Setup Installation :: HDD To SSD With System Recovery Disks - No Bootable Media
Jun 22, 2013
Not sure if it's Lenovos only, but trying to migrate Windows 8 OEM to an SSD has been a huge pain in the ass. This process should not be as difficult as Lenovo/Microsoft has made it.
I purchased a Y400 along with a 256G SSD. I'd like to clean install Windows onto the SSD, I did not want to copy image. I went through forums for hours trying to put a recovery system on a usb with no luck (even with the instructions given by a Lenovo moderator on their website), I kept getting "missing partition drive". I broke down and paid Lenovo the ridiculous "shipping charge" of $59 for the recovery disks.
These are my steps so far:
-My SSD is installed and I removed the HDD (until Windows 8 was installed, I'd then format it)
-Put Disk 1 into the optical drive (Disk 1 states it's the format sequence and starting point for restore, Windows 8 actually on disk 2, I believe)
-Pressed the "Novo" button on the left side of the machine (gives options of Normal Startup, BIOS Setup, Boot Manager and System Recovery)
*FYI - Boot Manager lists: Windows Boot Manager and 2 EFI volumes (when HDD is plugged in, just the EFI's when uninstalled)
System Recovery only works with the HDD installed and it's Lenovo's One Key Recovery which just restores to a restoration point.*
Went into BIOS setup
Tabbed over to "Security"
Disabled the "Secure Boot"
Tabbed over to "Boot"
Changed the Boot Mode to "Legacy Support"
Changed Boot Priority to "Legacy First"
Saved then exited.
Pressed the "Novo" button once more, went into BIOS setup
Tabbed back to "Boot"
Boot device priority was now displayed with SATA ODD, SSD and Network Boot.
I reordered to boot from SATA ODD
Saved and exited
Upon restart, I pressed F12 (select boot device), and chose the SATA ODD
It went into a DOS looking screen and gives "No Bootable Device - Insert boot disk and press a key"
I've also tried variations of the above procedures for a few hours with no luck.
I have not tried to boot from "Lenovo Recovery System" (which is only available with the HDD installed), I figured it would default to the HDD and not let me chose to install onto SSD.
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Jan 6, 2013
I bought a new PC the other day, and it has Windows 8. It advised me to make recovery disks, so I started the Setup Wizard. However, when it tried to actually burn the first disk there was an error, and it didn't complete.
Now, when I try to do the recovery disks again, right after it has prepared the files, the following error comes up: "Unhandled Exception: cannot create a file when that file already exists.".
So i'm a bit stuck. Is there a way to get my recovery disks done?
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Jul 25, 2013
My daughter brought her Gateway NE71B laptop to me because it was running like a snail. She had NO anti-virus software so I plugged in an external HDD and created what I thought was a Recovery Partition. When I had the computer boot to the external drive I tried the auto repair twice and failed both times.
When I tried to recover from the external drive I got an error message that said I/O error that could be caused by the fact that a portable device needed to be plugged in to continue.
Didn't know what to do so I unplugged the drive and tried again. No bootable devices found. Plugged the external drive back in and got the same I/O error. So I thought I'd just order the recovery media from Gateway. The day it arrived, I put the System Recovery disk in, It booted to the recovery screen with 3 options; Full recovery (original factory setup), Full recovery after removing data and Exit. I've tried both the first 2 options and up pops a window that says; Recovery must be done in Legacy Mode.
So I changed the bios from UEFI to legacy, restarted the computer with the Sys. Disk still in DVD tray, It start to load the recovery screen and up pops a window that says; Recovery Can Only Be Done In UEFI Mode.
If I were to guess, I would say I have an MBR virus and it's playing tricks with me. I've ordered a new identical hard drive to install when it arrives and hope to be able to get the recovery media to get back to normal.
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Mar 25, 2014
it goes thru all 3 disks and then says failed...I have reset EUFI and CSM & formatted drive...it is maddening....I have 3 HP 2000 doing the SAME THING!!! what is going on with simple wipe and reinstall FROM THEIR recovery media...the other 2 are Toshiba using USB...
