Creating a custom recovery partition using freeware?


DJNelson

DJNelson

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This probably sounds a bit ridiculous but because I specialize in resurrecting bricked laptops and giving them back to people who can't afford new ones, I'm looking for an easy way to create the same kind of bootable recovery partitions OEM manufacturers use to include their software setups in a reset, without having to use licensed software that isn't free. I searched for tutorials on this subject, but I didn't find what I'm looking for.. Anyone want to help?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 22H2 Pro (X-lite Micro 11 version)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell/ Precision 7680
    CPU
    i7 13850HX (20 cores, 28 threads)
    Motherboard
    Dell
    Memory
    32GB DDR5
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD/ RTX 1000 ADA
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    4K UHD Touchscreen
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2400
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 512GB system drive
    WD Blue 1TB game drive
    PSU
    240W AC adapter, 1800W when docked
    Internet Speed
    1 gigabit symmetrical
    Browser
    Firefox, Librewolf
    Antivirus
    None. Manully configured so nobody except me can change any critical system files. (Don't ask how, it's probably against some rule somewhere)

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows11 Pro 26200.8524
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Alienware Aurora R16
    CPU
    Intel Core i9 14900F (24 -Core, 68 MB Total Cache)
    Motherboard
    Dell Alienware
    Memory
    32GB DDR5
    Graphics Card(s)
    RTX 4080 Super w/581.95
    Sound Card
    Realtec
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Corsair XENEON 32QHD165
    Screen Resolution
    2560 X 1440
    Hard Drives
    1-2TB Samsung 990 Pro PCIe NVMe M2 SSD
    1-4TB Samsung 990 Pro PCIe NVMe M2 SSD
    PSU
    1000 Watt Platinum Dell
    Case
    Alienware
    Cooling
    Liquid Closed Loop
    Keyboard
    Logitech MK270 Wireless Keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech MK270 Wireless
    Internet Speed
    100Gb's Down-20 Up
    Browser
    Firefox 151.0.2
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Very Quiet And Fast
    CyberPower UPS CP1500PFCLCD
  • Operating System
    PClinuxOS Mate (2025.7)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Intel
    CPU
    13th Gen Inter(R) Core(TM) i3-1315U
    Motherboard
    Intel
    Memory
    64 GB DDR4 @3200 MHz.
    Graphics card(s)
    Internal
    Sound Card
    None
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell 2419HGCF
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    SAMSUNG 980 PRO SSD 2TB, PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280
    PSU
    Chicony 30 Watt
    Case
    Small
    Keyboard
    Dell
    Mouse
    Razor
    Internet Speed
    1GB
    Browser
    Slimjet
Going to play with that for a while. See if I can make it work. Thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 22H2 Pro (X-lite Micro 11 version)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell/ Precision 7680
    CPU
    i7 13850HX (20 cores, 28 threads)
    Motherboard
    Dell
    Memory
    32GB DDR5
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD/ RTX 1000 ADA
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    4K UHD Touchscreen
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2400
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 512GB system drive
    WD Blue 1TB game drive
    PSU
    240W AC adapter, 1800W when docked
    Internet Speed
    1 gigabit symmetrical
    Browser
    Firefox, Librewolf
    Antivirus
    None. Manully configured so nobody except me can change any critical system files. (Don't ask how, it's probably against some rule somewhere)
@ DJNelson

I think the easiest way to achieve what you want (you said: "using freeware" in your Title) is to install on your computers the latest free version of Macrium Reflect: Download Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - MajorGeeks
There is a button in the upper left corner of the software named Rescue (see image) which, when clicked upon, will automatically create a recovery partition.


Recovery Partition.webp
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Gigabyte H610M H V2 DDR4 (Rev. 1.0)
    CPU
    Intel Core i3 12 100 12th generation
    Motherboard
    American Megatrend F34
    Memory
    Kingston DDR4-3200 16 GBytes
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD 730
rogerrabbit said:
There is a button in the upper left corner of the software named Rescue (see image) which, when clicked upon, will automatically create a recovery partition.
Click to expand...
That button is to Create Rescue Media not a recovery partition.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
I'll throw this in while I'm thinking about it although it's just for consideration- and I can't say it would let you produce a recovery partition as such.

If you wanted an iso file of a Windows installation with a certain set of basic programs installed that you could use as an installation source, consider this:
www.tenforums.com

Create Windows 10 ISO image from Existing Installation

How to create a Windows 10 ISO image for clean, in-place upgrade and repair install
www.tenforums.com www.tenforums.com
Part 3 (no user accounts).

It might stimulate thought.

Note too Part 5 in the Contents section a little further down.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo t480s
    CPU
    i7-8650U
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD 620
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    C SN810 SDCPNRY-512G-1006
    Browser
    Edge, Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
Create usb drive using Media Creation Tool.

Recovery Partitions are a thing of the past.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro + Win11 Canary VM.
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Zenbook 14
    CPU
    I9 13th gen i9-13900H 2.60 GHZ
    Motherboard
    Yep, Laptop has one.
    Memory
    16 GB soldered
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel Iris XE
    Sound Card
    Realtek built in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    laptop OLED screen
    Screen Resolution
    2880x1800 touchscreen
    Hard Drives
    1 TB NVME SSD (only weakness is only one slot)
    PSU
    Internal + 65W thunderbolt USB4 charger
    Case
    Yep, got one
    Cooling
    Stella Artois (UK pint cans - 568 ml) - extra cost.
    Keyboard
    Built in UK keybd
    Mouse
    Bluetooth , wireless dongled, wired
    Internet Speed
    900 mbs (ethernet), wifi 6 typical 350-450 mb/s both up and down
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    TPM 2.0, 2xUSB4 thunderbolt, 1xUsb3 (usb a), 1xUsb-c, hdmi out, 3.5 mm audio out/in combo, ASUS backlit trackpad (inc. switchable number pad)

    Macrium Reflect Home V8
    Office 365 Family (6 users each 1TB onedrive space)
    Hyper-V (a vm runs almost as fast as my older laptop)
A fresh install of Windows will create its own recovery partition. If you ask ChatGPT, it will guide you through all the steps and hold your hand. You can interact with ChatGPT - it's like a very patient instructor.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 26200.8524
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acemagic LX15PRO
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5825U with Radeon Graphics
    Memory
    16GB
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    SSD 2TB
    Internet Speed
    30 Mbps
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    Webroot Secure Anywhere
    Other Info
    System 3

    Acer Swift SF114-34 laptop
    OS Windows 11 Pro 26200.8524
    CPU Pentium Silver N6000
    RAM 4GB
    SSD Samsung 970 EVO Plus SSD 2TB (an upgrade)
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.2506
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Mini 210-1090NR PC (bought in late 2009!)
    CPU
    Atom N450 1.66GHz
    Memory
    2GB
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    Webroot
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