shift restart options not working

Check whether Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) is enabled; if it is disabled, enabling it should restore the Advanced options recovery menu.

Check and enable WinRE

1. In Windows 10, open Start, type Command Prompt, right-click it, and select Run as administrator.
2. Run:

reagentc.exe /info

3. Look for Windows RE status:
   • If it says Disabled, run:

reagentc.exe /enable
reagentc.exe /info

• The second command should now report Windows RE status: Enabled. Microsoft documents /info for displaying WinRE status and /enable for enabling its recovery image.^1^

4. Restart into recovery without repeating Shift+Restart:

reagentc.exe /boottore
shutdown /r /t 0

/boottore instructs Windows to enter WinRE on the next startup.^1^

The expected path is Choose an option > Troubleshoot > Advanced options. WinRE normally includes Startup Repair, Startup Settings, Command Prompt, Uninstall Updates, UEFI Firmware Settings, and other recovery tools.^2^

If WinRE is enabled but Advanced options is still missing

Try Windows 10’s Settings entry point:

1. Open Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
2. Under Advanced startup, select Restart now.^2^
3. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options.

If Windows does not start normally, invoke Automatic Repair:

1. Turn on the PC and wait for the Windows or manufacturer logo.
2. Hold the power button until it shuts down.
3. Repeat that interruption once.
4. Start the PC a third time.
5. At Automatic Repair, select Advanced options.^2^

Forced shutdown can cause unsaved-data loss, so use this only when the normal Windows methods are unavailable.

If enabling WinRE fails or the menu remains incomplete

The recovery image or its configuration may require repair; the error message from reagentc.exe /enable is needed to determine the appropriate repair. Avoid changing recovery partitions manually without a backup.

As the safe fallback, use Windows installation media:

1. On another working PC, use Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool to create a bootable Windows USB.
2. Boot the affected PC from that USB.
3. On the initial setup screen, choose the language and select Next.
4. Select Repair my PC rather than Install now.
5. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options.^2^

Have the BitLocker recovery key available if the device is encrypted, because some recovery tools require it. Also note that Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025; after recovery, move to Windows 11 if the PC supports it.^2^

References

1. REAgentC command-line options
2. Windows recovery environment | Microsoft Support