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Apr 19, 2014
Setting up a dual boot with Win 7x64 on a 120GB SSD. The partition for Win 8 has 48 GB, but the install is failing: "Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk has an MBR partition table. On EFI systems, Windows can only be installed to GPT disks." The first time I tried with the partition formatted, the second with it unallocated, both getting the same result. What am I missing?
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May 29, 2014
I pay a used laptop Sony Vaio SVF 143100c from china , they install windows 8 Enterbrise and no other software or drivers
when I check I found a recovery volume on the hard disk I assign this volume and copy all the recovery content to external Hard disk, size is 18 GB
and the product key is valid for Win 8 RTM CoreCountrySpecific OEMM,
I don't have a Recovery Media disk or usb to return to Factory condition, how to create a recovery disk to access tis image and re install tis laptop to Factory condition
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Aug 22, 2014
All of a sudden I can't reliably play any video media on my Win 8 64bit computer -- was working fine yesterday and AFAIK nothing (other than perhaps Windows automatic updates) changed. My first thought was to try and restore but even though I'm sure I created a restore point it tells me there isn't one. Sigh.
Okay, so then I try to perform a reset (but keeping all my files) and it tells me some files are missing and to insert my recovery media. All well and good, I actually have that (and know where it is) but when I insert the disk it tells me it is NOT a recovery disk.
It is, of course, precisely that -- a Windows 8 Recovery Media for Windows 8 Products 64 bit. I am running an official copy of Win 8 (well, 8.1, but I have no media for that since it was a free update). Yes, it's OEM (Dell) but that shouldn't make a difference. And, more importantly, what I am to do now?
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Jul 13, 2013
I will need to do a complete system recovery. My computer originally came with windows 7 and then downloaded and installed windows 8. I have my product key. When I downloaded windows 8 it gave me the option of burning a copy of windows 8 to a dvd, however I did not do that. Whenever I do a system recovery will I be able to get windows 8 back without having to pay for another download?
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Nov 28, 2013
I recently did an update of my machine from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1. The update process did not show any errors or warnings and by the time it finished I was under the impression that everything went smooth.
After the update I was testing the environment and discovered that one of my desktop applications stopped working, I went to the developer's website and indeed I found there is a known issue with their software on 8.1 and to solve it, I had to completely uninstall the software and then install it once more. So I went to Programs and Features in order to do so and to my surprise the Uninstall button was missing from the interface. Right-clicking an item and selecting uninstall from the menu gives a warning message suggesting that the application might have already been uninstalled and asks if I wanted to remove the application from the Programs list. However, clicking OK or Cancel just closes the message box and nothing happens.
So I went and tried to Refresh My PC; Once I clicked Refresh My PC the verification process started and indeed it told my that some system files are missing and that it should take care of it provided I insert my Windows disc. Now since its an OTA update from Win 8 to 8.1 I thought that MS knows that some people will not have a physical copy of 8.1 and so I inserted my Windows 8 Pro System Builder disc hoping it would work, but sadly as you might have guessed, it did not. It told me that I needed the 8.1 recovery disc.
Now I have been looking everywhere for a recovery image to download and use to fix my problem, everywhere I go it suggests that I make my own copy. But how am I supposed to do that if my Windows is faulty and has missing files. I really don't wanna go back to Windows 8 and re-upgrade to 8.1. I have a monitored internet bandwidth and I cannot go and download the 3 GB 8.1 update once more.
How can I repair my 8.1 machine?
I came across this article describing how to get an ISO image for 8.1 with a Windows 8 product Key. However, entering my Windows 8 Pro System Builder (OEM) key in the box fails and tells me that the key I entered is not for this product.
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Nov 25, 2013
I have a Dell Inspiron 7720. I have created an uefi bootable usn flash disk with rufus 1.4b
I'm trying to boot from it so i can create a Windows 8.1 uefi installation and the problem is that the usb flash disk wont boot.
I have secure boot enabled and legacy option rom disabled.
