New
#220
This might be interesting for some.
I came across this link on Microsoft's MSDN website, which contains a bit more information on what is included when you create a Recovery Drive:
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-gb/win...recovery_media
User-created recovery media
When users create USB recovery media using the Create a recovery drive utility, the resulting media always contain a bootable copy of Windows RE. This gives users access to troubleshooting and recovery tools when booting from recovery media.
Users can optionally back up files required to perform bare metal recovery. When the option is selected, the following are copied onto the USB recovery media as well:
- Windows Component Store
- Installed drivers
- Backup of preinstalled Windows apps
- Provisioning packages containing preinstalled customizations (under C:\Recovery\Customizations)
- Push-button Reset configuration XML and scripts (under C:\Recovery\OEM)
Gang -
I have a new laptop & just created a recovery drive (including system files) using a SanDisk 16 GB USB (2.0) Flash Drive. It took 1:27 (that's hours & minutes!) to create. Is this normal? I've seen references to 30+ minutes but this was a lot longer. I don't have much on my HD yet. The Recovery Drive used 8.42 GB.
I apologize if this has been answered already. I looked around (but not for too long) and didn't see the answer.
This is my first post - please be gentle!
Thanks.
Bob
I've certainly had it take this sort of time, although admittedly I spend a lot of time on slow virtual machines.
I think that in older versions of Windows the Create Recovery Drive would more or less copy files around, but in Windows 10, it's trying to construct a Windows installer from Windows itself, which takes time and, on occasion, doesn't work.
Did your machine come with Windows 10? If so, there might be a hidden/ system folder on your PC called c:\recovery\customizations, which might contain a file called usmt.ppkg or {something else}.ppkg (the file Type will be "Run-time Provisioning Tool")
This .ppkg file should also be on the Recovery Drive in the folder "\Sources\Customizations", and might explain why the recovery drive took 8.4GB (and the extra time) and not something nearer 4GB.
If so, then if you ever needed to completely recover from a non-functioning hard disk, the Recovery Drive should install both Windows and some of the software which was put there by the manufacturer.
System Restore in windows 10 works wonders and very very fast when creating and when restoring
why do you want to mess around with rebooting and choosing many options ,, when you can let the system do it for you at the ( speed of Light )
ask me I dont think there is any one on this forum who does system restore as much as me :)
50+GB restored less then a Minute , with one Click
Good Luck
I am having a problem creating a recovery drive and wanted to know if the issue with using Sandisk USBs is a real problem or not? If so, can someone recommend a brand that works? I am using a Sandisk 16gb stick and it's failed a few times, I would prefer to back up the system files on the recovery drive if possible. A Google search revealed some accounts of this problem but I trust the members here a lot more than random posts on the internet.
Thanks