Creating Recovery disk for refurbished ASUS laptop

[oz1222]

HI - I have an ASUS X550LA laptop that I purchased refurbished. The laptop has windows 8.1. It came with a note saying that because the hard drive had to be completely wiped, the recovery partition was also wiped. It says the ASUS recovery disk creation process no longer works. With that said, is there another way I can create a recovery disk/USB i can use should my computer go Ka-put?

Jason

 

[SIW2]

Yes, get an istallation iso same edition and bit version.

Export the drivers of your current system.

Integrate the drivers into install.wim and boot.wim image 2 of your installation iso.

Alternatively, use an imaging program to make a backup of your entire system - probabaly simpler for you, quicker, too.

I recommend Aomei Backupper Free Download AOMEI Backupper Standard: Windows Backup & Cloning Software

 

[oz1222]

If I were to use the "backup image" utility that windows 8 has, and save it to my external hard drive, would that suffice to restore my computer should it crash? Ive heard others mention that if their computer would not load or is stuck on a black screen, they would have to load the computer with the recovery disk in it. How would that work in my scenario with the backup on an external hard drive?

 

[CountMike]

If you use that AOMEI or other backup and cloning SW Like "Macrujm Reflect" and make full disk backup, you would not need that recovery partition at all. Those programs make an absolute copy of disk (on an external drive) and with a boot CD or USB memory, you boot of it and show the program where that backup is. It gets you right to the point you made a backup. With that kind of SW you can make incremental backups or new ones at any time. Those programs also use compression so backups end up even smaller in size than original size on disk.
For instance, I made a backup of my BOOT, system SSD when windows were just installed, virgin system you may call it. Every month or so I make a full backup of the disk to replace earlier backup. That way I can get by without reinstalling Windows and associated hassle with registering or having to reinstall programs etc. It's usually faster than reinstalling anyway.

 

[oz1222]

That is very helpful, thank you. One more question; If my computer did not come with a boot cd and/or usb drive, is there a way for me to make one?

 

[CountMike]

That is very helpful, thank you. One more question; If my computer did not come with a boot cd and/or usb drive, is there a way for me to make one?

There are ready made ones but you can easily make one if you have a spare HDD or CD/DVD drive by using an USB adapter, something like this: Amazon.com: USB 2.0 to SATA + IDE (2.5 / 3.5 / 5.25") Cable Adapter: Computers & Accessories

 

[oz1222]

That last reply is a bit over my head. What would that adaptor do? Is that a recovery Device?

 

[CountMike]

That last reply is a bit over my head. What would that adaptor do? Is that a recovery Device?

Adapter like that would let you connect any hard disk or CD/DVD that is SATA or PATA (2.5" or 3.5") device to computer via USB interface and that way you can use them outside computer almost (a bit slower) as it was installed inside. You don't even have to turn computer off and on for it to be recognized and usable. Perfect for backups and keeping assorted files. I have one like that and more than 10 HDDs and CD/DVDs and use them when necessary.

 

[oz1222]

Ummmmm. In words a 3 year old would understand....Soo, I have an "image backup" saved to my external hard drive. My computer goes black and won't load.... What is next?

 

[CountMike]

Ummmmm. In words a 3 year old would understand....Soo, I have an "image backup" saved to my external hard drive. My computer goes black and won't load.... What is next?

You BOOT of a CD or USB prepared by Macrium Reflect (for instance), navigate to that image on external drive and push a button called "Restore", and after 15 - 30 minutes you have your computer running exactly same as at the time backup was made. (providing of course that computer didn't go up in smoke).

 

[oz1222]

So, I cannot boot with the external hard drive connected via USB (with the system image saved somewhere on it of course) to have it start? I need to have a separate USB drive or CD that allows the computer to start, THEN I connect the external hard drive to restore the "system image"?

 

[CountMike]

So, I cannot boot with the external hard drive connected via USB (with the system image saved somewhere on it of course) to have it start? I need to have a separate USB drive or CD that allows the computer to start, THEN I connect the external hard drive to restore the "system image"?

Yeah, that's it. Backup image is whole disk (partitions and everything) stuck in one file.

 

[oz1222]

Ok, so where would I get a Boot CD or USB?

 

[oz1222]

Or can I make one?

 

[CountMike]

Or can I make one?

You make one with Macrium Reflect program. There is a free version good enough for what you need. Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download

 

[oz1222]

I think I got it. Thanks! Sorry for my ignorance.

 

[CountMike]

I think I got it. Thanks! Sorry for my ignorance.

Reflect is my choice, feel free to check other similar programs. AOMEI and Acronis are in that niche too.

 

[adamf]

So, I cannot boot with the external hard drive connected via USB (with the system image saved somewhere on it of course) to have it start? I need to have a separate USB drive or CD that allows the computer to start, THEN I connect the external hard drive to restore the "system image"?

You'll need a USB drive as you've been discussing to store your system image. What you need to boot with you can put on a CD or a small USB key that you can pick up for €5 or less at any supermarket. The reason is your system image will be big (as it contains all your photos music etc). The image to boot with is less than 1 GB so pretty much the cheapest one of these you can find will do.