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May 13, 2014
I can't browse well from my phone at work does this file exist anywhere? I have an 8 upgraded to 8.1 but caused all kinds of issues with registries and such. I want to reformat and clean install 8.1 SP1 if possible when I get home.
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Nov 29, 2013
I'm running Windows 8.1 on an UEFI system, clean installed from my USB-key created with Rufus. But when I try to boot with this USB-key on my older PC (which does not have UEFI), then before installing Windows it says that there is no HDD or partition Windows can be installed in? I can then boot again with USB-key select rep. PC, start cmd, change the HDD to GPT, then Windows can be installed, but then it can't boot from the HDD!!
How do I make a bootable USBkey with Windows 7 or Windows 8 that can be installed on an ordinary MBR HDD? I need to make it on my system running GPT SSD.
I have tried this:
CMD (elevated)
diskpart
list disk
select disk (selected my USB)
clean
create partition primary
active
assign
exit
and then copied my windows 8 dvd onto it.
It will boot, but Windows will only install on a GPT HDD.
What to do?
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Aug 19, 2013
I tried the sys command which used to work under older operating systems.
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Feb 5, 2013
Ive used pirated bootables with preinstalled product keys in the past but am now on the straight and narrow, wanting to add my product key to my legitimate copy of windows 8. This way I wont have to worry about having it written down, losing it or entering it incorrectly, since it will be automatically entered for me. How I can add the product key to my bootable image?
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Sep 28, 2013
I downloaded MICROSOFT.WINDOWS.8.1.RTM.X64.ENGLISH.DVD but it wants a product key when I boot from it.
I thought it was supposed to take the product key that is embedded in the BIOS? UEFI is on on BIOS. Am I using the wrong version of Windows 8 DVD?
Toshiba C855-S5350 . I believe it came with Win 8 (regular) x64 . I just want to reinstall the OS.
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Jun 29, 2014
I just bought a Laptop with Windows 8.1 it does not come with an install disk and the supplier flat-out refused to provide one, pointing me to the recovery partition saying that was all I needed.
The recovery program just reinstalls, losing data and does not have Windows trouble shooting options as found on the Windows 8 install disk. How do I create a Windows 8.1 install disk.
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Sep 15, 2014
I have original ISO file from MSDN website - it is Windows 8.1 Update 1 Enterprise (x64) MSDN version with Slovak language interface. I create a bootable DVD (Verbatim DVD-R 4,7GB) in program ISO2Disc. This ISO I would like to install on to my system , more details about my pc - see my system specification. My motherboard is MSI Z77 Mpower with latest version UEFI - BIOS 17.12
I have a few question about installation a new windows 8.1 in uefi mode:
-what a bootable media is better ? I think USB stick or DVD disc
-what the function in the BIOS I must turn on or off, I mean the fast boot or memory fast boot
-UEFI mode is better then LEGACY mode ?
I have a bootable DVD Parted Magic , it is good Partition Manager. I must change MBR format to GPT - only GPT is supported format for UEFI , is it rue ? So , now i should format all disc inside my pc (secure erase for ssd disc and wipe for hhd). I can create NTFS partition with GPT format and aligned to 1204MB for all solid state discs and HDD. I can do this ?
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Nov 15, 2013
I read the tutorial on building a Windows EFI USB stick from the Windows ISO. I want to build an EFI/USB from an ISO of a bootable third party application, which is not designed to boot from UEFI. First, I went through the steps in Diskpart. Then, I copied the files from the third party ISO to the USB stick. Screenshot 34 shows the objects listed from the third party ISO. The second screenshot (35) shows what I have on my Win 8.1 ISO. I tried to just copy the efi folder and bootmgr files from the Win 8 ISO, but my Win 8 system (a VM) didn't like that at all. !
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Oct 1, 2011
Having used Windows 8 satisfactorially for a while now on a VM I'm trying to install it on a real PHYSICAL machine.
To save the hassle of burning DVD's I decided I would like to install from a USB drive however when trying to create a bootable USB stick using the usb tool from the tutorial it always fail with "Cannot copy the files".
I've tried on 3 different USB sticks from different manufacturers so it's almost outside the possibility that all 3 USB sticks are defective. I'm trying to run this on W7 X64.
