Windows 10 recovery image for Surface Pro 3
- Thread starter Olvrick
- Start date
Windows 10 doesn't use the big Recovery Partition it was redesigned to Recover in-place partly as a space saving mechanism so it wouldn't seem to be something to make. If you use the Media Creation Tool you can make a DVD or USB which can be used for recovery if necessary.
To get the FREE Windows 10 you have to Upgrade first after which you can do a Clean Install if desired. Then you'll have to track down all your Apps yourself.
To get the FREE Windows 10 you have to Upgrade first after which you can do a Clean Install if desired. Then you'll have to track down all your Apps yourself.
Derekamoss
Active Member
I want this too. The footprint of the surface 10 image is a lot smaller than the windows 8 image. I know a Microsoft store tech guy and might ask if he can flash mine to the win10 surface image
Id imagine you could copy the contents of a Windows 10 USB built with the Media Creation Tool to the Recovery partition. Just assign a drive letter to the Recovery Partition and have at it. It's the reverse of copying the Recovery Partition to USB. The only difference is Win 8.1 Recovery is probably a customized setup script while the Win 10 USB is generic but is designed so you could boot to it and Recover.
Derekamoss
Active Member
The whole point is to get rid of recovery drive. a surface preloaded with win10 doesn't have a recovery partition it uses the .wim ??? I think files to restore, saving a lot more space on the surface
After you upgrade you CAN do a clean install, but NO they aren't likely going to make one.
You mean a full "refresh" with or without keeping data.. You can't clean install windows 10 without a purchased key.
From Microsoft's Documentation on Clean Install:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/media-creation-tool-install
Expand How to perform a clean installation of windows
Note
- If you upgraded to Windows 10 on this PC by taking advantage of the free upgrade offer and successfully activated Windows 10 on this PC in the past, you won't have a Windows 10 product key, and you can skip the product key page by selecting the Skip button. Your PC will activate online automatically so long as the same edition of Windows 10 was successfully activated on this PC by using the free Windows 10 upgrade offer.
Or you could Google/Alphabet "How to clean Install Windows 10" and follow any of the dozen guides on it.
The short answer is: If you "Upgrade" first and it's "Activated" then you can do a "Clean Install" and "skip" the license key, Windows 10 will reactivate.
RottenMutt
Member
you can do a clean installation when installing win10 the first time. Create a usb key of windows from microsoft, from win 8.1 start the installation procedure that is on the usb key, don't enter a key, and pick clean installation.
see: http://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-quietly-rewrites-its-activation-rules-for-windows-10/
see: http://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-quietly-rewrites-its-activation-rules-for-windows-10/
