Recovery Image vs windows 8.1 retail image

I am looking for a recommendation on how I should reinstall the OS for my HP Laptop.
When I got it, I burned the recovery image over 6 dvd's. I also bought from HP the recovery disks for the laptop. The problem is when you recover the image it can take a couple of hours to download the image from the dvd's and setup all the software. Then it takes a another few hours to download all the updates for the OS, Cyberlink software and drivers from hp. I know this because I have previously had to do that because of a virus and I had to zero format the hard drive to remove everything.
I have since discovered that I can use a Microsoft 8.1 disk (the pro will not work and you actually receive an error due to the way the bios offers the key code) and reinstall the OS directly and eliminate all the bloatware the recovery image has. This is actually a little faster since 8.1 is installed instead of 8.0.
I happen to like the Cyberlink software , so I bought serveral titles for use from an upgrade price. But I did not buy all the cyberlink software as I do not use all of it. What I didn't buy I can reinstall from the HP website. Except for a package that edits video from cyberlink that is included in the recovery image, but cannot be downloaded and installed without the recovery image being used. But again, that is software I do not use.
I use the laptop primarily for gaming - World of Warcraft, Eve Online, and Steam. I also do some automation using HP UFT.
I also have a Pro license Key and Media Pack key to upgrade from 8.1 version of Windows.
So based on my usage, which would be better? The recovery image or the windows 8.1 image? Will I miss any specialized hp software that can protect the laptop?
If you want to tell me to use Linux, I have a distro that will be installed along side it for use when I need that particular OS and the laptop will be used as a dual-boot machine.

I can't use the One Key Recovery of my Y2P anymore, as I decreased the size of the C partition in favour of increasing D:\Data
OKR won't even start anymore...
Any chance to get OKR working again if I make these partitions the same sizes?
Who has the exact partition sizes in MB of the Y2P 20266 with Samsung PM851 256 GB SSD?
0 1 MB NO_NAME unallocated
1 1000 MB WINRE_DRV NTFS
2 260 MB SYSTEM_DRV FAT32 (EFI)
3 1000 MB LRS_ESP FAT32
4 128 MB NO_NAME Other
5 ? GB C:\Windows8 NTFS
6 ? GB D:\Data NTFS
7 14135 MB PBR_DRV NTFS Recovery
8 327 kB NO_NAME Unallocated
Data is backupped daily and I already have a full system backup together with a bootable USB stick that has been tested.
But I like to make sure I can reinstall Windows in the future..
Freedom of Speech has just left the building

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How to reinstall Windows 8 on Yoga 13 with damaged Recovery Image?

I changed the partitions on my Yoga 13. Now it is not possible to refresh, reinstall or perform an advance start-up, as it looks like there is no recovery image anymore. The systems is currently very messy and needs a reinstall.
Can someone tell me how to reinstall Windows 8 on the Yoga 13 when the recovery image is lost or damaged?

hi Chevex,
Thanks for using Lenovo Community Forums!
In the event that the Recovery partition is not working the only option is to use the Recovery CD that you can create when you first got the computer.
but if you were not able to create a Recovery CD and the Onekey Recovery is not working.
You can get the Recovery CD from the Software Department (Fees may apply to the discs)
you can contact the Hardware Team again and ask to be transferred to Software team for purchasing RCD
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Hope this helps,
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I have windows 8.1 recovery image in flash drive ,i want to burn the recovery in dvds

i have windows 8.1 recovery image in flash drive ,i want to burn the recovery in dvds.by mistake i deleted the partition drive which was on my computer ,please help me with this problem.
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rohit1317 wrote:
i have windows 8.1 recovery image in flash drive ,i want to burn the recovery in dvds.by mistake i deleted the partition drive which was on my computer ,please help me with this problem.
Hi,
Unfortunately you can create only 1 set of recovery media.
Copying and burning the recovery USB to DVD and then using DVD to do system recovery will not work.
What you can do is back up all your data to an external drive. Do a Factory Reset with the Recovery USB to get back all the partitions including the recovery partition into the HDD.
Regards
Visruth
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Recovery image for T520 - Windows 8

Hey guys.
I just bought an refurbished T520 with win7 pre-installed.
I want windows 8.1.
I've had a bad feeling about installing from a clean win8 and then installing drivers and bloatware from lenovo.com
I'd rather install a image that I know is made for my exact pc. (call me crazy)
Is there somewhere to download an recovery image for my laptop? I don't care if it cost me a little money.
Rasmus

If you do a fresh install of Windows from your own copy, you don't have to install anything other than drivers if you don't want the bloatware. You can install the drivers from the OEMs if you want, as well, for many of the components.
I did this with a fresh install of Win 7. After installing, got chipset, video, wireless, and ethernet from Intel. I used Lenovo for things like camera, fingerprint, sound, etc. Peripherals, basically.

