Create Recovery Partition in Windows 10 | 2 Easy Ways
Why create Windows 10 recovery partition?
Microsoft has announced that Windows 10 no longer requires a separate recovery image, which will benefit most users by saving disk space and allowing them to easily restore the system using the "Reset this PC" feature in case of a breakdown.
Windows 10's Reset function only reinstalls the system to factory settings, erasing all software added during usage, which often leads to user regret. Contrary to popular belief, creating a recovery partition for Windows 10 is actually a good idea, as it allows users to restore their system to a previous state without reinstalling everything. This can be a lifesaver in case of system crashes or software issues. By creating a recovery partition, users can avoid the hassle of reinstalling all their software and settings, making it a worthwhile precaution.
Here are some common situations where you need to create a recovery partition:
- Mistakenly delete the original recovery partition.
- You need to do system upgrade or reinstall.
- Your computer does not come along with a recovery partition.
You may wonder how to create a custom recovery partition on Windows 10. Fortunately, there are two ways to achieve this: using the built-in tool or a third-party tool like Qiling Disk Master. I'll introduce you to these methods in this article, providing you with a convenient solution to create a custom recovery partition for your Windows 10 system.
Way 1: Create a recovery partition in Windows 10 with built-in tool
To create a recovery drive in Windows 10, use the Recovery Drive option to create a recovery drive in Windows 10 with a USB drive, requiring a USB drive of at least 512MB in size, with a 64-bit computer needing at least 16GB.
Create a recovery drive
Note: To proceed, please ensure that any important files on the USB drive are backed up to a safe location, as the data on the USB drive will be deleted during the process.
Step 1. 1. Connect the USB drive to your computer.
Step 2. To create a Windows 10 recovery drive, open the Start menu, type "recovery drive" into the search box, and select "Create a recovery drive" from the listed results. This will allow you to create a bootable USB drive that can be used to recover your system in case of a failure.
Step 3. In the pop-out window, select the option to back up system files to the recovery drive and click Next.
Note: The "Back up system files to the recovery drive" option is useful, especially when troubleshooting is not possible, as it allows for a computer reinstall via the "Reset this PC" feature.
Step 4. Connect the USB flash drive, select it and click "Next" to continue.
Step 5. Click "Create" to begin creating the recovery drive.
Recover from a drive
After the creation process completes, you can quickly restore your system using the "Recover from a drive" option, making the recovery process easy and straightforward.
1. To boot from a Windows 10 recovery USB drive, start by inserting the USB drive into your computer and then restart your system. Once your computer is booting from the USB drive, click on the "Next" button until you see the "Troubleshoot" option.
2. To recover from a drive, go to Troubleshoot, then select Recover from a drive. This will initiate the recovery process.
3. You will be asked to select the reset option, either "Just remove my files" or "Clean the drive fully". After making your selection, confirm the changes and click "Recover" to initiate the process. This will take a while, depending on the size of your hard drive, and then your PC will restart.
Way 2: Make a universal recovery partition with Qiling Disk Master
Here you will use OneKey System Backup in Qiling Disk Master to create a recovery partition in Windows 11/10/8/7/XP/Vista (both 32bit & 64bit) as well as system backup, restoring your computer to its exact previous state, including OS, programs, drivers, and personal data, suitable for all brands like HP, Dell, ASUS, and Lenovo.
By using this feature, you can choose to backup your system to the Qiling Disk Master Partition or another location. If you select the first option, it will automatically create a partition on your computer and save the backup image to it, without assigning a drive letter to the recovery partition. This reduces the risk of mistakenly deleting the backup image and recovery partition.
This tool allows you to add a boot menu to your computer and specify a key to access it, such as A or F11. This enables you to quickly factory reset a desktop or laptop computer by booting from a USB drive, without needing to create a separate bootable USB.
Qiling Disk Master supports Windows Server 2022/2019/2016 systems, allowing for a try with a download.
Create a recovery partition
To create a recovery partition in Windows 10 safely and include everything on your computer, start by creating a system image of your computer using the built-in tool, Windows Backup and Restore (Windows 10). This will save a snapshot of your entire system, including all installed programs, settings, and files.
Step 1. Choose "Onekey System Backup".
Step 2. 1. Select "Backup system to Qiling Disk Master Partition (Recommended)" and click Next.
Note: If your computer's system partition is running low on space, you can choose to backup the system to another location, which can help avoid low disk space issues.
Step 3. Select a partition to save the recovery partition and confirm by clicking “Proceed”.
Qiling Disk Master will use some free space from the destination to create a recovery partition, and if there is unallocated space, it will be used by default.
Wait until the creation process ends, you will have both system image backup and recovery partition.
Restore from the recovery partition
You can use Qiling Disk Master Partition to recover your computer in the event of a disaster. The recovery process involves using the software to create a bootable USB drive, which can then be used to boot your computer and access the operating system, allowing you to recover your files and settings. This can be a lifesaver in the event of a hardware failure, virus infection, or other disaster that renders your computer unusable.
1. Open the software, select "OneKey System Recovery", and press F11 or A to access it and restore the system if your computer can't boot.
2. Choose "Restore system by using the image file in Qiling Disk Master Partition" and click Next.
3. Click "Proceed" after confirming.
FAQs about Windows recovery partition
1. Is recovery partition necessary?
A recovery partition, created by Windows, is not necessary for booting or running Windows, but keeping it can be helpful for repair purposes.
2. Does Windows 10 automatically create a recovery partition?
If you install Windows 10 on a blank disk with a single block of unallocated space, the disk will be automatically partitioned and a recovery partition will be created.
3. Can I copy recovery partition to new drive?
You can copy the recovery partition to a new hard drive when your system drive is out of space.
Final words
Creating a recovery partition in Windows 10 is crucial to repair your computer when accidents occur. You can utilize the built-in recovery drive feature or opt for a third-party tool like Qiling Disk Master to achieve this.
I prefer using Qiling Disk Master because it's simple, safe, and flexible. I can create a recovery partition and system image in 3 steps, and make them hidden. I can also add a boot menu to my computer. This is in contrast to [insert other tool here], which I find less desirable.
The created recovery partition is universal and can be used on all brands of computer, regardless of the operating system, including Windows 11/10/8/7/XP/Vista (32bit and 64bit) or Windows Server 2022/2019/2016/2012.
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