Custom Recovery image on Windows 8

I

ibysmalls

New Member
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Hi all.

I have about 10 windows 8.1 machines (and more to come later). They come brand new with also a built in recovery image to restore back to "factory".

My aim is to re-brand these 10, so editing the registry for my own Brand Name and Model, with some custom Software on such as Avira Anti-virus etc.

What I do when I sell one is I go into sysprep mode, do all my installing of software and registry edits for custom manufacturer information then ship it out however if my customer decides to restore it back to factory using the built in Image then all my work is lost.

What I want to do is replace the built in factory image when accessed through Troubleshooting mode with that of the custom one with all my software pre-installed.

Would anyone like to point out the steps needed to do this?

Furthermore, Secondly regarding making this efficient on all other PCs. I guess I can amke a full image on a USB drive that would copy each secor of the drive and then clone it to another machine when wanting to ship it out ...... or suggest any other method?

Any help would be appreciated.

Regards
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
What I do when I sell one is I go into sysprep mode, do all my installing of software and registry edits for custom manufacturer information then ship it out
Click to expand...

After you make your edits to the PC in audit mode
You need to re-capture the windows partition into a new Install.wim
then replace the factory install.wim contained in to recovery image partition with your New install.wim
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
I've been wondering this too. So basically if you replace the factory's install.wim with your install.wim you can use for example the Dell recovery environment to restore your OS to factory? That would be really useful for my clients and me.

KYHI could you elaborate on capturing your drive as an install.wim? I currently do it with Macrium reflect but that isn't the most automated process for end user recovery.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self build (Desktop) / Dell (Laptop)
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 4690k (Desktop) / Intel Core i7 5500u (Laptop)
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z97 (Desktop) / Dell (Laptop)
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 (Desktop) / 16GB DDR3L (laptop)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 (Desktop) / AMD R7 M270 (Laptop)
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP Pavilion 27bw
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 (Desktop) / 3840x2160 (Laptop)
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 120GB
    WD Black 500GB
    WD Blue 1TB
    (Desktop)
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB (Laptop)
    PSU
    Corsair 750w
    Case
    Ultra atx
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink
    Keyboard
    Razer Black Widow
    Mouse
    Roccat Kone XTD
    Internet Speed
    250Mbps Down / 20Mbps Up
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    ESET
How do you "replace the factory install.wim contained in to recovery image partition"? I can't assign a drive letter to mine, not one of the available options, at least not from Disk Management.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
Doesn't work for me. I was able to assign a drive letter to Volume 5 (R as you used) but it doesn't show in Windows Explorer or Disk Management with a letter and a dir r: gets a device not ready message. Fs shows as RAW, not NTFS.

Code: 
C:\WINDOWS\system32>diskpart

Microsoft DiskPart version 6.3.9600

Copyright (C) 1999-2013 Microsoft Corporation.
On computer: DESKTOP

DISKPART> list vol

  Volume ###  Ltr  Label        Fs     Type        Size     Status     Info
  ----------  ---  -----------  -----  ----------  -------  ---------  --------
  Volume 0     K                       DVD-ROM         0 B  No Media
  Volume 1     C   Lenovo_C     NTFS   Partition    206 GB  Healthy    Boot
  Volume 2                      RAW    Partition   1000 MB  Healthy    Hidden
  Volume 3         SYSTEM_DRV   FAT32  Partition    260 MB  Healthy    System
  Volume 4                      RAW    Partition    450 MB  Healthy    Hidden
  Volume 5                      RAW    Partition     24 GB  Healthy    Hidden
  Volume 6     D   Lenovo_D     NTFS   Partition    732 GB  Healthy
  Volume 7     E   Lenovo_E     NTFS   Partition    732 GB  Healthy
  Volume 8     F   Lenovo_F     NTFS   Partition    398 GB  Healthy
  Volume 9     G   Lenovo_G     NTFS   Partition    698 GB  Healthy
  Volume 10    H   Lenovo_H     NTFS   Partition    698 GB  Healthy    Pagefile
  Volume 11    I                       Removable       0 B  No Media

DISKPART> sel vol 5

Volume 5 is the selected volume.

DISKPART> assign letter=r

DiskPart successfully assigned the drive letter or mount point.

DISKPART> list vol

  Volume ###  Ltr  Label        Fs     Type        Size     Status     Info
  ----------  ---  -----------  -----  ----------  -------  ---------  --------
  Volume 0     K                       DVD-ROM         0 B  No Media
  Volume 1     C   Lenovo_C     NTFS   Partition    206 GB  Healthy    Boot
  Volume 2                      RAW    Partition   1000 MB  Healthy    Hidden
  Volume 3         SYSTEM_DRV   FAT32  Partition    260 MB  Healthy    System
  Volume 4                      RAW    Partition    450 MB  Healthy    Hidden
* Volume 5     R                RAW    Partition     24 GB  Healthy    Hidden
  Volume 6     D   Lenovo_D     NTFS   Partition    732 GB  Healthy
  Volume 7     E   Lenovo_E     NTFS   Partition    732 GB  Healthy
  Volume 8     F   Lenovo_F     NTFS   Partition    398 GB  Healthy
  Volume 9     G   Lenovo_G     NTFS   Partition    698 GB  Healthy
  Volume 10    H   Lenovo_H     NTFS   Partition    698 GB  Healthy    Pagefile
  Volume 11    I                       Removable       0 B  No Media

DISKPART> exit

C:\WINDOWS\system32>dir r:
The device is not ready.
Click to expand...

NoLetter.jpg
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
as partition 2, 4 and 5 are not formatted partitions
may want to try and use data recovery software to see is any data exists on the partition before re-formatting

diskpart
select disk 0
list partition

post pic
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
The 24Gb partition is the Recovery Partition or it was. I think the computer came with Windows 8.1 Home and I upgraded to Pro with the Pro Pack. I'll never use the recovery partition so I can do anything I want with it.

I'll post the info you asked for when I get home, thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
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