Windows 8 reset with custom recovery image

Dear all,
I searched for two days now without being able to find any Information:
Is it possible to perform a reset with a custom recovery image on Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 ?
I tried multiple scenarios but I always receive the error message, that some files are missing and that I need to insert an installation media.
If I use e.g. Windows 8.1 Enterprise install.wim file all is working fine. But I would like to provide my users the options to make an OS refresh as well as OS reset with some preinstalled applications.
If it's not possible to use one Image for both, any way to get two Images working, one for refresh and one for reset?
The Internet is full of guides how to create custom recovery Images, but I can't find anything about reset and custom Images. Thanks a lot for your help in advance.
Best regards
Tobias

Hi,
I think we can create a recovery disc for refresh or reset via system image backup.
Windows 8 (8.1) – How to Create a Recovery Disc/Drive/ Partition
http://www.registryrecycler.com/blog/2013/08/windows-8-how-to-create-a-recovery-drive/
Hope this could be helpful.
Kate Li
TechNet Community Support

Microsoft DaRT Recovery Image Wizard - powershell execution policy

When I launch DaRT Recovery Image Wizard I get this message -
"Windows Powershell updated your execution policy successfully, but the setting is overridden by a policy defined at a more specific scope. Due to the override your shell will retain its current effective execution policy of AllSigned."
I want my powershell settings set this way.
But it wont let me continue to run the mDart wizard.
Why does it need to modify my powershell settings to less secure scope?
Is there a workaround for this? This seems like a bug.
Thanks for any help

Which version of DaRT and what operating system?
Brandon
MDOP on the Springboard Series on TechNet

Can I create a Win 7 Recovery Image *Bootable* USB THUMB DRIVE? -- (Instead of cd/dvd)

Hi
Can someone share how to create a
Windows 7 Recovery Image USB THUMB BOOTABLE DRIVE? -- I mean in place of the Boot DVD that Windows Backup offers to create after you've created an image?
I assume that there must be a way to do this?
Thanks in advance!!

Juke, Thanks, but my question remains not answered,
I only want to know one thing.
***How do I create a USB BOOT "DISK" using a USB Drive.  Not the IMAGE --just the boot files
     In other words, I want my 2 gig USB THUMB DRIVE to behave just like the Recovery CD/DVD.
     I only want the steps of how to create the BOOTABLE USB.
     (Forget about the image --- I keep the image on on another hard drive, and NOT the USB)
See the following guide to make a recovery USB drive:
http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-repair-windows-7-from-usb-flash-drive-repair-without-installation-dvd-disc/
Have Questions About Installing Windows 7?
FAQ - Common Windows 7 Installation Questions & Answers

Portege R700 - original recovery image re-installation failed

Hello
I have a Toshiba Portege R700 for years.
As i already have some trouble, i did a reinstallation few years ago, from recovery partition. Directly.
But, few days ago, i had some issues with my portege.
HDD seems to be broken as it make some noise and was really, really, really, ..., really slow.
So, after making some data backup during hours and hours (remember, it was really, ..., really slow), i lauch a complete re-installation from "recovery partition". It seems to be good, but .. never finished the process, with same HDD noise, and again slow HDD I/O.
OK, my own diadnostic: change HDD.
This done, and using the Toshiba recovery DVD just bought (yes impossible to find the earlied burn DVD), i have ... the same issue. The recovery process does not end even if 'im waiting for days ...
And i have the same HDD noise. With the new one!!
So having a MSDN licence, i installed a Win7 Pro 32bits, but not the Toshiba one.
And it's running for days without any issue!
But i have to reinstall all drivers, and software delivered by Toshiba.
Obviouly i will prefer to find what is the exact issue with this Portege, and reinstall the Toshiba version of Windows 7 Pro.
So, if someonre read the story until, the question is: ANY IDEA?
How to make a HW diagnostic? How to identify the exact problem?
Thanks for your help.
Jol

Hi Dr Lamp.
Remember that i
- did a successfull recovery from recovery partition few years ago
- tried 2 recovery recently
try 1, from recovery with initial HDD.
I'm not REALLY sure, but i think that the recovery failled during step "recovery image installation from copied data step 50/52"
I'm not sure.
As it take hours during this step, if it go to the next step or not, as i let it run for hours and hours (yes, i'm persistent)
try 2, from original Toshiba DVD i ordered (35)
I'm sure it fail during an additionnal step you forgot.
Because after "installed OS will be prepared for usage", which configure a lot of things using numerous reboot, there is the final step which is "first launch of win7"
Note that not the exact term, but is something like that.
Thanks for your help
Jol

On reinstalling system from recovery image

Just pondering what lenovo's advice is {regarding the ad/malware pre-installed on our new laptops,which by now we've all decontaminated} should a user suffer a catastrophic system failure and need to reinstall the system via recovery partition?I assume in this scenario,one would again reload our superfishy friend and have to start working on removal yet again?Does it seem reasonable to hope lenovo may feel moved to offer all affected/infected customers a clean recovery image?Say via a download link-or better still an image on removeable media?

If you do an OKR backup now then that backup is free of the adware. However, if you do a factory restore that adware is still there. But once you start and update Windows Defender it should also be removed.

Recovery image

I want to create a recovery image, to create my recovery dics. I can not do it because I don't have enought space in the D:. If something is wrong with the operating system in the future. I will not be able to recover my system?

