Help on creating recovery partition

[Buniculbroscoi]

Hello, I just did a clean installation of Windows 8.1, but after several formats in the past i decided to make a system recovery partition on my 150GB hard drive. I know HOW to make the partition**, but I dont know how much space should it be, and how to make the actual system backup on it. I would appreciate any efforts of helping me.
Cheers

** Windows itself can make the partition, but most people prefer 3rd party programs to do it, does it have any difference? If I make the partition I would make it through Windows, shouldnt I?

 

[techgeek]

The best and easiest way is don't make any partitions on the drive. When you install Windows, it will make a small 100MB partition for system recovery and use the rest of the drive for your root drive (C: ). The other alternative is to make a partition for your root drive during installation if you don't want the whole disk as one volume. Windows will still make the system recovery partition (100MB) with your partition following. Then once Windows is installed go into Disk Management and partition the remaining space however you like.

 

[dodger46]

Hello, I just did a clean installation of Windows 8.1, but after several formats in the past i decided to make a system recovery partition on my 150GB hard drive. I know HOW to make the partition**, but I dont know how much space should it be, and how to make the actual system backup on it. I would appreciate any efforts of helping me.
Cheers

** Windows itself can make the partition, but most people prefer 3rd party programs to do it, does it have any difference? If I make the partition I would make it through Windows, shouldnt I?

Best advice would be to create your System Image on a separate Drive, that way you have a reliable backup should your HDD fail. Check your C drive to see how much space you've used to install Windows, (Rt click 'C' and choose Properties) Ideally use a Flash drive 32 Gb USB3 should suffice, on Ebay around £12
Simply plug in your Drive and type 'Recovery' at your Start Screen and 'Create Recovery Drive'
But, if you wish to create a System Image on your HDD, a 50 Gb Partition will do.
Windows key plus 'X'
Disk Management
Rt Click 'C' and choose 'Shrink Volume'. Select around 50Gb (5200Mb)
After you click 'Shrink' you will have 50Gb Unallocated Space. Rt click on it and 'Create New Simple Volume' (NTFS, Max capacity, Drive Letter probably 'E')
Microsoft removed the GUI to create a System image in 8.1, but this should help
http://www.howtogeek.com/167984/how-to-create-and-restore-system-image-backups-on-windows-8.1/

 

[dodger46]

Just tried out the 'How to' and discovered an error. To access Power Shell, simply type it at your Start Screen and Right Click Windows Power Shell. Choose 'Run as administrator' If you're backing up to 'E' merely Copy the Link in the guide and Right click at the flashing cursor whereupon your back up will commence. Similarly if you use an external Flash Drive, replace E with the drive letter of your Flash.