating System Images, then I don't need WinRE..

How can I safely disable WinRE and delete the C:\Recovery\ folder?

2 Imoprtant Notes:
The first:
My C:\Recovery\ folder does not contain a winre.wim file, like what some users suggested in the comments here.
Instead, it contains a 3.61GB file named USMT.ppkg.
Its full path is C:\Recovery\Customizations\USMT.ppkg

The second:
The current state of WinRE on my Windows10 is Disabled,
as checked via the reagentc /info command.

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  • This is an indication that your system partition and WinRE partition is one in the same. If you care about the ability to boot into a recovery environment you won't be able to delete the folder. Microsoft recommends having a WinRE partition.
    – Ramhound
    Mar 23, 2021 at 19:38
  • Thank you Ramhound. As written above, I do not need MS's recovery environment. I use a 3rd party software which does a great job, and would really like to delete the C:\Recovery\ folder to free up 3.61GB..
    – spaceman
    Mar 23, 2021 at 19:53
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    There are many reasons you would need Advanced Startup. You really shouldn't delete it.
    – Ramhound
    Mar 23, 2021 at 20:05

1 Answer 1

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All you need to do is boot into a live Linux environment and delete it from there. I would suggest this article to help you.

Do this first

Before deleting the folder you need to disable WinRE. To do that open the start menu and type cmd. Right click and hit Run as Administrator.

Next type reagentc /disable This will diable WinRE.

See this article for more info.

After you do that use the built in ubuntu file manager to mount your C: drive and delete the foler.

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  • Hi bobsfriend. I understand the part of deleting the folder from outside Windows, so the folder will not be locked/protected in some way, but isn't there some settings that I have to change inside Windows, before deleting the folder? So windows will not scream about a missing file/folder, or worse, give a blue screen..
    – spaceman
    Mar 23, 2021 at 20:00
  • @spaceman - Yes which is the reason my recommendation would be just to leave it alone.
    – Ramhound
    Mar 23, 2021 at 20:04
  • Ramhound: That person (in the thread you gave) deleted the folder without first disabling WinRE, in Windows.. So I hope that someone here knows how to first disable WinRE, so deleting the folder will not cause any problems afterwards..
    – spaceman
    Mar 23, 2021 at 20:05
  • @spaceman I have added some instructions based on an article that I found. I don't use Windows so I hope it works Mar 23, 2021 at 20:13
  • Thank you very much bobsfriend. I will read the articles in the links, then create a System Image using my 3rd party program, then try it. Will reply back here with the results.
    – spaceman
    Mar 23, 2021 at 20:24

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