Cannot get bootable usb windows 10 2004 to work

(1) I've come to believe a feature update (new Windows version) creates a new Recovery partition only if the existing one is too small. Then, it empties the existing one of its WinRE.wim, but otherwise lets the partition alone & creates a new one. But, if the existing one was large enough, the feature update would reuse it & put the new WinRE.wim into it. I've looked & seen the new size & date.

(2) Well, you can finesse it & do things your expert way with 3rd-party image makers. More power to you. But I always include the Recovery partition in my images. It's good to keep the version of the Recovery partition (its WinRE.wim) at least the same as the Windows partition. So, that time I had to restore an image, it restored all the partitions back to exactly where they came from. No fuss, squeezing or bother for me.

(3) Without a Recovery partition, not only will Shift+Restart not work, but also that trick of crashing the boot 3 times in a row won't work. Still, that won't trouble you or me, but others will have to scramble to make an Installation USB drive.

(4) I don't like the idea of setting the BIOS to Legacy in a system that has a UEFI install. I do believe, to do a UEFI install, the media must be booted in UEFI mode. I would prefer to boot it UEFI even when not for the purpose of a clean install, but don't really know its necessary.

Hi,

You do not need to use 3rd party imaging if the Recovery Partition is deleted.. Creating Windows image still works... Creating a Repair CD does not.. I use installation media instead..

I do primarily use 3rd party imaging though.. It is more versatile as far as which partitions are restored and does not complain about the size of a new HDD\SSD.. If the image will physically fit, it will be restored.. Windows imaging will not do this..

I have had to crash the boot three times before for various reasons, but not anymore... I would be willing to bet that I was the first to post that solution many years ago.. Possibly for Windows 8..

I am glad you are helping with the imaging for the OP... I use it at times and have discovered some of it's idiosyncrasies, but you have far more experience with it than I..

(1) I think the version of the recovery environment (WinRE.wim) is best kept at least as high as the version of Windows that is installed, (though for some uses/functions it possibly wouldn't matter). So, if one won't include the Recovery partition in the image, one should always update one's Win 10 Installation media to at least keep up with it. I do it anyway, but everyone else may not. And the last time I made installation media (for 2004), it took two hours. The download & prep was quick (20 minutes/so), but writing/formulating the media lifted the process to two hours.

(2) 3rd-party image makers do have advantages, but there is a learning curve, if one wants to stray from a simple image that includes all the partitions. I do make one of those with DiscWizard (an older version of Acronis True Image) after every new Windows version (not OS Build) comes in & works well, just in case the Windows version should fail next time. I hope it will be easy to restore if/when the day comes. But I'm unsure DiscWizard handles the mysterious MSR (Microsoft Reserved) partition, which the Windows version did so well. But I'm also unsure that partition is really needed.

Anyway, I think all the partitions (EFI, MSR, Windows, Recovery) really belong together as a package. I wouldn't normally want to restore one without the others. But I'm sure you know what you're doing, I mean that.

(3) You may be right about creating a Repair Disc (DVD). I used to create them, but the Recovery USB is better. And, IIRC, the last few times I tried to make the DVD, they got ruined. But I thought it was just me. Maybe I'll work that tidbit into my post.

Hi,

I have some info on the MSR partition and how Acronis handles it.. As well as Macrium, but I don't want to further clutter up this thread and confuse the OP..

If interested, start a new thread and call it something like "What Is MSR" or close so that I can find it..

I agree we/I go too far in discussing the partitions in such detail even though a system image backup is important to this thread. So, let's end the diversion & wait for more from OP, you are right about that. I think you already told me what you know about the MSR in that other thread. I know a bunch about it, but would have to go fishing to remind myself of it. Not willing to do so right now.

Let's just wait for OP. Good speaking with you. No need to respond.