System Recovery

Wynona

Active Member
Pro User
Messages
948
Location
Texas
When I first got this PC, I made the Recovery DVDs as instructed. Now, I want to make a Recovery Flash Drive, but HP only allows creation of one Recovery item.

Is there a way to create a Recovery flash drive after I've already made DVDs?

Help?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion 500-056
    CPU
    AMD Elite Quad-Core A8-6500
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 8570D
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 23"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wave K350
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    Fast
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Hi Wynona,

Are you just looking for a standard Windows 8/8.1 recovery drive? If so, do you have this option available to create a recovery drive?

Screenshot (45).png

Or do you want to copy your full OEM recovery DVD to USB?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel G2020
    Motherboard
    ASRock B75M-DGS R2.0
    Memory
    8GBs @ 1333 MHz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 EVO
    PSU
    400w
    Internet Speed
    57/11
Thanks, my2cents, I'll try that. Back in a few to report. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion 500-056
    CPU
    AMD Elite Quad-Core A8-6500
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 8570D
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 23"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wave K350
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    Fast
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Okey Dokey . . . obviously I've been reading things like I wanted to see them instead of how they are.

When I started to produce the recovery flash drive, it wanted 32 GB, and I don't seem to have one of those. :( So, it seems that I'll just keep the recovery disks created from HP and be done with it. Sigh . . .

Thanks anyway, guy. Much appreciated.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion 500-056
    CPU
    AMD Elite Quad-Core A8-6500
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 8570D
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 23"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wave K350
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    Fast
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
That may be since you have an OEM partition arrangement. However, I just have the standard Win 8.1 recovery partition and it only requires my USB drive to be 512kb:

Screenshot (46).png

However, your testing has proven that the creation and size of the recovery drive is directly related to the size of the recovery partition. Sorry, it didn't work for you.

my2cents
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel G2020
    Motherboard
    ASRock B75M-DGS R2.0
    Memory
    8GBs @ 1333 MHz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 EVO
    PSU
    400w
    Internet Speed
    57/11
You can UNCLICK copy Recovery Partition, to make the Repair only USB Drive.
 

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
How many dvd's did it use?

They hold over 4gb each, so probably a few. Manufacturer images can be fairly large, filled with bloatware. I got a sony image to look at. Huge amount of junk in there. Just out of interest, I installed the Sony image on my machine, and spent a little while getting rid of the bloat.

It is a good idea to make a copy of your recovery dvds, in case they get damaged or lost. USB is probably the easiest thing to put it on.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
You can UNCLICK copy Recovery Partition, to make the Repair only USB Drive.

@Theog

That's good information. Do you only get that option when you have an OEM partition?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel G2020
    Motherboard
    ASRock B75M-DGS R2.0
    Memory
    8GBs @ 1333 MHz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 EVO
    PSU
    400w
    Internet Speed
    57/11
Found this on google, worked for me, since I can't find my dvd's that I had made, I used this below and was able to run it again on a 32g usb.

using this will allow you to make the dvd's or the usb anytime you want.

from command prompt (admin)

attrib -h -s C:\ProgramData\Hewlett-Packard\Recovery\hpdrcu.prc
attrib -h -s C:\Users\Hewlett-Packard\Recovery\hpdrcu.prc

recovery image drive (Mine is on R not D, so change the D below to match yours)
attrib -h -s D:\hpdrcu.prc

ren C:\ProgramData\Hewlett-Packard\Recovery\hpdrcu.prc hpdrcu.prcbak
ren C:\Users\Hewlett-Packard\Recovery\hpdrcu.prc hpdrcu.prcbak

recovery image drive (Mine is on R not D, so change the D below to match yours)
ren D:\hpdrcu.prc hpdrcu.prcbak
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy H8-1534
    CPU
    AMD FX(tm)-6350 Six-Core Processor
    Motherboard
    M3970AM-HP
    Memory
    10GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 7500 Series
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device
That has been a round a long time. Not sure why HP and others bother with it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Thanks for that Thoeg! Since I have had a limited exposure to OEM setups, I did not know that option even existed because I always wipe em' clean right after I make the factory recovery discs.

my2cents
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel G2020
    Motherboard
    ASRock B75M-DGS R2.0
    Memory
    8GBs @ 1333 MHz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 EVO
    PSU
    400w
    Internet Speed
    57/11
I don't have an oem recovery partition, It works ok for me.

It is very easy, similar to windows 7. Just register a folder containing an install.wim, then you get the option.

If you haven't got an install.wim , you can make one of those customrefresh.wim things, rename it to install.wim , then register the folder it is in . The trouble with those customrefresh things is they have big chunks missing, you can't do proper clean install with it. You also have to tell 8/8.1winre the image number, win7 is cleverer than that, it can figure it out all by itself.


You can UNCLICK copy Recovery Partition, to make the Repair only USB Drive.

@Theog

That's good information. Do you only get that option when you have an OEM partition?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
I don't have an oem recovery partition, It works ok for me.

Neither do I and it works for me too as I suggested in my original post so am I missing something else? The only difference I noticed was I did not have the untick option that Thoeg suggested and I assumed that optiion was not available/necessary because I did not have an OEM structure. So, if you are finding something different, could you please explain a bit further because I have already learned one new thing here so why not learn something else new as well?

