How to Backup HP Recovery Partition in Windows 11/10/8/7

What is HP recovery partition and why backup it

There is a recovery partition on your new HP computer, which takes some space but you should keep it, because it contains files that can restore your Windows to the factory state. Once there is something wrong with the operating system, you can press a specific key to restore your computer to factory settings.

The HP recovery partition is very useful when your system fails, but how can you access it if the whole disk fails? To avoid this dilemma, you’d better have at least one backup of your HP recovery partition on another disk (or external drive). Thus you can recover the HP computer even if the original disk won't work.

There is another scenario where you want to migrate the HP Recovery partition to a new hard drive or even a new computer, along with other system files and data, only to find that the built-in backup tool won't include the HP recovery partition. In this case, you can directly turn to Way 3 in the next section.

Available methods to backup HP recovery partition for different OS

Windows does include a built-in Backup and Restore tool, but since the recovery partition is usually hidden without a drive letter, you may not find it in Backup and Restore. To do it successfully, you can try the following methods:

✤ Way 1 (for Windows 8). HP Recovery Manager has a "Create recovery media" option enables you to either backup HP recovery partition to discs or backup to a USB flash drive:

• If you choose to backup recovery partition to discs, only DVD-R, DVD-R DL, DVD+R, or DVD+R DL discs are compatible with the Recovery Media Creation program, and this program allows only one complete set of discs to be created.
• If you backup HP recovery partition to a USB flash drive, you should use blank, high-quality USB flash drive no greater than 32 GB , and this program also allows only one system image to be created.

*For detailed steps, you can check this HP document. Note this tutorial is mainly for Window 8, if you are running newer OS, you will need to download HP Recovery Manager Update first.

✤ Way 2 (newer option). For consumer PCs manufactured in 2016 and later, HP offers a new thing called HP Cloud Recovery Tool. It allows you to download recovery software to a USB drive.

To get started, you can click here to download this tool, and insert a USB with at least 32 GB to the computer, then run the downloaded tool as Administrator.

After that, you can follow the wizard to backup HP recovery partition to USB drive, and the process is much like creating Windows recovery drive. When the backup is complete, you can boot the computer from the created USB drive, then perform recovery following the on-screen instructions.

*You can learn more details in this tutorial.

✤ Way 3 (supports all Windows OS). Since both of the above methods have some limitations on OS and computer models, we recommend you an easier solution - AOMEI Backupper Standard that works with all Windows OS and all brands of computers.

It helps you to backup HP recovery partition to anywhere including discs, USB flash drives, external or internal drives and NAS (network attached storage) as long as it is not been modified or removed.

Easy way to backup HP recovery partition in Windows 11/10/8/7

AOMEI Backupper Standard is free backup utility that makes the job easier in Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, XP, Vista. It allows you to backup any files, partitions, the operating system, or the entire disk with simple clicks.

With it, you can simply make a full backup including the hidden HP recovery partition to any external hard drive or USB flash drive that can be detected by Windows. If you are worried that a complete system/disk crash will prevent a proper restore, you can also use the Create Bootable Media tool to create a WinPE recovery disk that can be used on any Windows computer.

You can download and install the free backup software to have a try:

How to create backup HP recovery partition:

1. Launch the software and choose Disk Backup under Backup tab.

2. Then click Add Disk to select the disk including the HP recovery partition. Then specify a destination to save the backup image. It allows you to choose any location that can be detected in Windows Explorer.

3. Click Options at the bottom and in the Backup Mode tab, change the Intelligent Sector Backup into Make an Exact Backup.

4. You can also configure backup encryption, compression, email notification, schedule backup, etc.  Then click Start Backup to start and execute the task.

AOMEI Backupper will backup the hard drive including the HP recovery partition for you. You can keep the backup image and use them to recover the disk any time you need.

✤ In case you cannot boot properly to perform recovery in Windows:

You can go to Tools tab to use Create Bootable Media feature. This can help you to create a WinPE recovery USB that works on any Windows computer. 

There is also a feature in Tools to help you create Recovery Environment (available in Professional edition), which will add a startup option on this computer allowing you to one-key enter WinPE for backup and restore.

AOMEI Backupper also supports you to restore OS to dissimilar hardware with the Universal Restore (available in Professional edition). This is especially when you want to transfer system to another computer.

Conclusion

AOMEI Backupper can help you backup HP recovery partition easily. In addition, you can set a schedule to backup OS automatically and regularly with it, in this way, you are able to bring computer backup to earlier date you wish.

If you want to create a recovery partition for any computer that can be used for quick system recovery (or recovery USB) without branding restrictions, you may also consider using OneKey Recovery.