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Recovery Drive - Create with USB Flash Drive in Windows 8
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<blockquote data-quote="Brink" data-source="post: 76775" data-attributes="member: 19"><p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong>How to Create a USB Recovery Drive in Windows 8 and 8.1</strong></span></p><p></p><p></p><p>[info]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.</p><p></p><p>This will show you how to create a bootable <strong>recovery</strong> (system repair) <strong>USB flash drive </strong>in <strong>Windows 8</strong> to use to boot to the <a href="http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2269-system-recovery-options-boot-windows-8-a.html"><strong>system recovery options</strong></a> that can be used to help recover Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, or Windows RT 8.1.</p><p></p><p>This is basically the same thing as a <strong><a href="http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2855-system-repair-disc-create-windows-8-a.html">system repair disc</a></strong>, but is on a bootable USB flash drive instead.</p><p></p><p>You must be logged in as an <strong>administrator</strong> to be able to create a recovery drive.</p><p></p><p>[/info][note]A recovery USB flash drive <strong>cannot be used to install Windows 8 </strong>unless this is an OEM PC that came with Windows 8 preinstalled, and you checked the <strong>Copy contents from the recovery partition to the recovery drive </strong>box at <strong>step 5</strong> below.</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>A created <strong>32-bit </strong>recovery USB flash drive can only be created in a 32-bit Windows 8, and used to repair a 32-bit Windows 8.</p><p></p><p>A created <strong>64-bit </strong>recovery USB flash drive can only be created in a 64-bit Windows 8, and used to repair a 64-bit Windows 8.</p><p></p><p>[/note]</p><p><strong><span style="font-size: 12px">EXAMPLE:</span> System Recovery Options</strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000">NOTE:</span> </strong><em>After you boot from the <strong>recovery USB flash drive</strong>, you will need to select your language and keyboard layout (if displayed) for Windows 8, then select <strong>Troubleshoot </strong>to see the <strong><a href="http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2269-system-recovery-options-boot-windows-8-a.html">system recovery options</a></strong></em>.</p><p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">[ATTACH]4770[/ATTACH]</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">[ATTACH]4771[/ATTACH]</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">(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.)</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">[ATTACH]28376[/ATTACH]</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">[ATTACH]18431[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="font-size: 22px"><span style="color: #006400">Here's How:</span></span></strong></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>1.</strong></span> Connect a <strong>USB flash drive </strong>that is at least <strong>256 MB</strong> (<strong>8 GB</strong> if copying the recovery partition) in size, then do either <strong>step 2 or 3</strong> below.</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="font-size: 12px">2.</span></strong> Press the :winkey:<strong> + R</strong> keys, type <strong>RecoveryDrive.exe</strong>, press Enter, and go to <strong>step 4</strong> below.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="font-size: 12px">3.</span></strong> Open the <strong><a href="http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2627-control-panel-open-windows-8-a.html">Control Panel (icons view)</a></strong>, and click/tap on the <strong>Recovery</strong> icon.</p><p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">A) Click/tap on the <strong>Create a recovery drive</strong> link, and go to <strong>step 4</strong> below. (see screenshot below)</p> <p style="margin-left: 40px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 40px">[ATTACH]6453[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>4. </strong></span>If prompted by <strong><a href="http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5509-user-account-control-uac-change-settings-windows-8-a.html">UAC</a></strong>, then click/tap on <strong>Yes</strong>.</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>5. </strong></span>Click/tap on <strong>Next</strong>. (see screenshot below)</p><p></p><p>[NOTE]If you have a store bought OEM computer that came with Windows 8 preinstalled, then you could also check the <strong>Copy contents from the recovery partition to the recovery drive</strong> box to be able to use the recovery USB flash drive to do a factory restore/recovery of Windows 8.</p><p></p><p>If you do not have an OEM recovery partition, then the <strong>Copy contents from the recovery partition to the recovery drive </strong>option will be grayed out.</p><p></p><p>[/NOTE][warn]If you checked the <strong>Copy contents from the recovery partition to the recovery drive</strong> box, then once the Recovery Media creation has completed, you will have an option to delete the recovery partition at <strong>step 10</strong> below. On most systems, this partition is about 10G in size. </p><p></p><p>[/warn]</p><p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">[ATTACH]4774[/ATTACH]</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>6.</strong></span> 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<strong> Next</strong>. (see screenshot below)</p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000">WARNING:</span></strong> <em>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</em>.