You will still be able to recover your system to factory condition using the Onekey Rescue System (restoring from the image stored on the hidden partition). You might want to buy an external hard drive if you don't have one on hand, so that even if your hard disk fails (which would make any images on the D drive useless), your image and other backups will be safe. It is still possible to create the recovery discs using an image on an external drive.
Lenovo Ideapad Y550 41864AU: P8600 @ 2.4GHz, 4GB DDR3, nVidia Geforce GT130M 512MB, WD 500GB 5400RPM, Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit RTM

Unable to create a recovery image

Hello,
I've just bought an HP Pavillion x2, it has a 64 GB SSD. I want to create a recovery image using the HP utility but when I try to it fails. I think it is because there isn't enough space on the Windows partition in order to create the image. I have a USB drive plugged in with 27GB free but it seems like it's creating the image on the C drive before it copies to the USB drive. I don't want to delete my recovery partition until I know I've got another copy and I can't find anything else to uninstall to get the 14 GB i need (have 12 GB free). I've only had the tablet a few days so haven't got much on here, have uninstalled everything I've put on here except for the Windows updates I did. I've cleared the temp file wimy user profile.
Does anyone have any ideas what I can do?
Thanks
Juliet
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View Solution.

I did go through the Windows routine of creating a recovery image but it was slightly vague as to whether it would be suitable. Anyway I eventually restored the machine to factory defaults, created the recovery image straight away and it worked fine, then after installing Win 8.1 I ended up with loads more free space anyway.

Cannot install recovery image on my Equium after HDD upgrade

Hi
I just installed a new hard drive to my Toshiba Equium laptop I contacted Toshiba who informed me I could fit up to 1TB I opted for half way with a 500GB.
After installing the drive I inserted recovery disk after a while it had loaded with the message operation completed successfully. Next message windows set up could not configure windows to run on this computers hard ware. Then windows could not complete the installation to install windows on this computer restart the installation...
At the end of the recovery process a message tells me to remove recovery disk and exit as soon as I exit laptop shuts down and doesnt re boot automatically. When restarted next message windows Vista is starting for the first time then the cycle starts again. I have tried to reload recovery several times as instructed but no good.
Any help much appreciated

I dont know which notebook model do you have but if recovery image is Vista it must be pretty old model, maybe Equium A200.
To be honest I didn't make experiments with HDD upgrade on older models but I can imagine recovery image make a problems with HDDs with huge capacity.
Post please model name and which HDD have you inside now.
By the way: if possible try to install Win7 using Microsoft installation disc. Im sure it will works without any problem.

The source drive does not contain the HP Recovery Image

I'm trying to create a bootable USB stick with the Recovery disk creation utility of HP. After having moaned that my 8560w was running on battery, and that there was no room on a 16 GB FAT32 formated USB stick, I finally came to the next screen that says "The source drive does not contain the HP Recovery Image" which is wrong: partition D is primary, contains the recovery disk. So what ? No way to create a recovery disk ? Note also that I have no Recovery Manager (???) and that F11 has never worked (??????). HP decision to get out of the PC business is probably the best thing that could happen to customers.
pher
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View Solution.

Hi,
Check the below link:
Creating Recovery Discs or Saving a Recovery Image to a USB Flash Drive (Windows 7)
Quote from this document:
"Use a blank USB flash drive with at least 32 GB of memory. HP recommends using a name brand from a manufacturer you trust."
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Recovery Images for specific system models

Is there a source from where I can get official recovery images of the recovery parition, as a download?
I don't mean simply the Windows ISOs but rather the image files of the actual recovery partitions for a given HP model.

doa00
Welcome back to the HP Community Forum.
The Recovery Partition - for any model - is not available as a download.
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And...Click Accept as Solution when my Answer provides a Fix or Workaround!
I am pleased to provide assistance on behalf of HP. I do not work for HP.
Kind Regards,
Dragon-Fur

How to install recovery image on my Satellite L655-121?

I Have a SATELLITE L655-121 Toshiba's labtop ,,,
I've made a Recovery to get rid of the problems i faced in Windows 8 beta ,, but the recovery didn't completed :(
Now i can't either repair or remake the recovery !! I've stuck !
I can't use the HDD Recovery that presents on ' D ' Driver !! and i don't have the CD on which the copy is present ,, i just have the Serial Number :D
The Widows is " 7 Home Premium OA "
The laptop is useless now ,, what should i do ? if i downloaded this Windows from Microsoft and used the S.N I have , should this work correctly ??

>... but the recovery didn't completed
How to understand this?
> if i downloaded this Windows from Microsoft and used the S.N I have , should this work correctly ??
No. serial number has nothing to do with recovery image.
If you want to have original Toshiba recovery image installed on your notebook you must order Toshiba recovery disc - https://backupmedia.toshiba.eu/landing.aspx
Other option is to install own OS version and later install all necessary drivers, tools and utilities additionally. All of them you can find and download from Toshiba support page - http://eu.computers.toshiba-europe.com/innovation/download_drivers_bios.jsp

Recovery Image vs windows 8.1 retail image

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