How to Copy Recovery Partition to USB [HP, Dell, Lenovo, etc]

The Need to Copy Recovery Partition to USB Drive

The recovery partition is a hidden partition (without a drive letter) that holds the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) and contains a set of repair tools for troubleshooting (e.g., Startup Repair, Command Prompt) or emergency recovery (e.g., System Image Recovery). It serves as a self-contained “repair shop”.

However, this partition becomes useless if your system drive fails. Many users want to copy recovery partition to USB drive for backup purposes, especially those with multiple computers from the same manufacturer. Once copied, you can safely delete it - typically freeing up 3-8 GB space for your files and apps.

Which Methods of Copying Recovery Partition Are Available?

To copy recovery partition to USB, one is to use built-in “Recovery drive” feature, the other is to clone recovery partition to USB drive. But when to use the Recovery Drive, and when to use the cloning tool? Below is a comparison table:

Method	Ideal Scenarios	Key Limitations
Built-in Tool	You want the safest, official process. Create a boot repair tool with excellent compatibility. Your computer is currently working.	Tied to your specific system.
Cloning Tool	Built-in tool fails or isn't available. Create an exact sector-by-sector replica. The computer won't boot normally.	The partition may become a normal partition.

How to Copy Recovery Partition to USB

Before copying recovery partition to USB on Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc., it’s necessary to check the following items:

• Choose the right USB drive: Minimum size: 16 GB. Recommendation: 32 GB to be safe.
• Be sure there is a recovery partition - it’s a small, hidden partition, usually labeled "Recovery" or "OEM", with no drive letter.
• Warning: This process will erase all content on the USB drive. Please back up important data beforehand.

#1: Create a Recovery Partition with Recovery Drive [Official Method]

Step 1. Connect your USB drive to the computer you want to copy recovery partition. Then, type "Create a recovery drive" in the search box and select it.

Step 2. Check the box labeled "Back up system files to the recovery drive". This ensures the actual recovery partition is copied to your USB drive.

Step 3. Select your USB drive and click Next.

 

Step 4. Click Create and wait while Windows copies system files and creates a bootable USB. The process typically takes 10-20 minutes, depending on your system.

2: Copy Recovery Partition to USB using Cloning Tool

A powerful cloning software like AOMEI Cloner is essential, as it supports the Partition Clone feature, allowing users to copy recovery partition to USB in Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, etc., without any issue. Also, it’s compatible with any computer manufacturer, such as HP, Lenovo, Dell, and more.

Just download it to get started.

Step 1. Connect the USB drive as well. Install and launch this partition cloning tool - AOMEI Cloner. Then, select the Partition Clone feature under the Clone tab.

Step 2. Select the hidden recovery partition (identified by its small size and no drive letter) and USB drive, respectively. Don’t mix them, as the target drive will be overwritten or deleted.

Step 3. Confirm you select the right partition, check Sector by Sector Clone, and click Start Clone to copy recovery partition to USB drive.

⚠️Note: Sector by Sector Clone is a cloning mode that can clone all sectors of a drive. In this mode, you don’t need to worry about missing anything.

Sometimes, the partition may become a normal partition. In this case, you need to repair or add a boot entry using Bootrec.exe tool, and make the cloned partition bootable.

1. Boot your computer using the installation disc or recovery drive. Then, click Next > Repair your computer.

2. Click Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Command Prompt.

3. Type the following commands and press Enter in order.

• bootrec /fixboot
• bootrec /rebuildbcd

An Easier Way to Migrate System without Recovery Partition [Without Downtime]

Cloning system drive to another drive (preferably an SSD) is an easier way to migrate system without downtime, provided you have an extra drive available. It creates a direct 1:1 replica, including all data and OS-related partitions, without requiring a system image and extra space.

AOMEI Cloner is one of the best hard drive or SSD cloning software for Windows that supports cloning system drive, whether entire disks or just the operating system, in Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, etc., and Windows Server.

Step 1. Physically install the new drive or connect it using a SATA adapter. Then, initialize it in Disk Management (if new).

Step 2. Open AOMEI Cloner after installing, and click Clone > Disk Clone.

Step 3. Select the current system drive and new SSD respectively. Click Next after each selection.

Step 4 (IMPORTANT). It will auto-resize the new, larger SSD to full capacity. You can click Edit Partitions to confirm this and, optionally, convert MBR to GPT, or GPT to MBR. Also, it’s suggested to enable SSD Alignment for best performance.

Step 5. Confirm and click Start Clone to clone hard drive to SSD. Be sure to perform a boot test before saving the drive, as this determines whether you can boot from this disk afterward.

Summary

Whether you are using HP, Dell, Lenovo, etc., you can easily copy recovery partition to USB drive with two effective methods. If you prefer an official method, try to create a recovery drive in Windows 10 and 11, with excellent compatibility. If not, try the cloning tool.

You can choose to clone recovery partition to USB, but some users report it may become a normal partition, not always. This requires skills to repair or add a boot entry. For backup purposes or quick migration, cloning hard drive to SSD will be a better choice.