</p><p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">[ATTACH]4775[/ATTACH]</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>7.</strong></span> Click/tap on <strong>Create</strong>. (see screenshot below)</p><p><span style="color: #ff0000"><strong>WARNING:</strong></span><em> T<em>his </em>is your last chance to backup anything on the USB flash drive that you do not want to lose before doing this</em>.</p><p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">[ATTACH]4776[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>8.</strong></span> The USB recovery drive will now be created. (see screenshot below)</p><p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">[ATTACH]4777[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>9. </strong></span>Do <strong>step 10</strong> or <strong>step 11</strong> below for what you would like to do.</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>10. <span style="color: #0000cd">If you wanted to Delete the Recovery Partition</span></strong></span></p><p>[warn]It is recommended to<strong><span style="color: #ff0000"> NOT DELETE</span> the recovery partition</strong>. 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.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>[/warn]</p><p style="margin-left: 20px">A) If you checked the <strong>Copy contents from the recovery partition to the recovery drive</strong> box at <strong>step 5</strong> above, click/tap on the <strong>Delete the recovery partition</strong> link. (see screenshot below)</p> <p style="margin-left: 40px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 40px">[ATTACH]58097[/ATTACH]</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">B) Click/tap on <strong>Delete</strong> to confirm. (see screenshot below)</p> <p style="margin-left: 40px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 40px">[ATTACH]58098[/ATTACH]</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">C) Click/tap on <strong>Finish</strong>. (see screenshots below)</p> <p style="margin-left: 40px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 40px">[ATTACH]58099[/ATTACH]</p> <p style="margin-left: 40px"></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>11.</strong></span> Click/tap on <strong>Finish</strong>. (see screenshot below)</p><p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">[ATTACH]4778[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>That's it,</p><p>Shawn</p><p></p><p></p><p>[rel]</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><a href="http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2855-system-repair-disc-create-windows-8-a.html">How to Create a "System Repair Disc" in Windows 8</a></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><a href="http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2227-create-bootable-usb-dvd-windows-8-iso.html">How to Create a Bootable USB or DVD with the Windows 8 ISO</a></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><a href="http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/4943-startup-options-menu-shortcut-create-windows-8-a.html">How to Create a "Startup Options Menu" Shortcut in Windows 8</a></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><a href="http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2269-system-recovery-options-boot-windows-8-a.html">How to Boot to the "System Recovery Options" in Windows 8</a></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><a href="http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/4924-advanced-startup-settings-boot-windows-8-a.html">How to Boot to the Advanced Windows "Startup Settings" in Windows 8</a></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><a href="http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/15458-uefi-bootable-usb-flash-drive-create-windows.html">How to Create a Bootable UEFI USB Flash Drive for Installing Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 8.1</a></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><a href="http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/53296-usb-drive-boot-within-windows-8-a.html">How to Boot from a USB Drive within Windows 8 and 8.1</a></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><a href="http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/53297-usb-drive-boot-surface.html">How to Boot from a USB Drive on Surface</a></li> </ul><p>[/rel]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Brink, post: 76775, member: 19"] [CENTER][SIZE=4][B]How to Create a USB Recovery Drive in Windows 8 and 8.1[/B][/SIZE][/CENTER] [info]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 [B]recovery[/B] (system repair) [B]USB flash drive [/B]in [B]Windows 8[/B] to use to boot to the [URL='http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2269-system-recovery-options-boot-windows-8-a.html'][B]system recovery options[/B][/URL] 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 [B][URL='http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2855-system-repair-disc-create-windows-8-a.html']system repair disc[/URL][/B], but is on a bootable USB flash drive instead. You must be logged in as an [B]administrator[/B] to be able to create a recovery drive. [/info][note]A recovery USB flash drive [B]cannot be used to install Windows 8 [/B]unless this is an OEM PC that came with Windows 8 preinstalled, and you checked the [B]Copy contents from the recovery partition to the recovery drive [/B]box at [B]step 5[/B] 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 [B]32-bit [/B]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 [B]64-bit [/B]recovery USB flash drive can only be created in a 64-bit Windows 8, and used to repair a 64-bit Windows 8. [/note] [B][SIZE=3]EXAMPLE:[/SIZE] System Recovery Options [COLOR=#ff0000]NOTE:[/COLOR] [/B][I]After you boot from the [B]recovery USB flash drive[/B], you will need to select your language and keyboard layout (if displayed) for Windows 8, then select [B]Troubleshoot [/B]to see the [B][URL='http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2269-system-recovery-options-boot-windows-8-a.html']system recovery options[/URL][/B][/I]. [INDENT][/INDENT] [INDENT][ATTACH]4770[/ATTACH][/INDENT] [INDENT][/INDENT] [INDENT][ATTACH]4771[/ATTACH][/INDENT] [INDENT][/INDENT] [INDENT](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.)