Windows 10: Creating a Recovery Drive . . . Is it Machine Specific?

I have a few machines now running Windows 10 pro and I was wondering if I need to create a "Recovery Drive" for all of them (2 are the same model, and one is different), or, can I create one that will work for all of them?

If I have to create one for each of them, can I create a single "Recovery Drive" for the 2 Machines that are the same model. or must it be a unique recovery drive for each machine?

I'd rather not waste USB Drives, the storage of them, and the time it takes creating them unnecessarily.

Thanks for the input.

:)

 

Creating a recovery drive - machine specific

If you check the Windows\Logs folder there is a RecoveryDrive folder which should have a log created when you attempt to create a Recovery Drive. You might be able to pick something out as to the reason it is crashing..

I have seen Recovery Drives fail for three reasons.

Some system file is corrupted or reported as such during a System File Check.

If the path to the Recovery Tools is incorrect or missing it will probably error out very quickly.

And lastly, if you have changed the drive configuration on an OEM install it may also error out.

Unchecking the option to copy system files, which only does the recovery tools, may give you some indication if it works.

 

Creating a recovery drive - machine specific

Thank you. I will be sure to make one for each system. The only problem is it crashes on the desktop right before it would begin writing to the USB drive. But that's another question for another post I guess.

You have told me what I want to know here.

Thnx...

 

When you create a Recovery Drive in Windows 10 via control panel..

It is a windows only recovery - no new programs, no new apps, no personal files..

just windows and current windows updated files

 

@TDPsGM
If you are talking about the bootable recovery drive to allow access to the Advanced Startup Options then you only need the one. If you have already created a bootable Win10 installation disk, then that can also be used to access the same Advanced Startup Options, plus it can be used for an install too. (It's a 2-in-1 solution that saves on disks) *Smile

I recommend you also implement a robust Backup and Imaging procedure to safeguard your system and files, plus a bootable rescue disk to access the backup / images. (Just in case you have not done so already)

 

Thanks for the reply's everyone.

To make sure that we are all on the same page here is what I have done exactly:

I've downloaded from the "Media Creation Tool" from Microsoft here:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

And I used it to create the bootable "Upgrade/Install USB" to Win10.
After upgrading the systems I wiped them out and used the same device to do a "CLEAN" install of Win10 on all of the machines in my house.

2 are the same Identical model and 1 is different.

It sounds like I can make just a SINGLE Recovery drive for the 2 that are the same . . . and that would be better than using the install drive that I have just made as it would have all the updates as well (Not that there are that many as of right now).

For the OTHER computer that is different, I should make another recovery drive because it may have different Drivers, etc, than the first 2. Is that correct?

Lastly, to be clear, I 'could' use the install drive I have created to do the install on all 3 of them as the "Recovery" Drive. Is that correct?

(Backups already taken care of with Syncback Pro)

 

It all depends on what you plan to use the Recovery Disk for. ie What scenarios do you envision it is going to protect you against? If you can provide a detailed answer to this question, then I will be able to answer your other question.

 

For some reason I get the impression that @TDPsGM is confusing imaging with recovery.

Apologies if I'm wrong.

 

I've got the same/similar questions. There are two purposes that I want a recovery drive for.
1. when one of my computers has a total hard drive failure and needs to be replaced (in the past this has caused a major headache).
2. when i want to do a clean install of Windows 10 if the system is getting laggy or otherwise needs refreshing.

Can I use the one recovery USB drive for all my three Win10 machines and my parents two (all Lenovo Thinkpad but diff models)? I have one USB drive as a Recovery Drive and another USB drive as the Installation Media from the initial download of Win10 which I used for the upgrade from Win7 on all these machines. (Note: I don't want a full system image, I prefer clean installs). Any help on this would be appreciated.

 

Hi mattcraw and welcome to the thread and forum *Smile

• When you are faced with a total hard drive failure the recovery drive is useless and serves no real purpose. Edit: Please note however, the Recovery Drive does include the option to backup system files. The only robust protection when faced with that unfortunate scenario, and it will happen, is to have a full backup of your system held on a another drive. If the failure is down to data corruption of your Windows system then a full system image, again held on a second drive, is by far the easiest way to get everything back in order
• If Windows is getting slow or laggy then then a Recovery Drive can be used to refresh or reset the Windows system. However, a refresh or reset is not guaranteed to work and restore from a system image will work better in this instance. A clean install would be the best option if the slowdown is due to a build-up of trash over time confusing the hell out of your Windows. A restore from an image is quicker and the best option if the slowdown is, for example, due to poor configuration that cannot be traced quickly and easily.

