How to Create a Custom Recovery Image of Windows 8.1
Windows 8’s Refresh your PC feature is useful when Windows is not working properly or not booting. However, it can be a headache as the user has to reinstall all their programs. Today, we will explore how to create a custom recovery image of your Windows installation, which includes all your installed programs and Metro apps.
Cool Tip: PCs with pre-installed Windows usually have a recovery image already present. You can also create your own recovery image using the recimg command in CMD.
But not everyone is comfortable with using the command line, so there’s an app for that! It’s called RecImgManager, offering a GUI that simplifies the process.
Follow this process to create your own custom recovery image.
Step 1: Download RecImgManager. After installing, open it and you will see the following screen. Make sure you have installed/uninstalled the required apps that you do/do not want in the recovery image. If you have fatal problems with your current Windows installation, do a clean install. After this, click the Backup button.
Step 2: Select the location to save your recovery image. Ensure the drive has enough space, at least 15 GB, to store one recovery image.
Create as many images as you want. Naming the image can be helpful if you wish to create more than one image or differentiate from any other images on your PC. Select the location and give a name to the recovery image, then hit “Backup Now.” Start the process and depending on the number of programs installed, it may take some time to finish.
Step 4: After finishing, the program will display a dialog box, giving you the option to close the application or continue. Click “Close.” To confirm if the image is successfully created, reopen the program and choose “Restore.” The image should now be listed on the screen. If you encounter any errors or do not see the created image, repeat the steps mentioned above.
To refresh the PC, use RecImgManager. Open it and select “Restore” on the first screen. It will display the available recovery images. Choose the one you made to begin the restore process.
Conclusion
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That’s how you create a custom recovery image of Windows. Store it on a separate drive so you can still refresh your PC if your primary hard drive crashes.
As Fred Humiston, the author behind Twothirds.us, I focus on providing practical and easy-to-follow guides and solutions for a variety of technical issues that people commonly face.
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