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BenjaminLiu's avatar
BenjaminLiu
Iron Contributor
Nov 04, 2026

Why can't I get into recovery or startup settings after running reagentc commands?

Why does my PC go straight to a screen showing error 0xc0000098 whenever I try F1 or F8, and why does F1 just flash for a second while F8 reboots me right back to the same screen? This started after I followed a Microsoft thread suggestion to run reagentc /info and reagentc /enable in Command Prompt because the Reset This PC option wasn't showing up under Recovery → Troubleshoot.

The only thing I can still access is the BIOS, and I also have a virus that makes the screen go black about a minute after startup, so I really need to get back into recovery. Is there a way to rebuild the recovery environment from a USB, or do I need to fix the boot configuration first before the F1 and F8 options will work again?

 

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1 Reply

  • Jason_M's avatar
    Jason_M
    Iron Contributor
    Nov 04, 2026

    You can boot recovery tools from a Windows installation USB without first repairing the internal boot configuration. F1 and F8 still rely on components on the internal drive, which explains why they can return to the same failure.

    Your screenshot identifies winload.efi and error 0xc0000098. That points to a boot-loading problem, but doesn’t prove that reagentc caused it. /info only displays information; /enable enables Windows Recovery Environment—it doesn’t repair damaged boot files.

    1. On another working PC, create an official Windows installation USB using Microsoft’s download tools. Creating it erases the USB.
    2. Boot the affected PC from the USB’s UEFI entry in its boot menu.
    3. Choose Repair your computer, then Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair.

    If repair fails, back up important files before attempting manual boot repair or reinstalling. Have your BitLocker recovery key ready if encryption is enabled. Don’t run generic partition-formatting or BCD commands without identifying the Windows and EFI partitions first.

    A black screen alone doesn’t confirm a virus. If malware is confirmed, repairing startup won’t necessarily remove it; a clean installation from trusted media is the safer recovery route after backing up your documents.