Windows 8 basic recovery ?'s for a noob Windows 8 user

marklyn

New Member
Messages
28
Location
Austin, Texas
I have a few recovery questions for which I was unable to find specific answers to in the forum, but I did try to look first.
1) Is the recovery partition on my new Asus laptop a static recovery image which basically contains the OEM's Windows 8 installation? In other words, something that never changes?
2) If I make a USB bootable recovery drive with the OEM recovery partition copied to it, this means that I have two recovery options (one on the hard disk and one on the USB stick). Is this correct?
3) Regarding question #2, is the option to create a recovery drive on a USB drive (with OEM recovery partition) just a redundant measure in case the hard drive fails?
4) If I make a recovery option on a USB stick, with OEM partition copied, and test it, can I remove the recovery partition on my hard drive and gain the space back?
5) Is there a way to create a customized recovery partition with specific settings or configurations in place of the OEM recovery partition area? (I think I'd have to use a 3rd party imaging tool for this?
6) Exactly what partitions are restored to when doing a full recovery option (reset)?
7) I tested a full recovery restore last night from my USB stick and it took a very long time (hours?). Can I assume that if I do a recovery (reset) from the partition on my hard drive it will be much faster?

That's it. Thanks!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus X202E Laptop
    CPU
    Intel Core i3-3217U 1.80 GHz
    Memory
    4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4000 with shared graphics memory
    Screen Resolution
    11.6 in LED-backlit TFT LCD (1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    500 GB SATA 5400 RPM
    soon to be Samsung 840 series 250 Gb SSD
    Other Info
    USB 3.0 • 2 USB 2.0 • HDMI • Headphone output/Microphone input combo
    802.11b/g/n
Hello again marklyn,

I see you bailed out of that other post and started a new thread here; eh? So, did you ever figure out why you don't have the ability to "create a system image" in control panel? Anyway, I certainly can't untangle your myriad of questions and provide you with a specific direction because I'm not really sure where you want to end up with this whole thing; however, I can suggest that you need to provide a screenshot of disk management (as previously requested) so maybe someone else can help you from there. However, it really seems like you are heading for trouble with all that you are trying to do so, with that said, I would strongly recommend backing up whatever you have now and then doing a clean legacy or uefi Win 8 install. Once done, you can use a 3rd party software (eg, Macrium Reflect Free) to backup/restore system images as required. Good luck in whatever decisions you may make and I hope somebody can answer all your questions.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro Windows 8.1 Preview
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
I'm not necessarily doing anything that I'm asking questions about. I'm only asking because I want to better understand the recovery process and how it works in more detail. There is so much information on the net these days, some of which provided me some answers, but it can take hours to find answers to specific questions I posed.
Regarding the screenshot from the other post: I didn't do it yet because last night I started a USB recovery (to see how it works) but it took longer than I could keep my eyes open, so I went to bed.

If I'm doing something wrong by asking so many questions at once, someone please let me know the proper way to do it. I'm only asking what I don't understand because I couldn't find the answer(s) myself.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus X202E Laptop
    CPU
    Intel Core i3-3217U 1.80 GHz
    Memory
    4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4000 with shared graphics memory
    Screen Resolution
    11.6 in LED-backlit TFT LCD (1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    500 GB SATA 5400 RPM
    soon to be Samsung 840 series 250 Gb SSD
    Other Info
    USB 3.0 • 2 USB 2.0 • HDMI • Headphone output/Microphone input combo
    802.11b/g/n
Hello again marklyn,

I see you bailed out of that other post and started a new thread here; eh? So, did you ever figure out why you don't have the ability to "create a system image" in control panel? Anyway, I certainly can't untangle your myriad of questions and provide you with a specific direction because I'm not really sure where you want to end up with this whole thing; however, I can suggest that you need to provide a screenshot of disk management (as previously requested) so maybe someone else can help you from there. However, it really seems like you are heading for trouble with all that you are trying to do so, with that said, I would strongly recommend backing up whatever you have now and then doing a clean legacy or uefi Win 8 install. Once done, you can use a 3rd party software (eg, Macrium Reflect Free) to backup/restore system images as required. Good luck in whatever decisions you may make and I hope somebody can answer all your questions.