[/INDENT] [INDENT][/INDENT] [INDENT][ATTACH]28376[/ATTACH][/INDENT] [INDENT][/INDENT] [INDENT][ATTACH]18431[/ATTACH][/INDENT] [B][SIZE=6][COLOR=#006400]Here's How:[/COLOR][/SIZE][/B] [SIZE=3][B]1.[/B][/SIZE] Connect a [B]USB flash drive [/B]that is at least [B]256 MB[/B] ([B]8 GB[/B] if copying the recovery partition) in size, then do either [B]step 2 or 3[/B] below. [B][SIZE=3]2.[/SIZE][/B] Press the :winkey:[B] + R[/B] keys, type [B]RecoveryDrive.exe[/B], press Enter, and go to [B]step 4[/B] below. [B][SIZE=3]3.[/SIZE][/B] Open the [B][URL='http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2627-control-panel-open-windows-8-a.html']Control Panel (icons view)[/URL][/B], and click/tap on the [B]Recovery[/B] icon. [INDENT][/INDENT] [INDENT]A) Click/tap on the [B]Create a recovery drive[/B] link, and go to [B]step 4[/B] below. (see screenshot below)[/INDENT] [INDENT=2][/INDENT] [INDENT=2][ATTACH]6453[/ATTACH][/INDENT] [SIZE=3][B]4. [/B][/SIZE]If prompted by [B][URL='http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5509-user-account-control-uac-change-settings-windows-8-a.html']UAC[/URL][/B], then click/tap on [B]Yes[/B]. [SIZE=3][B]5. [/B][/SIZE]Click/tap on [B]Next[/B]. (see screenshot below) [NOTE]If you have a store bought OEM computer that came with Windows 8 preinstalled, then you could also check the [B]Copy contents from the recovery partition to the recovery drive[/B] 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 [B]Copy contents from the recovery partition to the recovery drive [/B]option will be grayed out. [/NOTE][warn]If you checked the [B]Copy contents from the recovery partition to the recovery drive[/B] box, then once the Recovery Media creation has completed, you will have an option to delete the recovery partition at [B]step 10[/B] below. On most systems, this partition is about 10G in size. [/warn] [INDENT][/INDENT] [INDENT][ATTACH]4774[/ATTACH][/INDENT] [INDENT][/INDENT] [SIZE=3][B]6.[/B][/SIZE] 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[B] Next[/B]. (see screenshot below) [B][COLOR=#ff0000]WARNING:[/COLOR][/B] [I]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[/I]. [INDENT][/INDENT] [INDENT][ATTACH]4775[/ATTACH][/INDENT] [INDENT][/INDENT] [SIZE=3][B]7.[/B][/SIZE] Click/tap on [B]Create[/B]. (see screenshot below) [COLOR=#ff0000][B]WARNING:[/B][/COLOR][I] T[I]his [/I]is your last chance to backup anything on the USB flash drive that you do not want to lose before doing this[/I]. [INDENT][/INDENT] [INDENT][ATTACH]4776[/ATTACH][/INDENT] [SIZE=3][B]8.[/B][/SIZE] The USB recovery drive will now be created. (see screenshot below) [INDENT][/INDENT] [INDENT][ATTACH]4777[/ATTACH][/INDENT] [SIZE=3][B]9. [/B][/SIZE]Do [B]step 10[/B] or [B]step 11[/B] below for what you would like to do. [SIZE=3][B]10. [COLOR=#0000cd]If you wanted to Delete the Recovery Partition[/COLOR][/B][/SIZE] [warn]It is recommended to[B][COLOR=#ff0000] NOT DELETE[/COLOR] the recovery partition[/B]. 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. [/warn] [INDENT]A) If you checked the [B]Copy contents from the recovery partition to the recovery drive[/B] box at [B]step 5[/B] above, click/tap on the [B]Delete the recovery partition[/B] link. (see screenshot below)[/INDENT] [INDENT=2][/INDENT] [INDENT=2][ATTACH]58097[/ATTACH][/INDENT] [INDENT][/INDENT] [INDENT]B) Click/tap on [B]Delete[/B] to confirm. (see screenshot below)[/INDENT] [INDENT=2][/INDENT] [INDENT=2][ATTACH]58098[/ATTACH][/INDENT] [INDENT][/INDENT] [INDENT]C) Click/tap on [B]Finish[/B]. (see screenshots below)[/INDENT] [INDENT=2][/INDENT] [INDENT=2][ATTACH]58099[/ATTACH][/INDENT] [INDENT=2][/INDENT] [SIZE=3][B]11.[/B][/SIZE] Click/tap on [B]Finish[/B]. (see screenshot below) [INDENT][/INDENT] [INDENT][ATTACH]4778[/ATTACH][/INDENT] That's it, Shawn [rel] [LIST] [*][URL='http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2855-system-repair-disc-create-windows-8-a.html']How to Create a "System Repair Disc" in Windows 8[/URL] [*][URL='http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2227-create-bootable-usb-dvd-windows-8-iso.html']How to Create a Bootable USB or DVD with the Windows 8 ISO[/URL] [*][URL='http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/4943-startup-options-menu-shortcut-create-windows-8-a.html']How to Create a "Startup Options Menu" Shortcut in Windows 8[/URL] [*][URL='http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2269-system-recovery-options-boot-windows-8-a.html']How to Boot to the "System Recovery Options" in Windows 8[/URL] [*][URL='http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/4924-advanced-startup-settings-boot-windows-8-a.html']How to Boot to the Advanced Windows "Startup Settings" in Windows 8[/URL] [*][URL='http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/15458-uefi-bootable-usb-flash-drive-create-windows.html']How to Create a Bootable UEFI USB Flash Drive for Installing Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 8.1[/URL] [*][URL='http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/53296-usb-drive-boot-within-windows-8-a.html']How to Boot from a USB Drive within Windows 8 and 8.1[/URL] [*][URL='http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/53297-usb-drive-boot-surface.html']How to Boot from a USB Drive on Surface[/URL] [/LIST] [/rel] [/QUOTE]
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