58 Getting Started
Recovering the Internal Storage Drive

Creating recovery media

It is strongly recommended that you create recovery media.
If the recovery files on your internal storage drive become
corrupted or are deleted, you can restore your system from
your recovery media. Also, if your original internal storage
drive fails, you can restore your system to a new internal
storage drive from your recovery media.
During the recovery process your computer must be
connected to an external power source via the AC
adaptor.
When you create recovery media, only the operating
system files, applications, and drivers originally shipped
with the computer are backed up to the external media
and can be restored from this media. Any files that you
created are not backed up on the recovery media. You
will need to separately back up the files you created; for
more information, see “Backing up your work” on
page 83.
When you create recovery media, the system will prompt you
to insert several blank DVDs or connect one or more USB
flash drives of a certain minimum capacity to your computer.
The amount of space required for storing the recovery files
varies by computer model. Follow the procedure below to
determine how much space you will need for storing your
system’s recovery files.
To create recovery media:
1From the Start screen begin typing Recovery Media
Creator and click or touch your selection. If you are in
the Desktop, move your pointer to the upper-right corner
of the screen or swipe in from the right edge. When the
Windows® charms appear click or touch the Search ()
charm and, in the Search field, type Recovery Media
Creator. In the list that appears, click or touch your
selection.
NOTE
NOTE