Skip to content

feat: enable Quick Machine Recovery (reagentc) in the online post-install path #10

Description

@DevSecNinja

What

Add a post-install step to enable Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) on Windows 11 24H2+ (cloud
remediation + auto remediation), since it is OFF by default on managed/business-defaulted machines.

Why

QMR lets an unbootable machine boot into WinRE, connect, and pull a remediation from Windows Update
automatically (the post-CrowdStrike "recover fleets without a tech" feature). Low-risk safety net;
worth enabling on an opinionated build.

Why it is not a plain catalog entry

QMR has no single registry value — it is configured via reagentc.exe /setrecoverysettings
with an XML payload, against the live WinRE and requires elevation. So it cannot be baked into
the offline image cleanly; it belongs in the elevated online post-install path.

Proposed approach

  • Add a private, mockable seam wrapping reagentc.exe (/setrecoverysettings /path <xml>,
    /getrecoverysettings, /enable).
  • Generate the WinRE XML enabling CloudRemediation state="1" and AutoRemediation state="1"
    (one-time scan by default; make the retry interval/looped scan configurable).
  • Expose as an opt-in switch/flag on Invoke-PostInstallSetup / post-install.ps1
    (e.g. -EnableQuickMachineRecovery), default off.
  • Idempotent (read current settings via /getrecoverysettings first), -WhatIf previews the XML
    without applying, elevation required.
  • Optionally support Wi-Fi credentials block only if a use case needs it (wired/WPA2 only per docs).
  • Tests mock the reagentc seam (already-enabled → AlreadyApplied; disabled → Applied; preview).

References

Activity

Sign up for free to join this conversation on GitHub. Already have an account? Sign in to comment

Metadata

Metadata

Assignees

No one assigned

    Labels

    enhancementNew feature or request

    Projects

    No projects

      Milestone

      No milestone

      Relationships

      None yet

      Development

      No branches or pull requests

      Issue actions