To be honest, I'm 99% certain that everything you can do with a Recovery drive can also be done with a USB Windows Installation Disk. (The 1% doubt comes from never having used a Recovery or installation disk for this purpose as I always have backups and images). In which case you only need the one USB installation disk, containing all the applicable Windows editions for your devices and those belonging to your family. You can create a 4-in-one usb disk that holds four different versions of Windows 10 if you and your family have a number of different flavors.

If your question also reflects a desire to safeguard precious family photos, wedding videos, prom videos, your music collection or whatever else, then you need more than what is on offer from a Recovery Drive or installation disk. You need to backups and/or images on a separate drive or you will risk losing the lot in the worst case scenario (ie catastrophic hardware failure).

Sorry, I know you didn't want to know about images, but I have to answer your questions honestly.

 

The installation media you downloaded from media creation tool to upgrade the 7 devices can be used on any machine to either upgrade in-place or re-install. see Brink's tutorial here - Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade - Windows 10 Forums

If you created a 'recovery drive' from Control Panel>Recovery>Create a recovery drive which brought up this screen, then No.





This drive is unique to each computer. It is basically a copy of the recovery partition with Windows updated system files. If you create one for two computers, you'll immediately see that they differ in size, so draw the obvious conclusion. Here's what MS has to say, too - Create a recovery drive - Windows Help -

2. When the tool opens, make sure Back up system files to the recovery drive is selected and then select Next.
3. Connect a USB drive to your PC, select it, and then select Next > Create. A lot of files need to be copied to the recovery drive, so this might take a while.
4. When it’s done, you might see a Delete the recovery partition from your PC link on the final screen. If you want to free up drive space on your PC, select the link and then select Delete. If not, select Finish.

This leads one to believe it replaces the orig recovery partition or mfr dvd's with updates so you can use it to refresh or reset Win10

 

Thanks for the detaile reply. In regard to valuable files, photos and other data, yes I'm very careful in backing these up in other ways (both cloud and external hdd). In terms of the System Image - To safeguard the abililty to get a clean install do you suggest that I create a system image immediately after a clean install and related updates have been completed (i.e. before the system has had time to get clogged with other rubbish)?

Basically what i'm hearing you recommend is to have 1. a good clean system image and 2. a USB Windows Installation Disk (which I got when upgrading to Win10) for more general or specific use on other machines or when a particular system image is not needed? Does that cover me for the main eventualities? Thanks again for the help

 

No that's not right - a recovery drive (with the Backup System Files option selected) can reinstall Windows onto a new blank hard drive.

Also, if you save your software into a Provisioning Package first, the Recovery Drive can reinstall your software for you.

To answer the original question, my experience is that they are machine-specific; for instance the recovery drive seems to include the drivers for the machine that created them. If the drivers aren't ones which Windows finds automatically, this can be a distinct advantage.

So the advantages of a Recovery Drive (with System Files) over a 'vanilla' Windows ISO are that it includes the right drivers and also can include your software.

The disadvantage is that it doesn't always work - I have a machine where it won't create a Recovery Drive with System Files whatever I try, and I know I'm not the only one.

A full image with something like Macrium is still my recommendation though.

 

I don't think this is correct - it works fine without there being a Recovery Partition and can still reinstall Windows.

 

When Microsoft says this - "4. When it’s done, you might see a Delete the recovery partition from your PC link on the final screen. If you want to free up drive space on your PC, select the link and then select Delete. If not, select Finish."
then I'm led to believe that this is no different than the 8.1 recovery drive creation process where I can create a usb and then delete the recovery partition for more disc space. After deleting it, of course, the usb should work w/o a recovery partition, it basically replaced it and incl the mfr's device drivers, etc. All I know is that I have created recovery drives from the Control Panel for 2 laptops and upon checking properties, they are not the same, even though both are HP's, thus leading me to believe these are device specific although each will lead you to OS reset/reinstall.

So, basically, we agree on your prior statement - "To answer the original question, my experience is that they are machine-specific; for instance the recovery drive seems to include the drivers for the machine that created them. If the drivers aren't ones which Windows finds automatically, this can be a distinct advantage."

I do use Acronis TI 2016 for system images and have a 'universal' one which, if my computer dies, I should be able to mount onto a new, clean machine and have it ready to use the same as the one it was taken from. This is the OS plus preferred programs and settings so I only do one every few months vs a more frequent one on my everyday device. It's one, though, I hope I never HAVE to use. *Rolleyes