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How to Restore Windows Operating System with a USB Recovery Drive

Wondershare Recoverit Authors

Jan 15, 2024 • Filed to: Windows Computer Solutions • Proven solutions

usb recovery drive for pc

The system recovery tools are some of the best features for the users. It is recommended that the user creates a USB flash drive with system restoration options that can be used to restore the system. It is also to be noted that the user should also make sure that the windows repair option is selected when this flash drive is being used. Selection of any other option might corrupt Windows and that would lead to terrible data loss. In this tutorial, a step by step guide to making the USB recovery drive for windows 7 and 8 pro will be discussed. The restoration of the system will also be discussed in detail and the user should follow all the steps with to make sure that the system is restored without any loss or damage:

1 How to Create a USB Recovery Drive on Windows 7?

Please make sure that you completely follow every step below to create a USB recovery drive.

1. The USB drive used for the purpose should be formatted.

restore Windows system with a usb recovery Drive

2. The user then needs to make sure that within the USB two folders by the name of boot and sources are created.

restore Windows 7 with a usb recovery Drive

3. In Windows, both the folders that have been created are hidden by default and the user needs to make sure that they are unhidden by clicking the folder and then clicking the option as depicted below.

restore Windows 7 with the usb recovery tool

4. The recovery folder should then be accessed.

Access to restore Windows 7 with a usb recovery Drive

5. From this folder, the user needs to make sure that the boot.SDI file is copied.

How to restore Windows 7 with a usb recovery Drive

6. The user then needs to make sure that within the USB drive, the file is renamed as boot.wim.

Rename files to restore Windows 7 with a usb recovery Drive

7. The path i.e. C: WindowsBootDVDPCAT should be followed and the user should make sure that the BCD file is copied to the boot folder on the USB.

How to restore Windows 7 system with a usb recovery Drive

8. From the path C: WindowsBootDVDPCATen-US the user needs to make sure that the bootfix.bin file is copied to the boot folder.

How to recover Windows system with a usb recovery Drive

9. For the last step, the user needs to make sure that the path C:WindowsBootPCAT is followed and the bootmgr file is copied to the root of the stick.

How to restore Windows 7 operating system with a usb recovery Drive

10. The new USB version of the windows is ready.

Ready to restore Windows system with a usb recovery Drive

2 How to Create a USB Recovery Drive on Windows 8?

This is also a simple process that should be followed completely and in order.

1. The Run or the search option should be accessed by pressing the Winkey + W. The Word recovery should then be searched to open the proper file.

How to restore Windows 8 with a usb recovery Drive

2. In the next window, the user needs to make sure that the option of Yes is selected.

restore Windows 8 with a usb recovery Drive

3. The create a recovery partition dialogue box will open and the user needs to make sure that the option as depicted in the screenshot below is also checked.

recover Windows 8 with a usb recovery Drive

4. The drive should then be selected.

How to restore Windows system with a usb recovery Drive

5. Windows will then warn the user that the contents will be deleted and the user should press the create button.

How to restore Windows system with a usb recovery Drive

6. Once the drive is ready, the finish button should be pressed to finish the process.

How to restore Windows system with a usb recovery Drive

3 How to Restore Windows System from A USB Recovery Drive?

Again, this process is fairly simple and the user just needs to make sure that Windows is booted from the flash drive containing the correct files. Please follow the steps below:

1. Insert the USB into the port and restart the system. The recovery media on the stick will be used automatically.

usb recovery Drive to restore Windows system

2. Then click the Advanced Options tab to make sure that the file has been extracted and the system is repaired. The other options available there can also be explored for good. The process is now complete.

restore Windows with a usb recovery Drive

4 When the Restoration is Done?

The following things happen when the restoration is complete:

1. Data Files in Place

The user should make sure that the data files from the restoration are in place. This means that the restoration process was a success and nothing needs to be done now as the files have been found with ease.

2. The Desired Repair Has Been Done

This is also one of the points that are to be considered. It is a quick way to determine if the process has been successful. If the repair has not been done, then the user should consult expert advice.

If you lost the data of your flash drive, unfortunately, don't worry! You still have the chance to get lost data back. To recovery files from USB flash drive, you can have a try the following the best flash drive recovery tool.

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Recoverit author

David Darlington

staff Editor

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