JustATest, you do understand that I'm asking about recovery here, not the system imaging from the previous post? I consider these two different, but similar, questions.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus X202E Laptop
    CPU
    Intel Core i3-3217U 1.80 GHz
    Memory
    4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4000 with shared graphics memory
    Screen Resolution
    11.6 in LED-backlit TFT LCD (1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    500 GB SATA 5400 RPM
    soon to be Samsung 840 series 250 Gb SSD
    Other Info
    USB 3.0 • 2 USB 2.0 • HDMI • Headphone output/Microphone input combo
    802.11b/g/n
Hi marklyn,

You are not doing anything wrong by asking many questions and maybe someone will answer them all so hang in there and see if anyone can help you. However, I think a better way of educating yourself is to simply show the forum experts what your configuration is now (disk management screenshot) and then simply explain where you want to end up. The experts will fill in all the "in-betweens" for you and you'll get to where you want to go safely. But right now, anyone that attempts to answer all of those questions (without great detail) might lead you to make an incorrect assumption and you could end up garbaging your system to the point of non-recovery. Remember, you said you were a "noob"; yes?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro Windows 8.1 Preview
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
3) Regarding question #2, is the option to create a recovery drive on a USB drive (with OEM recovery partition) just a redundant measure in case the hard drive fails?

No, you need the Recovery DVD's, a Windows system image, or a 3rd party system image.


my new Asus laptop

How to order recovery DVD:
Essentio Recovery Software
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
I have a few recovery questions for which I was unable to find specific answers to in the forum, but I did try to look first.
1) Is the recovery partition on my new Asus laptop a static recovery image which basically contains the OEM's Windows 8 installation? In other words, something that never changes?
2) If I make a USB bootable recovery drive with the OEM recovery partition copied to it, this means that I have two recovery options (one on the hard disk and one on the USB stick). Is this correct?
3) Regarding question #2, is the option to create a recovery drive on a USB drive (with OEM recovery partition) just a redundant measure in case the hard drive fails?
4) If I make a recovery option on a USB stick, with OEM partition copied, and test it, can I remove the recovery partition on my hard drive and gain the space back?
5) Is there a way to create a customized recovery partition with specific settings or configurations in place of the OEM recovery partition area? (I think I'd have to use a 3rd party imaging tool for this?
6) Exactly what partitions are restored to when doing a full recovery option (reset)?
7) I tested a full recovery restore last night from my USB stick and it took a very long time (hours?). Can I assume that if I do a recovery (reset) from the partition on my hard drive it will be much faster?

That's it. Thanks!

Hi Marklyn, i'm not a guru so take this with a grain of salt
but i try to answer or give you some suggestions to refine your search...
First any pc is different and ASUS sells lots of machines ...

1) i would refer to the laptop manual/s
2) most likely yes but also see 1)
3) most likely yes but is also very recommended and also see 1)
4) yes but i think it is not recommended, better to buy an external drive if you need more space
5) most likely yes but it would be so risky (for the integrity of your OS) and diffic0ult that it does not make sense to me, but also see 1)
6) i would refer to the laptop manual/s
7) Yes you can assume it

hope this helps,
Roy.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 pro Windows 8 pro Windows 7 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Hello again marklyn,

I see you bailed out of that other post and started a new thread here; eh? So, did you ever figure out why you don't have the ability to "create a system image" in control panel? Anyway, I certainly can't untangle your myriad of questions and provide you with a specific direction because I'm not really sure where you want to end up with this whole thing; however, I can suggest that you need to provide a screenshot of disk management (as previously requested) so maybe someone else can help you from there. However, it really seems like you are heading for trouble with all that you are trying to do so, with that said, I would strongly recommend backing up whatever you have now and then doing a clean legacy or uefi Win 8 install. Once done, you can use a 3rd party software (eg, Macrium Reflect Free) to backup/restore system images as required. Good luck in whatever decisions you may make and I hope somebody can answer all your questions.

JustATest, you do understand that I'm asking about recovery here, not the system imaging from the previous post? I consider these two different, but similar, questions.

That is clearly understood. OK, so some answers are starting to roll in. Now, see if you can get to where you want to go (wherever that may be). Good luck.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro Windows 8.1 Preview
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
3) Regarding question #2, is the option to create a recovery drive on a USB drive (with OEM recovery partition) just a redundant measure in case the hard drive fails?

No, you need the Recovery DVD's, a Windows system image, or a 3rd party system image.

I thought if I made a recovery on a USB flash drive and copied the OEM recovery partition, it copied everything over to the flash drive. My 16Gb flash drive was almost full when I did this. I guess I was wrong on that.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus X202E Laptop
    CPU
    Intel Core i3-3217U 1.80 GHz
    Memory
    4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4000 with shared graphics memory
    Screen Resolution
    11.6 in LED-backlit TFT LCD (1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    500 GB SATA 5400 RPM
    soon to be Samsung 840 series 250 Gb SSD
    Other Info
    USB 3.0 • 2 USB 2.0 • HDMI • Headphone output/Microphone input combo
    802.11b/g/n
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