Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Win 8.1 recovery discs "no go"

Aug 7, 2014 12:56PM PDT

I tried to make recovery discs but Win 8.1 won't allow that anymore. This is from a MS full install disk, not OEM partition or similar. I tried the flash drive method and it did do that. However, the customer had only a USB flash drive adapter that allows MSD to fit. It accepted that and created the recovery flash drive using that setup. However, upon rebooting it just doesn't go into recovery mode. It just sits there prior to boot menu setup after pressing [ESC] for the laptop. What is going on? I know the flash drive is holding the boot process after I press [ESC] to enter boot menu for the laptop, what gives. I really don't think a true flash drive will work as well, though i couldn't test that at the time.

Win8.1 32-bit installed and updated
HP probook 4510s
2gb ram
celeron cpu

I figured maybe a bios update, but since any bios update would require Win7 to proceed, I didn't push my luck in creating a brick or simply won't work regardless.

TIA -----Willy Shocked

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Clarification Request
Is flash and port
Aug 7, 2014 10:53PM PDT

USB 2.0 or 3.0? Try everything 2.0.

- Collapse -
USB 2.0 only
Aug 8, 2014 2:37AM PDT

I use only USB 2.0 on everything. I have issues with USB 3.0 and just never trusted it, IMHO. FYI- I had tried to boot from the menu, it just sits there, which is odd. Removing the USB flash drive, it boots as it should. I just wish I had a blank drive at the time to test before leaving. I did recommend getting a new flash drive and redo the recovery process and create another. I had resolved alot, my head was hurting trying anything else may have cause an issue. Wink adios -----Willy Happy

- Collapse -
Resourceful owner!
Aug 8, 2014 4:07AM PDT

I noticed 8.1 is unsupported for this model at hp.com so either it used W7 drivers or owner somehow found 8.1 drivers.

You may have a point about SD adapter not supporting boot. Try Bob's way.

One last thing. Practically no imaging software can recover when HP ProtectTools Manager is installed and therefore on the image. But since OS is 8.1, I doubt ProtectTools is present, altho as title says "owner is resourceful".

- Collapse -
Return trip
Aug 17, 2014 10:16AM PDT

I should have explained in prior earlier post that Win7 was the original OS. The user had upgraded to Win8.1. It did take the upgrade and all w/o a hitch and all was settled in. However, any bios update would require the Win7 OS to proceed which I wouldn't do because of all that has been done may become a brick. Yes, the HP tools partition was present, which as you explained maybe another reason why it couldn't use the boot menu as was expected.

If I had done this from the start, I would created Win7 recovery discs, then wipe out the HD and then install Win81.. In other words a fresh clean install and probable last issue wouldn't have been present. Too late, already explained to user, but it works for now. I have the feeling if these were Win8.1 recovery "discs" it may have booted that way.

tada -----Willy Happy

- Collapse -
Answer
I think on some machines we'll have to resort to old ways.
Aug 8, 2014 2:34AM PDT
- Collapse -
I figure...
Aug 8, 2014 8:05AM PDT

If Win 8.1 came as an OEM installed OS, I mind have been able to create disks. However, as i later found or was forced to remember that disks can't be made under Win 8.1 as std. procedure. But, I find you could google it if you follow some other advise. making everything work up to that point became tasking. I just didn't want to introduce a problem when 99% of the work was already done, thus leery. I realize the HP PC was an older one but could easily handle Win8.1 as it took little to get it going other than the "fine points".

It seems just everything is going well, a little wrench gets thrown-in. -----Willy Happy

- Collapse -
I made some disc'c Willy
Aug 8, 2014 8:10AM PDT

you probably don't remember me whining because at least 1/2 of the dual layer dvd's were bad but it did work.

Digger