About to create a recovery drive, maybe


  1. Posts : 322
    win 10 home
       #1

    About to create a recovery drive, maybe


    I have what may well be a naff question: i hope you'll bear with me. :)
    I see that a USB is mentioned with 512 MB capacity, and also that any existing files will be erased on installation of the recovery files. Most USB sticks are way more capacious than that, so I'm wondering, if having recovery on my smallest stick (15GB) will make it unavailable for other use. Am I actually stupidly missing something?
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  2. Posts : 4,131
    Windows 3.1 to Windows 11
       #2

    512MB is the requirement for the Recovery Boot Files..

    Since it is best to include the system files, as part of the backup Media, a 15GB Stick may not be big enough...

    But even so, after the Recovery media is created, any extra space on the stick, can be used..
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  3. Posts : 322
    win 10 home
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thanks! What Is a realistic size to include system files?
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  4. Posts : 31,471
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #4

    chipwood said:
    Thanks! What Is a realistic size to include system files?
    A recovery drive that includes system files can be used to repair a system or clean install. If made on an OEM installed system it should include the OEM's customisations as part of the 'system files' - effectively an OEM 'factory reset'.

    The system files are in compressed form, so on an x64 system it asks for an 'at least 8GB' USB (it will only need 'at least 4GB' for x86). Whatever the size of the USB you use, being formatted to Fat32 it will never be formatted to more than 32GB. The rest of the space will be 'lost' because Windows can only use the first partition on a USB flash drive.

    I'm making one now on a 'plain-vanilla' Windows 10 Home 1607 (x64) including the system files. I'll report the actual size shortly.

    Edit: Takes its time, doesn't it? I had to go out so left it running. When I got back...

    The type of the file system is FAT32.
    Volume RECOVERY created 28/03/2017 18:44
    ...
    15,247,360 KB total disk space.
    442,536 KB in 2 hidden files.
    80 KB in 10 folders.
    3,945,248 KB in 46 files.
    10,859,488 KB are available.
    Last edited by Bree; 28 Mar 2017 at 16:55.
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  5. Posts : 15,441
    Windows10
       #5

    If you are only going to have the barebones OS (ie no apps etc) on the recovery drive, there is no real advantage of doing this over using a standard installation drive created by Media Creation Tool which will easily fit on an 8GB drive and have plenty of space to export the currently installed 3rd party drivers (just a precaution) to same drive.

    The only real plus of a recovery drive is it saves you the download time (and cost perhaps) of using the media creation tool, so is a touch more convenient. The downside is that they need a bigger usb - should fit on 16GB though, but more importantly, you have to recreate it after any build upgrade.

    I always upgrade by downloading latest iso, so I always have it available for a reinstall anyway.
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  6. Posts : 2,832
    Windows 10 Pro X64
       #6

    Hi,

    IMHO using MR Free as a safety net is by far a better policy than relying on a recovery stick or MS backup for that matter.

    Cheers,
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 31,471
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #7

    fdegrove said:
    IMHO using MR Free as a safety net is by far a better policy than relying on a recovery stick or MS backup for that matter.
    Yes, you can never have enough backups - and a system image (Macrium Reflect, or whatever) is your best way to recover from a disaster as if nothing had happened.

    The Recovery Drive has it's place too. For many OEMs these days it's the method of choice to make their 'Factory Reset' media. HP, for example...
    System Recovery
    You can use the recovery USB drive to open HP System Recovery and restore your computer to its original state...
    ...Click System Recovery to restore the computer to its original factory shipped condition...
    http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c04641788#AbT1
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  8. Posts : 2,832
    Windows 10 Pro X64
       #8

    Hi,

    In my case (Fujitsu Esprimo P956) that would throw me back to W10 build 10240. LOL.

    I do see you point though.

    Cheers,
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  9. Posts : 31,471
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #9

    fdegrove said:
    In my case (Fujitsu Esprimo P956) that would throw me back to W10 build 10240. LOL.
    Yes, seems common practice with OEMs (even on new systems) to stick with an older factory image and let you have the pain of an upgrade at first boot. HP and Lenovo out of the box, for example...
    Why would a new Laptop have an upgraded version of Windows 10?
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