Recovery Drive - Create with USB Flash Drive in Windows 8

How to Create a USB Recovery Drive in Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

If you run into problems with your PC, a USB recovery drive can help you troubleshoot and fix those problems, even if your PC won't start.

This will show you how to create a bootable recovery (system repair) USB flash drive in Windows 8 to use to boot to the system recovery options that can be used to help recover Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, or Windows RT 8.1.

This is basically the same thing as a system repair disc, but is on a bootable USB flash drive instead.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to create a recovery drive.

   Note

A recovery USB flash drive cannot be used to install Windows 8 unless this is an OEM PC that came with Windows 8 preinstalled, and you checked the Copy contents from the recovery partition to the recovery drive box at step 5 below.

If your PC came with Windows 8 and you upgraded it to Windows 8.1, your recovery drive will include Windows 8, and you’ll need to upgrade to Windows 8.1 after you refresh or reset your PC.

A created 32-bit recovery USB flash drive can only be created in a 32-bit Windows 8, and used to repair a 32-bit Windows 8.

A created 64-bit recovery USB flash drive can only be created in a 64-bit Windows 8, and used to repair a 64-bit Windows 8.

EXAMPLE: System Recovery Options
NOTE: After you boot from the recovery USB flash drive, you will need to select your language and keyboard layout (if displayed) for Windows 8, then select Troubleshoot to see the system recovery options.

​

​

​

​

​

(On some newer OEM PC's with Windows 8 preinstalled, you may have the option to reinstall in the OEM manufacturer's tools like below if the Recovery Partition is still in place.)​

​

​

​

​

Here's How:

1. Connect a USB flash drive that is at least 256 MB (8 GB if copying the recovery partition) in size, then do either step 2 or 3 below.


2. Press the :winkey: + R keys, type RecoveryDrive.exe, press Enter, and go to step 4 below.

3. Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Recovery icon.

​

A) Click/tap on the Create a recovery drive link, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)​

​

​

4. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.

5. Click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

   Note

If you have a store bought OEM computer that came with Windows 8 preinstalled, then you could also check the Copy contents from the recovery partition to the recovery drive box to be able to use the recovery USB flash drive to do a factory restore/recovery of Windows 8.

If you do not have an OEM recovery partition, then the Copy contents from the recovery partition to the recovery drive option will be grayed out.

   Warning

If you checked the Copy contents from the recovery partition to the recovery drive box, then once the Recovery Media creation has completed, you will have an option to delete the recovery partition at step 10 below. On most systems, this partition is about 10G in size.

​

​

​

6. Select a USB flash drive at least 256 MB in size that you would like to make a bootable recovery drive with, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)
WARNING: Everything on the selected USB flash drive will be deleted, so be sure to backup anything on it that you do not want to lose first.

​

​

​

7. Click/tap on Create. (see screenshot below)
WARNING: This is your last chance to backup anything on the USB flash drive that you do not want to lose before doing this.

​

​

8. The USB recovery drive will now be created. (see screenshot below)

​

​

9. Do step 10 or step 11 below for what you would like to do.

10. If you wanted to Delete the Recovery Partition

   Warning

It is recommended to NOT DELETE the recovery partition. It has been reported by many that they were unable to restore Windows 8 to the hard drive using the recovery USB drive without the OEM factory recovery partition still intact.

You can free up some drive space by deleting the recovery partition, but you won't be able to refresh or reset your PC again without the recovery drive.

A) If you checked the Copy contents from the recovery partition to the recovery drive box at step 5 above, click/tap on the Delete the recovery partition link. (see screenshot below)​

​

​

​

B) Click/tap on Delete to confirm. (see screenshot below)​

​

​

​

C) Click/tap on Finish. (see screenshots below)​

​

​

​

11. Click/tap on Finish. (see screenshot below)

​

​

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Create a "System Repair Disc" in Windows 8
• How to Create a Bootable USB or DVD with the Windows 8 ISO
• How to Create a "Startup Options Menu" Shortcut in Windows 8
• How to Boot to the "System Recovery Options" in Windows 8
• How to Boot to the Advanced Windows "Startup Settings" in Windows 8
• How to Create a Bootable UEFI USB Flash Drive for Installing Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 8.1
• How to Boot from a USB Drive within Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Boot from a USB Drive on Surface

 

[bagavan]

Nice one..

 

[papin97]

Will it work on Windows 7?

 

[Brink]

Hello Papin,

Sorry, but no. This is to repair Windows 8 with.

For Windows 7, see below instead.

System Repair Disc - Create - Windows 7 Forums

 

[JasonT]

Hello. When I try to create the Recovery USB I can never seem to reach step 8 (Finish). The green progress bar moves across the screen until it reaches about a half inch from the end, then it seems to freeze up at that point. How long should it take to make the Recovery USB if the "copy contents from the recovery partition to the recovery drive" is checked, and what can I do to solve this problem? Any help here would be appreciated.

 

[theog]

Hello. When I try to create the Recovery USB I can never seem to reach step 8 (Finish). The green progress bar moves across the screen until it reaches about a half inch from the end, then it seems to freeze up at that point. How long should it take to make the Recovery USB if the "copy contents from the recovery partition to the recovery drive" is checked, and what can I do to solve this problem? Any help here would be appreciated.