Thanks,

my2cents
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel G2020
    Motherboard
    ASRock B75M-DGS R2.0
    Memory
    8GBs @ 1333 MHz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 EVO
    PSU
    400w
    Internet Speed
    57/11
If you don't get the option to add recov partition ( coz you haven't got one ), you can use any install.wim. If you had the full install.wim ( or install.swm , or Install.esd - it accepts any of those ), then you wouldn't need to do this because you have the proper installl media. If you haven't got that, you can trick it.

e.g. at admin command prompt:

md d:\myimage
recimg -createimage d:\myimage
(takes a while )
ren d:\myimage\customrefresh.wim install.wim
reagentc /setosimage /path d:\myimage /index 1 /target C:\Windows
reagentc /enable
recoverydrive

The snag there is the customrefresh thing is incomplete , you can't do a proper install with, only that very limited refresh thing.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
If you don't get the option to add recov partition ( coz you haven't got one ), you can use any install.wim
e.g. at admin command prompt:

md d:\myimage
recimg -createimage d:\myimage
(takes a while )
ren d:\myimage\customrefresh.wim install.wim
reagentc /setosimage /path d:\myimage /index 1 /target C:\Windows
reagentc /enable
recoverydrive

Oh OK, I now see that your response was targeted at a different response; however, it generically seemed to apply to mine as well and that is why I asked so thank you for that clarification.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel G2020
    Motherboard
    ASRock B75M-DGS R2.0
    Memory
    8GBs @ 1333 MHz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 EVO
    PSU
    400w
    Internet Speed
    57/11
The windows 7 version is excellent. Simplest is to copy the dvd/iso contents onto a partition. The command is

reagentc /setosimage /path <install.wim_directory> /target <windows_directory>

eg. reagentc /setosimage /path d:\sources /target c:\windows

You get a number options

1) run setup.exe from the hard drive for a repair install.

OR

2) Boot winre (F8 key) and you have the additional option to install unattended from the image on your HD.

2013-11-03_193234.jpg



OR

3) Boot winre from F8 then run setup for the full range of installation choices.

2013-11-03_193342.jpg

2013-11-03_193428.jpg

2013-11-03_193553.jpg

2013-11-03_193650.jpg


OR

4) Boot up win7 recovery cd and you can still do option 3 above.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
When I first got this PC, I made the Recovery DVDs as instructed. Now, I want to make a Recovery Flash Drive, but HP only allows creation of one Recovery item.

Is there a way to create a Recovery flash drive after I've already made DVDs?

Help?

I want to say thanks to everyone who responded. Seems as how it's a moot point now, since the computer will be off to the HP hospital in a couple of days. I found that I could use the Recovery Manager from within Windows, so I tried that first. It didn't work. Then I had to use the Recovery Disks, but Recovery would get to the third disk/57% and then I was told Recovery Manager couldn't restore my computer using the factory image. By the time I went to HP with the problem, UEFI bios couldn't find the hard drive nor the DVD drive!

She's under warranty until October 2014, so I entered chat with the HP tech(s) and they couldn't help me online. They initiated a service order and are sending me the box and packing to return the computer to HP for repair. Looks like I'll get it back restored to the original factory settings.

There's a lot I don't understand about what happened . . . I am thinking there's some kind of issue with that particular system if you try to restore it to factory settings, but then who am I . . .

Welp, I can tell ya that I've built my own systems since around 1990, built several for others, repaired I don't know how many, and I've never had a system eat my lunch like that li'l ole HP did!

I will say, though, that I got good service and the repair won't cost me a dime, just a couple of weeks between UPS bringing me a box, sending it to HP, 6 to 9 days for repair and then the return. Yeh, a couple weeks if I'm quite lucky.

It's been an experience, to say the least!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion 500-056
    CPU
    AMD Elite Quad-Core A8-6500
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 8570D
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 23"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wave K350
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    Fast
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Found this on google, worked for me, since I can't find my dvd's that I had made, I used this below and was able to run it again on a 32g usb.

using this will allow you to make the dvd's or the usb anytime you want.

from command prompt (admin)

attrib -h -s C:\ProgramData\Hewlett-Packard\Recovery\hpdrcu.prc
attrib -h -s C:\Users\Hewlett-Packard\Recovery\hpdrcu.prc

recovery image drive (Mine is on R not D, so change the D below to match yours)
attrib -h -s D:\hpdrcu.prc

ren C:\ProgramData\Hewlett-Packard\Recovery\hpdrcu.prc hpdrcu.prcbak
ren C:\Users\Hewlett-Packard\Recovery\hpdrcu.prc hpdrcu.prcbak

recovery image drive (Mine is on R not D, so change the D below to match yours)
ren D:\hpdrcu.prc hpdrcu.prcbak

Thank you, Sunnova! I think it stinks that HP only permits a one-time Recovery DVD set. After all, everybody loses something once-in-awhile. I'll file this one away for future reference . . . when I get my computer back.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion 500-056
    CPU
    AMD Elite Quad-Core A8-6500
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 8570D
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 23"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wave K350
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    Fast
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Very welcome Wynona, hope all goes well with the system repair.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy H8-1534
    CPU
    AMD FX(tm)-6350 Six-Core Processor
    Motherboard
    M3970AM-HP
    Memory
    10GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 7500 Series
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device
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