Screenshot enc
Any links to an alternative tool that will do this ...
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Aug 4, 2013
I'm trying to install wi8 from a bootable usb device, i've this screen for more than 30 minutes now ..
it's NTFS formatted.. i set the BIOS as the following: 1st boot dev. USB-ZIP, 2nd USB-HDD, 3rd USB-CDROM i made it via Windows7-USB-DVD-tool
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Feb 13, 2014
I was given an Acer W510 that came with no recovery media (the original disks or a micro USB flash recovery)
It also does not have the keyboard dock with it. I am stumped as to how I might reset this tablet. How to make a USB recovery drive, that might work but they would have to have the same tablet, right?
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Apr 24, 2014
So I'm trying to run dual OS on my new windows 8 machine. I made a bootable Ubuntu 14.04 usb stick using Rufus, disabled secure boot and proceeded in attempting to install the system. However, (settings->general->advanced startup->use a device) won't detect my bootable USB. It won't boot from it at startup either, no matter how much I fiddle with the UEFI settings.
Well, I guess that is not entirely true, as I managed to get it to boot and install ubuntu after switching the UEFI boot settings to legacy boot. But windows 8 does not work under that option, so I'm having to go and change the UEFI boot setting every time I wish to use a different OS.
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Jun 20, 2014
If you have a recovery drive - that includes the recovery partition - made on one computer, but have a toshiba laptop with a bad drive (but the recovery partition is ok), can you replace/copy the partition on the recovery drive with the recovery partition from the bad laptop HD?
My friend's laptop would not boot, and would not factory recover, reset, or refresh. I tried to clone the hard drive before I started messing with the disc. It would not clone, but I was able to copy the recovery partition to a USB drive.
He never make recovery discs, so could not re-install, but I can borrow the recovery drive that my aunt made for her laptop.
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Jul 24, 2014
In Windows 8.1 they removed option to create bootable DVD/BluRay recovery. Only USB drive left.
I bought new laptop with recovery partition and I want to move backup to DVD's/BluRay. How can I do that? I don't want to do backup of backup. I want to recovery directly from DVD's/BluRay.
So using of tools, which backup this recovery parition isn't solution. Than I have to restore partition and from partition restore system. I tried backup on usb and burn all files to disc, but BluRay didn't became bootable. USB was.
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Jul 9, 2014
How to make a Widows 8.1 DVD disk that works as a recovery disk.What your actually making is an Windows 8.1 Enterprise Evaluation installation disk. When the disk boots up, you select repair disk instead of install. This will give you access to all the repair programs as well as system image recovery option.
All you have to is, go to this webpage (Download Windows 8.1 Enterprise Evaluation) and download the ISO for Windows 8.1 Enterprise evaluation. This will let download the ISO file. Warning, this file is 3.7 gig big and takes a few minutes. After that simply burn to disk. When you boot this disk, just choose repair instead of install. Just note, that like all install disk it takes time to load. 2 minutes and 20seconds on my machine.
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Oct 4, 2014
I purchased a new dell vostro 5470 computer. During the initial setup is Stuck on the screen of define new wireless network connection and did not respond to anything including attempts to shutdown (from button), I waited until the battery is empty and turned on again, the moment he came directly to Dell's Auto Repair.
It does not allow any system recovery.
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Jan 28, 2013
Is it possible not to have the partition "recovery"?
Because if you look at the two tutorials:
- UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Forums
- UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 8 with
In the tutorial to install Windows 7 in UEFI, there is not that damn partition recovery, while in the tutorial for Windows 8, we can see it.
When I install Windows 7 (MBR mode), I avoid this partition "recovery" by creating a partition with a name before installation. I install the OS on it and everything is fine, no partition "recovery" But here, since one must delete all partitions, If I create a GPT disk with a partitioning tool before installing, is that it might be appropriate?
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Jan 24, 2014
I have a Lenovo Z710 laptop(see spec's)and want to make a recovery USB and also setup a backup system. This is a new machine and I don't want to make a mess of it.
