When creating a recovery disk from within Windows, you are given a choice to copy system files to the recovery disk which then allows you to reinstall Windows from that recovery disk.
If I create a recovery disk without copying system files it takes mere seconds to create that flash disk. If I choose to copy system files it takes a ridiculous amount of time (like an hour).
So, that got me wondering: Is there actually any advantage to reinstalling Windows from a recovery disk rather than a plain, standard Windows installation media? I have never actually reinstalled Windows from a recovery disk so I'm looking for some feedback from someone who has done so. Does installing Windows from a recovery disk offer any advantages? Does it install a copy of Windows that is "customized" in any way? For example, does it also restore your existing user accounts or do ANYTHING other than a plain, vanilla, clean install of Windows?
Whenever I reinstall Windows, I always use either a plain Windows installation media, an unattended setup, or a sysprep image that I have previously prepared. I'm just trying to fill in a gap in my knowledge here.
If I create a recovery disk without copying system files it takes mere seconds to create that flash disk. If I choose to copy system files it takes a ridiculous amount of time (like an hour).
So, that got me wondering: Is there actually any advantage to reinstalling Windows from a recovery disk rather than a plain, standard Windows installation media? I have never actually reinstalled Windows from a recovery disk so I'm looking for some feedback from someone who has done so. Does installing Windows from a recovery disk offer any advantages? Does it install a copy of Windows that is "customized" in any way? For example, does it also restore your existing user accounts or do ANYTHING other than a plain, vanilla, clean install of Windows?
Whenever I reinstall Windows, I always use either a plain Windows installation media, an unattended setup, or a sysprep image that I have previously prepared. I'm just trying to fill in a gap in my knowledge here.
My Computers
System One System Two
-
- OS
- Win11 Pro 23H2
- Computer type
- PC/Desktop
- Manufacturer/Model
- Home Built
- CPU
- Intel i7-11700K
- Motherboard
- ASUS Prime Z590-A
- Memory
- 128GB Crucial Ballistix 3200MHz DRAM
- Graphics Card(s)
- No GPU - CPU graphics only (for now)
- Sound Card
- Realtek (on motherboard)
- Monitor(s) Displays
- HP Envy 32
- Screen Resolution
- 2560 x 1440
- Hard Drives
- 1 x 1TB NVMe Gen 4 x 4 SSD
1 x 2TB NVMe Gen 3 x 4 SSD
2 x 512GB 2.5" SSDs
2 x 8TB HD
- PSU
- Corsair HX850i
- Case
- Corsair iCue 5000X RGB
- Cooling
- Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black cooler + 10 case fans
- Keyboard
- CODE backlit mechanical keyboard
- Mouse
- Logitech MX Master 3
- Internet Speed
- 1Gb Up / 1 Gb Down
- Browser
- Edge
- Antivirus
- Windows Defender
- Other Info
- Additional options installed:
WiFi 6E PCIe adapter
ASUS ThunderboltEX 4 PCIe adapter
-
- Operating System
- Win11 Pro 23H2
- Computer type
- Laptop
- Manufacturer/Model
- Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 2
- CPU
- Intel i7-1255U
- Memory
- 16 GB
- Graphics card(s)
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Sound Card
- Realtek® ALC3306-CG codec
- Monitor(s) Displays
- 13.3-inch IPS Display
- Screen Resolution
- WQXGA (2560 x 1600)
- Hard Drives
- 2 TB 4 x 4 NVMe SSD
- PSU
- USB-C / Thunderbolt 4 Power / Charging
- Mouse
- Buttonless Glass Precision Touchpad
- Keyboard
- Backlit, spill resistant keyboard
- Internet Speed
- 1Gb Up / 1Gb Down
- Browser
- Edge
- Antivirus
- Windows Defender
- Other Info
- WiFi 6e / Bluetooth 5.1 / Facial Recognition / Fingerprint Sensor / ToF (Time of Flight) Human Presence Sensor