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Update to Windows 8.1 cleared recovery partitions

Discussion in 'Legacy Windows' started by Gordon, 2013/11/29.

  1. 2013/11/29
    Gordon

    Gordon Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    My new Lenovo laptop G500, came with Win 8 installed. I did not get any kind of Windows media on a DVD or anything. I did the free upgrade to Win 8.1, which cleared my recovery partitions. I think I should have some way to restore my operating system in case of some unknown future event and Microsoft is not going to distribute an ISO image. Is there a way to create an offline disaster recovery image of the operating system and whatever else is needed to restore my system? How? What operating system would it be, 8 or 8.1?

    My laptop came with a number of partitions, with names, but no drive letter assigned. Can you tell me what these partitions are for, what they should contain. As shown by disk manager they are;
    OEM partition, size 1000 MB, 100% free.
    Recovery partition, size 1000 MB, 100% free.
    Recovery partition, size 350 MB, 100% free.
    Recovery partition, size 13.02 GB, 100% free.

    I think that some, maybe all, of all these partitions had some data when the laptop was delivered, but I did not record that information. What I want is a way to recover/restore Windows. I can always re-install all the other applications if needed. Can I store a bootable recovery image on a thumb drive and if true, about how much space or how large a thumb drive do I need? What is the best media to use for this type of long term storage that I hope I never need? I assume that a rescue/recovery image only stores a compressed copy of the Win install files. Is that true?

    Thank you for any help and/or suggestions, Gordon
     
  2. 2013/11/29
    retiredlearner

    retiredlearner SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Hi Gordon, I have a HP 1000 Notebook which was new on 1st. September. W8 was installed and through Windows Updates, it has updated to W8.1.
    I was advised on screen that I could make 1(one) only copy to Disc or USB stick which I have done.
    In the event of major problems, this will restore the OS for me.
    Have a look through Control Panel and see about Restore System. There's got to be something there as I understand it's controlled by Windows 8.1.

    You only get one go at it - so be prepared. Neil.
     

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  4. 2013/11/29
    lj50 Lifetime Subscription

    lj50 SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    I had the same problem with a Sony Laptop. Sony support said that once the recovery partitions are deleted they are gone. I was also was told the first thing I should have done was to create a set recovery discs. In the end I had to order the recovery discs from Sony.
     
    lj50,
    #3
  5. 2013/11/30
    lj50 Lifetime Subscription

    lj50 SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    retiredlearner: How many gigs usb stick should you use to create a disc image? My experience with the sony was win 7 Ult and was shipped without any entries in any of the recovery partitions. So I couldn't create any recovery discs. Weird but true. My apologies to Gordon.
     
    Last edited: 2013/11/30
    lj50,
    #4
  6. 2013/11/30
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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  7. 2013/12/01
    Gordon

    Gordon Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Thank you all for the help.
    I finally found a Microsoft article that explains how to create a recovery drive.
    Http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-usb-recovery-drive

    This also works for windows 8.1. It ask for a USB drive of at least 16GB in my case. When finished, I selected the option to remove the disk folder and free up the disk space. This assigned a drive letter to the 13.02GB partition that was one of those empty partitions named 'recovery partition' when I started. Now I know what that partition was for. Still have no idea what the other recovery partitions were for or what they may have contained.

    A suggestion for Microsoft. When upgrading from Windows 8 to 8.1, either don't clear the old recovery partition or rewrite it with windows 8.1 recover files. I don't think that is to much to ask for.

    Gordon
     
  8. 2013/12/01
    lj50 Lifetime Subscription

    lj50 SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    PeteC and Gordon. I will check out the links posted.
     
    lj50,
    #7
  9. 2013/12/01
    retiredlearner

    retiredlearner SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    James, I'm sorry I didn't follow up on your question in #4 Post.
    I used a 32GB USB Thumb drive as I thought it would be foolish to have the transfer get stopped through lack of room.
    The messages I got on screen said to make sure the Storage device had sufficient room so that the task could be completed without hitch.
    In fact, the transfer took up 11.2GB of the thumb drive. I would think a 16GB USB drive will do. These days you have to choose between USB 2 or 3 when buying drives. The USB 3 drives are slowly coming down in price and if you have USB 3 ports on your comp - why not? Neil.
     

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