Limitations on Creating Windows 10 Restore Disk

[Hannigan]

I could swear when I set up my HP Envy Touch Screen computer that I was told that I could only create a Windows 10 recovery disk on a jump drive ONCE. That was ages ago, and I've been through seemingly scores of windows 10 updates, and I thought it might be time to update it or create a new one.  Are there any restrictions on the number of times I can do this? Either through Microsoft or HP?

Thanks

[TheOldMan]

The HP routine will only allow the one time creation.  The HP will return it to the way it was from the factory, with no updates.   There are other choices that would be for the time the backup was made, however. Then is case of a failure or a reinstall, all updates ETC would be included.  You can make a system image, store it on an external media and keep it safe.  Any choices other than that might not bring the system back with all update and personal data.

[WAWood]

@Hannigan

My suggestion is you consider using a third-party solution known as Macrium Reflect (MR).

I prefer to use third-party recovery solutions for the following reasons:
1) More flexibility and reliabilty -- can make recovery media as often as you like, not restricted to one attempt, which if it fails, then you are stuck.
2) More media options -- can create media in DVD, USB stick, or external drive format
3) Mounting option -- can "mount" the save images as virtual "drives" and extract individual files and folders
4) WinPE boot option -- can install a special boot option that allows you to boot to recovery information and do a repair or restore from there -- when Windows will not boot

What I recommend is the following:
1) Download and install Macrium Reflect (MR) from here: http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx
2) Run MR and choose the option: "Create an image of the partition(s) required to backup and restore Windows" to write a full backup to an external drive, USB stick, or DVDs
3) Use the option to create a boot USB stick or CD

My experience is that MR, when using the High Compression option, typically can compress the saved image file to about 50% of the USED space in the OS partition. This means if you have an 80GB OS partition, and 40GB is used, MR only needs about 20GB to store the image file.

I use this all the time and it typically takes less than 10 minutes to do the image backup and about the same time or less to do a restore. Plus, MR has the option to Add a Recovery Boot Menu entry. This allows you then to boot into WinPE, and you can then use that to do a restore -- when you can't boot into Windows!

NOW, you have the means to restore a full working system from the external drive, USB or DVDs stick in only a few minutes.

Good Luck

[Big_Dave]

@Hannigan

HP has in the past limited the creation of the HP recovery media to a one-time process. This media would allow you to restore your PC to a factory day one condition. That may not be the most convenient process if your have made significant changes to your PC.

I also use a third party hard drive imaging product (Paragon)to keep current backups of the hard drive.

Hint: This may be too late for you now but before I even boot up Windows on a new PC I boot up Paragon and image copy the entire HP off to external media for safe keeping.