Welcome to Eightforums.

What is the Make & Model of the PC.

 

[mbratch]

Hello. When I try to create the Recovery USB I can never seem to reach step 8 (Finish). The green progress bar moves across the screen until it reaches about a half inch from the end, then it seems to freeze up at that point. How long should it take to make the Recovery USB if the "copy contents from the recovery partition to the recovery drive" is checked, and what can I do to solve this problem? Any help here would be appreciated.

How long did you wait? Mine took a long time. It's a lot of data to flash.

 

[Brink]

Hello mbratch,

It only took about 1/2 minute to create mine on a 4GB USB 2.0 flash drive.

 

[JasonT]

Hello. When I try to create the Recovery USB I can never seem to reach step 8 (Finish). The green progress bar moves across the screen until it reaches about a half inch from the end, then it seems to freeze up at that point. How long should it take to make the Recovery USB if the "copy contents from the recovery partition to the recovery drive" is checked, and what can I do to solve this problem? Any help here would be appreciated.

How long did you wait? Mine took a long time. It's a lot of data to flash.

It has been going for the last 6 hours now... I have tried this 3 times and each time it has the same problem.
The computer is a (HP 2000-2b22dx)

 

[mbratch]

It has been going for the last 6 hours now... I have tried this 3 times and each time it has the same problem. The computer is a (HP 2000-2b22dx)

Yeah that's a bit long. Mine was quite a bit longer than Brink's 30 seconds, but way way shorter than 6 hours. Maybe 10 mins? I am also copying the whole recovery partition (I suspect Brink is not?). Not sure why it would take 6 hours and not be done. Is it an old flash drive? Are you sure it's good? Have you tried a different one?

 

[Brink]

Hello Jason,

It seems like there may be an issue with your USB flash drive. It shouldn't take that long even with the slowest USB flash drive on the planet.

I would recommend to do what mbratch posted above, and try it with another USB flash drive.

 

[JasonT]

I have tried on two of them, both new. 18.8GB is where it is getting stuck at.

 

[theog]

It has been going for the last 6 hours now... I have tried this 3 times and each time it has the same problem.
The computer is a (HP 2000-2b22dx)

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c03502680.pdf

? If the HP Recovery media do not work, you can obtain recovery media for your system from the
HP website. For U.S. support, go to Contact HP / Customer Service | HP. For worldwide support, go
to Contact HP Worldwide | HP.

 

[JasonT]

After I unchecked the 'Copy Recovery Drive' box, I was able to complete in less than a min.

Thank you all for your help.

 

[Brink]

Great news Jason.

 

[theog]

After I unchecked the 'Copy Recovery Drive' box, I was able to complete in less than a min.

Thank you all for your help.

I would try to make the DVD's.

Performing an HP System Recovery (Windows 8) | HP® Support

NOTE:HP does not include recovery discs in the box with its personal computers as the recovery software comes on the hard drive. You can obtain recovery discs from HP Support or use Recovery Manager software to create a set of recovery discs yourself. HP recommends creating a set of recovery discs when you receive your computer and storing them in a safe place. Support Sent Recovery Discs can take as long as 4 to 6 hours to complete system recovery, but recovery discs that you create often take less time to complete system recovery. For more information about creating a set of recovery discs,
see

Creating Recovery Discs or Saving a Recovery Image to a USB Flash Drive (Windows 8) | HP® Support

 

[Brink]

Jason,

I agree with Ray (theog).

The recovery USB flash drive created in this tutorial will not be able to reinstall Windows 8. It only let's you boot to the "System Recovery Options" screen.

The HP factory recovery DVD/USB will be able to restore Windows 8 back to factory conditions. It will be handy to have in case something should ever happen to your hard drive, and are not able to use the recover partition.

 

[cheesum]

HI all;
Just wanna ask about the Win8 recovery drive being created into the USB thumb drive. After creating this recovery drive, say if my laptop's (factory shipped) HDD is to stop spinning and becomes faulty and i decided to replace it with a blank HDD.

Hence, can i use the recovery drive (in the USB thumb drive) together with a blank WIndows 8 DVD to create the same exact factory installed image (i.e.; exactly the same with pre-installed drivers & software, etc with the factory shipped HDD) on the blank new HDD?

I am not a techie...so, hopefully, you guys understand what i am trying to get at.

 

[Brink]

Hello cheesum,

Sorry, but no. The recovery USB flash drive created in this tutorial will not be able to reinstall Windows 8. It only let's you boot to the "System Recovery Options" screen to try and repair Windows 8 instead.

For what you are wanting, you will need to create a set of OEM factory recovery discs or an OEM factory recovery USB flash drive instead. If this is for your Lenovo, then this below may help.

Page 27 of your Lenovo Y580 manual - http://www.lenovo.com/shop/americas/content/user_guides/y480-y580-ug-en.pdf


Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[biosub]

Hi,

I didn't even started, it asks me for a 32 GB device... whats wrong? thanks ps I'm sorry for the italian in the screenshot but is the default setting... however is should be quite clear