Windows 10: Creating a Recovery Drive USB

I have recently updated to Version 1511 and thought I would try to create a recovery drive on a USB having been unsuccessful when trying in the earlier Windows 10. This time it seemed to be working with the system files box checked, though it seemed to take an age before the USB was required to be inserted. It said I would require a USB of 8GB minimum capacity so I used a 16GB size.

When it finished creating the drive ( I did not see the actual finish but no messages were left on screen) I noticed that the USB had only a little over 1 GB of information loaded.

I assume something is amiss and wonder if someone could provide an explanation. I would probably find it useful if I could be told what files I should expect to find on the USB and the size of each. The files in my USB are titled: boot; efi; sources; bootmgr; bootmgr.efi and reagent. The sources file ( 1GB) is by far the largest.

Thanks.

:)

 

Creating a Recovery Drive on USB flash Drive

Hi,

Since it didn't work using a USB, we suggest that you try to create a Recovery Drive on an external hard drive and check if it will work. Some times using higher storage device like external hard drive can help in utilizing the files.

Keep us posted.

 

Creating a Recovery Drive on USB flash Drive

Windows 10 installation media should be downloaded on your local drive and it has a size of approximately
17.7 MB. Doing an in-place upgrade is extremely safe. It does not invalidate your
OS. In fact, it repairs corrupted system files as well as upgrade your PC.

Do get back to us if you have more questions.

 

The sources folder should contain a reconstruct.wim and a few more files...
I would say at least 4 GB

 

The Sources folder contains two 1kb files: $PBR_Diskpart and $PBR_ResetConfig together with Reconstruct.WIM which is approx. 650,000 kb in size and that's all.

 

I just did it the old fashioned way. Created a Recovery/Restore DVD.

 

Well, then I would try again... Windows recreates itself from the files in the winsxs folder..
And it should be a lot more then a 1GB wim..

Although since you got a reconstruct.wim - it copied some system files, just not all of them...

ALSO - insert your USB stick first - before running the Create a Recovery Drive option

 

Used Rufus to make a USB stick. Thanks for the info.

 

Thanks all. I will try your suggestions and report back, but probably after Xmas.

 

Windows will Reformat the USB again anyway,,,During the creation process...

 

Thanks all. I used Rufus, though accept this may have been a waste of time as the stick would have been reformatted in the creation program. I also inserted the memory stick without waiting for the instruction in the program. The memory stick is now loaded to a little in excess of 4GB and the program concluded by indicating that the recovery drive was now ready for use.

 

That seems about right now..

 

I also made a Recovery USB Flash Drive... About 3 Gig of Files Total... With the Reconstruct.WIM 2.7 GIG
Once I was done... I wasn't satisfied...

So I took the Files and Copied Them To My Hard Drive In A Subfolder called Recovery
Then... I used Rufus to write the MBR Bios ID when I redid the format using any image.iso
Reflect.iso or easeus.iso it didn't matter. I wanted the ... Press any Key To Boot From USB
and I wanted a Progress Bar to show me how long before the files loaded 100%

I consider these two things very important... I have a Progress Bar Loading Files Far Left... that I keep handy

MEGA

it's just a modified bootmgr.exe.mui type file plus a few other files that seem to make the USB
Drive load faster... I have used it on about 6 of my Flash Drives and I got it from my Gandolf WinPE
originally the one that has portable apps installed and loads the internet for me.

That is how I make a Recovery USB Flash Drive... Far Superior because I don't have to
take out the Flash Drive... I have the option to press any key to run the Flash Drive
and I get a Progress Bar... With Loading Files..... on the Far Left ... It's just the way I like it.

I hope my sharing how to make any Flash Drive Better... Helps someone who like to do things and
likes them done right.

The Setting on Rufus are under Advanced next to the Format Options
Checkmark Use Rufus MBR Bio's ID to get the Press Any Key To Boot From USB...