Solved Cloned SSD can't perform reset to factory defaults

[vmercadojr]

Hello Guys. My toshiba satellite P875-S7310 has the original 750GB HDD with original windows 8 installed. I can reset it to fresh factory default setting without any issues. However when I cloned the entire HDD 750GB using EaseUS Todo Backup to SDD 450GB, the windows 8 runs smoothly without issues except that I can't perform reset to factory default setting of the system. The system says there's no required participation available in the disk to make the necessary resetting. I wonder if that's due to capacity issues. Source is HDD750GB to target SDD 480GB. what shall I do to make my cloned SSD to perform full factory default reset?

 

[RolandJS]

How much free byte-space is there on this SSD? I'm suspecting the factory reset takes some free space that is no longer available. And, Windows needs at least 15-20% free byte-space just for its normal day to day operations.

 

[vmercadojr]

There's a lot of space. Maybe 400gb plus more. I think since it's a cloned, maybe the he blank space is also copied so the free space became locked as unallocated.

 

[TrustMe]

I had the same problem with my Dell when I installed a smaller SSD. When I tried to do a factory restore, I received an error message stating the hard drive was to small. I believe new hard drive has to be the same size or larger than the original.

 

[fireberd]

When you cloned the drive, did you just clone the "C" drive or entire drive (all partitions)? If you didn't do all partitions that could be the reason. Some factory restore procedures will not run if the boot record has been changed and that is probably the case with a different drive.

Best option is not to clone but to do a full disc image (backup) of the entire drive to a separate drive and then do a restore to the new drive, which will restore all partitions. When I got an SSD and tried to clone using the included Clone program with the Samsung SSD on Win 8.1 it failed. I tried the Macrium Reflect clone and it too failed. I tried another clone program and it also failed. I did a full drive image with Macrium and then restored and Win 8.1 booted and worked perfectly with the new SSD.

 

[KYHI]

Within the Restore Partition there is a Sources Folder and within that folder is a file that dictates the minimum Disk size..
Resetconfig.xml > it is used to reset the needed partitions.. You Must edit that File with Notepad..

<SystemDisk>
<DiskpartScriptPath>$PBR_Diskpart.txt</DiskpartScriptPath>
<MinSize>28329</MinSize>
<WindowsREPartition>1</WindowsREPartition>
<WindowsREPath>Recovery\WindowsRE</WindowsREPath>
<OSPartition>4</OSPartition>
<RecoveryImagePartition>5</RecoveryImagePartition>
<RecoveryImagePath>RecoveryImage</RecoveryImagePath>
<RestoreFromIndex>1</RestoreFromIndex>
<RecoveryImageIndex>1</RecoveryImageIndex>
<WIMBoot>0</Wimboot>

The MinSize above will allow the use of a 32GB SSD
Problem is your file is currently configured to use a bigger HDD then the one currently installed...
Editting that file to the smallest MinSize will allow recovery to Any Size Drive

 

[KYHI]

The best way would be to create a Recovery Drive to a USB stick from within the current OS...
Edit the File that is Now contained within the folder on the usb..
Then Boot from the Recovery Media and Reset the PC

 

[vmercadojr]

I cloned all partitions. I tried at least 5 clonings but all failed. Luckily, I found a set of recovery disks(3dvds) from my previous Toshiba Satellite P875-S7310. It's a different computer but same model. It works and I can reset to factory default. Now my question is, will it not give me issues since I installed and ran a recovery disks created from separate computer but same model?

 

[TrustMe]

Within the Restore Partition there is a Sources Folder and within that folder is a file that dictates the minimum Disk size..
Resetconfig.xml > it is used to reset the needed partitions.. You Must edit that File with Notepad..

<SystemDisk>
<DiskpartScriptPath>$PBR_Diskpart.txt</DiskpartScriptPath>
<MinSize>28329</MinSize>
<WindowsREPartition>1</WindowsREPartition>
<WindowsREPath>Recovery\WindowsRE</WindowsREPath>
<OSPartition>4</OSPartition>
<RecoveryImagePartition>5</RecoveryImagePartition>
<RecoveryImagePath>RecoveryImage</RecoveryImagePath>
<RestoreFromIndex>1</RestoreFromIndex>
<RecoveryImageIndex>1</RecoveryImageIndex>
<WIMBoot>0</Wimboot>

The MinSize above will allow the use of a 32GB SSD
Problem is your file is currently configured to use a bigger HDD then the one currently installed...
Editting that file to the smallest MinSize will allow recovery to Any Size Drive

Thanks KYHI,
This worked great!

 

[vmercadojr]

Thanks to all advices. I appreciated it. I solved the issues by wiping out the entire SSD then formatted it. I then installed the recovery Disks(3dvds) of my previous toshiba laptop but same model. Thanks to all.