I'm working on an Dell AIO that I cannot force into Recovery Mode, and have always used Installation Disks to boot into Repair Console or to get into Advanced Options etc. I'm guessing that the Recovery Drive is a little Safer to do this with?
Thanks, FunkMaster
Are you using the 'kill the power three times' method? If you can get into Windows there's also:
Settings > Update & security > Recovery > Advanced start-up
The tools are the same on both, a Recovery Drive boots straight to the tools though, so it's more convenient to use. Smaller too, if you don't include system files, if you did include them it's capable or reinstalling Windows....have always used Installation Disks to boot into Repair Console or to get into Advanced Options etc. I'm guessing that the Recovery Drive is a little Safer to do this with?
Yes, tried it Four times.are you using the 'kill the power three times' method?
Thanks, should have mentioned, this is the problem where we have no Keyboard or Mouse or Touchscreen either.
the reason being is the Windows Recovery Enviroment (WindowsRE - winre.wim)this is the problem where we have no Keyboard or Mouse or Touchscreen either
Does not contain the required driver support for your PC.
The required system drivers need to/ can be intergrated into the winre.wim with DISM driver export / import
I'm having trouble creating the Recovery Drive. I unchecked "make sure Back up system files to the recovery drive is selected and then select Next." because I did not think I needed to back up my system files, is this my problem? I don't need to backup system files to use this on various computers right?
Instructions say this, so I guess I'm doing it wrong:
When the tool opens, make sure Back up system files to the recovery drive is selected and then select Next.
It appears that a Recovery Drive is computer specific, is that correct?
The backed up system files are machine specific, but the bootable wim can be used on other machines.
Only if you include system files, and then only if it was made on an OEM pre-installed Windows 10. In that case the system files will include the OEM pre-installed apps and drivers. It is effectively a 'factory reset' drive.
A recovery drive made by a clean install of Windows 10 using the 'plain vanilla' Microsoft media will not be machine-specific, it too will be 'plain vanilla'.
Thanks guys, those are very good explanations!
Why won't it create a Drive when this is NOT CHOSEN: Back up system files to the recovery drive
I was hoping it would be faster to just create a generic drive to repair a pc without the "Back up system files to the recovery drive". This is on a machine that had a Clean Install of 1709 from Retail Media if that matters. I made one last night and it took a long time, what really is the benefit of this LOL, seems not worth the effort?
Update: I read up on this a little more, and let me tell you, the Terminology that people use is all messed up. Always using different Terms for the same thing etc. I got the idea of it now, but still would like to see the MS Official explanation. Unfortunately the Official MS literature is probably worse than anything else out there.
Thanks guys
When you create a recovery drive (by selecting Backup System Files) you are creating a Windows ONLY recovery..
The benefit to this is that the media WILL contain the Windows Updates, to date.. Thus more up to date then your installation media...
The draw back to this is - it is only the Windows OS, no 3rd party apps, programs, or drivers....
Again back to your first issue - if you integrate your current system drivers into your winre.wim, your Recovery Drive will work properly...
With windows 10 you would have to Capture a customizations.ppkg to be used with the recovery media, that would contain the 3rd party apps, programs and drivers..
Thus YOU would be better off using a program like Macrium Reflect Free - to create a System Backup
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