Create Custom Recovery Image in Windows 10  

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    Create Custom Recovery Image in Windows 10

    Create Custom Recovery Image in Windows 10

    How to Create a Custom Recovery Image used to Refresh Windows 10
    Published by Category: Installation & Upgrade
    06 Mar 2017
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Create a Custom Recovery Image used to Refresh Windows 10

    warning   Warning
    This tutorial no longer works starting with Windows 10 build 10130 released on May 29th 2015.

    The "C:\Windows\System32\recimg.exe" file has been removed in build 10130, and will not work even after copying the file from a previous build into build 10130 or later.

    We can still create a custom reset recovery image.

    information   Information
    If you're having problems with Windows 10 on your PC, you can try to refresh, reset, or restore it.

    By default, here's what happens when you refresh your PC:
    • Your files and personalization setting won't change.
    • Your PC settings will be changed back to their defaults.
    • Apps from the Windows Store will be kept.
    • Apps you installed from discs or websites will be removed. Basically all installed desktop apps.


    The recimg.exe command line tool lets you configure a custom recovery image for Windows to use when you refresh your PC. When you create a custom recovery image, it will contain the desktop apps you've installed, and the Windows system files in their current state. Recovery images do not contain your documents, personal settings, user profiles, or apps from Windows Store, because that information is automatically preserved at the time you refresh your PC.

    Basically, a custom recovery image let's you refresh Windows 10 as usual with your current Windows, but also lets you keep your desktop apps and Windows system files as they were when the recovery image was created.

    When you create a custom recovery image, recimg will store it in the specified directory, and set it as the active recovery image. If a custom recovery image is set as the active recovery image, Windows will use it when you refresh your PC instead of the default OEM recovery image (if present) or Windows installation media. All recovery images have the filename CustomRefresh.wim. If no CustomRefresh.wim file is found in the active recovery image directory, Windows will fall back to using the OEM recovery image or Windows installation media when you refresh your PC.


    This tutorial will show you how to create a custom recovery image that is set to be used to refresh Windows 10 to the state it was at when the recovery image was created when you refresh your PC.

    Note   Note
    You cannot reset your PC using a custom recovery image. Custom recovery images can only be used to refresh your PC.

    You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to create a custom recovery image.



    Here's How:

    1. Open an elevated command prompt.

    2. In the elevated command prompt, type the command below, and press Enter. (see screenshots below)

    recimg -createimage "Drive letter:\CustomRecoveryImage\Date"


    Note   Note
    Substitute Drive letter in the command above with the actual drive letter you want to save the created CustomRefresh.wim file to.

    Substitute Date in the command above with the actual current date and/or time. This will be used as a subfolder in the CustomRecoveryImage folder to be able to keep multiple custom recovery images from different dates to have handy to set to use to refresh with as needed.


    For example, I would use the command below to create and save a custom recovery image (CustomRefresh.wim) on my F drive for today (February 19th 2015).

    recimg -CreateImage "F:\CustomRecoveryImage\02-19-2015"


    3. When finished, you can close the command prompt.

    Note   Note
    This may take a while to finish creating the custom recovery image. At the Writing image line the progress stays at 1% for a bit and then increases slowly until finished at 100%.


    Create Custom Recovery Image in Windows 10-custom_recovery_image.jpg
    Create Custom Recovery Image in Windows 10-custom_refresh_wim.jpg



    That's it,
    Shawn






  1. whs
    Posts : 1,935
    Windows 7
       #1

    Shawn, do you happen to know where those refresh images are being stored. Are the part of the recovery partition - sometimes I have seen 2 recovery partitions,1 small, 1 large.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Hello Wolfgang,

    This is not the same as a recovery partition.

    The image is saved as the CustomRefresh.wim file, and is stored in whatever folder path is specified in the command. This can only be used to refresh Windows with. :)
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 803
    10 Pro Preview x64
       #3

    recimg -CreateImage "F:\CustomRecoveryImage\02-19-2015"
    "2015-02-19" (YMD) would sort more logically within the folder after next year

    btw there is no quote button for tutorials in tenforums. Is that deliberate?
      My Computer


  4. whs
    Posts : 1,935
    Windows 7
       #4

    Brink said:
    Hello Wolfgang,

    This is not the same as a recovery partition.

    The image is saved as the CustomRefresh.wim file, and is stored in whatever folder path is specified in the command. This can only be used to refresh Windows with. :)
    Thanks Shawn. I understand the difference. I was just wondering where they store the factory refresh image.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #5

    adamf said:
    recimg -CreateImage "F:\CustomRecoveryImage\02-19-2015"
    "2015-02-19" (YMD) would sort more logically within the folder after next year

    btw there is no quote button for tutorials in tenforums. Is that deliberate?
    Well, you can't have the year backwards.

    There's a Reply with Quote option at the bottom right corner of a post for that.
    Last edited by Brink; 19 Feb 2015 at 20:20.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    whs said:
    Brink said:
    Hello Wolfgang,

    This is not the same as a recovery partition.

    The image is saved as the CustomRefresh.wim file, and is stored in whatever folder path is specified in the command. This can only be used to refresh Windows with. :)
    Thanks Shawn. I understand the difference. I was just wondering where they store the factory refresh image.
    There should be OEM recovery partition(s) just like in Windows 8 for that. :)
      My Computers


  7. whs
    Posts : 1,935
    Windows 7
       #7

    Brink said:
    whs said:
    Brink said:
    Hello Wolfgang,

    This is not the same as a recovery partition.

    The image is saved as the CustomRefresh.wim file, and is stored in whatever folder path is specified in the command. This can only be used to refresh Windows with. :)
    Thanks Shawn. I understand the difference. I was just wondering where they store the factory refresh image.
    There should be OEM recovery partition(s) just like in Windows 8 for that. :)
    OK thanks, that's what I figured.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 56,806
    Multi-boot Windows 10/11 - RTM, RP, Beta, and Insider
       #8

    Shawn, is this still valid for win 10? Refresh Windows 8 - Set a Custom Recovery Image as Active

    Also, I assume ​that the next build will set it back?
    Last edited by f14tomcat; 20 Feb 2015 at 08:31.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 1,524
    Windows 10 Pro (32-bit) 16299.15
       #9

    Brink said:
    There's a Reply with Quote option at the bottom right corner of a post for that.
    But not on the tutorial itself (unless I need my eyes testing). So if I want to quote a bit of the Tutorial and ask a question on it, there doesn't seem to be an easy way to do it?

    Edit: I notice that over on EightForums, it is much easier and the reply with quote options (with a slightly different name) are visible- maybe a setting is different here?
    Last edited by DavidY; 20 Feb 2015 at 09:41.
      My Computer


 

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