OS Recovery Media USB

PraxxtorCruel · 7 Jan 2014 at 11:49

Hi,

Would someone be willing to explain why the operating system recovery media differs so greatly in file size? My Acer laptop needed only a 32gb USB to fit the recovery media in. Think it was about 20-25GB in size. On the otherhand my Lenovo laptop says the recovery media is 45GB. How can it differ so greatly? I'll now have to source a bigger USB hah. They both use Windows 8 and both are standard Windows 8 operating systems, none of the fancy 'ultimate edition etc'.

Meekal · 7 Jan 2014 at 11:55

It depends what other software is being installed from the recovery media. All laptops come with pre installed software these days. Also different versions of Windows will differ in size also.

PraxxtorCruel · 7 Jan 2014 at 11:57

Meekal said:
It depends what other software is being installed from the recovery media. All laptops come with pre installed software these days. Also different versions of Windows will differ in size also.

Well I'm guessing it's a bundle then as I have no option to tick/untick what I want. 64GB it is then. Thanks!

bledd · 7 Jan 2014 at 12:39

Personally, I just format every new machine with a nice blank Windows install.

Take Image.
Then I take an image after applying all Windows Updates
Then a 3rd image after adding all drivers
Then weekly images of the whole system.