I have a 32GB USB drive to make the Recovery on.Lenovo refers me to this method to make a Recovery USB :Methodology to create Recovery Media and reload a Lenovo Think system with Microsoft Windows 8 preload
Is this a good way to do this or is there a better way ?
I also need to setup a backup system, what is the best program to use for this, paid or not ?
I have a 1TB HDD in an external enclosure with 3.0 USB cable to use for the backup's.
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Mar 22, 2014
I'm trying to understand the licence on my Windows 8 Media. I bought Windows 8.0 last year, not an upgrade, and not with a PC.
It's got a section on installing on a PC for personal use. I want to un-install/remove from 1 PC, and install it on a New PC.
It's not clear how I achieve this.? The only 3 things it's say's I cant do:
- Use as upgrade
- Legalize a non-genuine install
- License more than 5 copies for commercial use.??
So is there a method to follow to avoid activation issues.? And it telling me this is already installed on another PC.?
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Aug 7, 2014
I upgraded Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 via the Windows store and so. Do not have a DVD or any media to do a refresh or recovery ... I need to refresh Windows 8.1 as many of my apps do not open.
I tried this from this site here. All went fine but when i went to refresh windows cannot find any media again.
How to: REFRESH your Windows 8.1 installation without installation media.
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Feb 6, 2014
I have in my possession an HP Pavilion a1230n desktop compulator. I was told that it crashed some time ago and was only used for simple things as it was deemed not trust worthy and stable. It was running Windows xp until about two weeks ago when the power at the person's house went out suddenly and the ntldr was corrupted and wouldn't boot, obviously the solution to that was to do a clean install but as xp is to be dead soon, the decision was made to go to the Windows 8.1.
It seems as if this is genuinely possessed by an evil spirit, as I was told by the owner, because LITERALLY NOTHING I've done is allowing me to install Windows 8.1, not even booting into the USB installer of 8.1, or even trying to run Windows 8.1. Normally I deploy Windows through DISM and my custom .wim file onto the hard drive and I boot into WinPE or a neutered Windows installer USB and apply boot files to the drive and it works just fine. That hasn't worked. I had 8.1 on the target drive, was actually able to get the DVD installer to run, although this was the second time since the first run of it didn't even find a hard drive when I plugged it back in, and apply boot files successfully. I restarted, but it ran for about a few seconds and ran into continuous reboots before it said that the install needs to be repaired.
Then I tried to actually run the DVD installer of straight up vanilla Windows 8 to see if maybe there was a CPU requirement not being met, but the installation failed about 47% through. I THINK the error code was 0xc0000221, not sure though. Next I tried remaking a THIRD USB installation of 8.1, but EVERY single time when I boot off into the USB drive, it takes at least five minutes (normally it shouldn't take so long) before any activity on screen shows. But EVERY time, it hangs up and restarts. The error code I got for sure with that was elxstor.sys 0xc0000221. In one of the failed attempts of installing, it was the same thing but with a different .sys file.
The thing is I KNOW for sure my .iso images of Windows are perfectly fine I was just recently used the previous USB installer to deploy 8.1 onto a laptop just yesterday but doesn't work on this PC. The compulator in question is 64 bit capable and as far as I know meets the Windows 8 CPU requirements. I've disconnected EVERY peripheral even the keyboard, and obviously reconnected the keyboard and ran it again. I've cleared the CMOS. I have the USB and keyboard connected to the motherboard's USB ports and not the headers. I've also gone to the extent of using a third party, non-partisan hard drive with Windows 8.1 deployed on it to try and install boot files on that to see if hard drive issues may be present from the PC's drive. That also didn't work nor did installing Windows onto that separate drive from the DVD work either. I've checked the PC's hard drive for errors, everything is ok.
I've installed Windows at least over 100 different times from VMs to many different PCs, but this is literally the first one to cause such an issue I can't even think of why. Although, thinking about it, I do remember once with a slightly older HP desktop when I was trying to run a Windows 7 To Go drive off of it, it just wouldn't run whatsoever and I had to fix the bcdboot files for it run again.
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