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and Create A Factory Recovery Image For Your Surface

This document provides instructions for downloading and using a factory recovery image to reset a Surface device to its factory settings. It explains that a recovery image allows troubleshooting and fixing Surface problems. It details downloading the recovery image file, using it to create a bootable USB recovery drive, and then booting from that drive to reset the Surface, restoring it to factory configuration and removing all user files.

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Ronilo, Jr. Calunod
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132 views3 pages

and Create A Factory Recovery Image For Your Surface

This document provides instructions for downloading and using a factory recovery image to reset a Surface device to its factory settings. It explains that a recovery image allows troubleshooting and fixing Surface problems. It details downloading the recovery image file, using it to create a bootable USB recovery drive, and then booting from that drive to reset the Surface, restoring it to factory configuration and removing all user files.

Uploaded by

Ronilo, Jr. Calunod
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Download and create a factory recovery image for your Surface

Before you begin

A recovery drive image lets you reset your Surface to its factory settings and can help you
troubleshoot and fix problems with your Surface device.

If your Surface is not working and you don't have another Windows 10 device that you can
use to download the factory recovery image, it may be possible to have a USB recovery
drive mailed to you. This service isn't available in China. For more info, contact us.

Create a recovery drive with a downloaded factory image

If you're able to use your Surface or you have another Windows 10 device, visit
our Download a recovery image for your Surface page. From there, select your Surface,
download a recovery image .zip file for the device you selected.

Important
Creating a recovery drive will erase everything that’s stored on your USB drive. Make sure you're using a
blank USB drive, or be sure to transfer any important data on your USB drive to another storage device
before using it to create a recovery drive.

Once you've downloaded the recovery image .zip file, follow these steps to create a
recovery drive: 

1. Make sure your Surface is turned off and plugged in, and then insert the USB
recovery drive into the USB port. If you can, use a USB 3.0 drive.

The USB drive should have at least 16 GB. If you have a Surface RT or Surface 2, an 8GB
USB drive will work. 
2. In the search box on the taskbar, enter recovery drive, and then select Create a
recovery drive or Recovery Drive from the results. You may need to enter an admin
password or confirm your choice.
3. In the User Account Control box, select Yes.
4. Make sure to clear the Back up system files to the recovery drive check box and
then select Next.
5. Select your USB drive, and then select Next > Create.  Some utilities need to be
copied to the recovery drive, so this might take a few minutes.
6. When the recovery drive is ready, select Finish.
7. Double-click the recovery image .zip file that you previously downloaded to open it.
8. Select all the files from the recovery image folder, copy them to the USB recovery
drive you created, and then select Choose to replace the files in the destination.
9. Once the files have finished copying, select the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject
Media icon on the taskbar, and remove your USB.

Boot from a USB drive to reset your Surface 

Before you begin, make sure you have access to the product keys and installation files for
any desktop apps, such as Microsoft Office, that you plan to reinstall after the reset.

When you're ready, here's how to reset your Surface: 

1. Make sure your Surface is turned off and plugged in, and then insert the USB
recovery drive into the USB port.
2. Press and hold the volume-down button while you press and release the power
button.
3. When the Microsoft or Surface logo appears, release the volume-down button.
4. When prompted, select the language and keyboard layout you want.
5. Select Troubleshoot , and then select Recover from a drive. If prompted for a
recovery key, select Skip this drive at the bottom of the screen.

Be sure to select the Troubleshoot option on this screen. Don’t select the Use a


device option. If you select the Use a device option, your Surface will reboot from the
USB recovery drive again and the reset process will start over.
 

6. Choose either Just remove my files or Fully clean the drive.

The option to clean the drive is more secure but takes much longer. For example, if
you’re recycling your Surface, you should clean the drive. If you’re keeping your
Surface, you just need to remove your files.
7. Select Recover.
Surface restarts and displays the Surface logo while the reset process continues. This
can take several minutes.

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