Surface Recovery Image: How to Download & Create & Use🔥

Using Surface Recovery Image can be a little complex, but we will make it easy for you. Follow the guide to lean how to download, create, and use the Surface Recovery Image effectively.

Page Table of Contents

Larissa

Updated on Jan 12, 2024

0 Views | 0 min read
🕐Time Duration 5-10 minutes
⭐Complex Level Low, suitable for beginners
📶Download download the recovery image from Microsoft
🌀Create create a bootable recovery disk easily
🔱Use restore Surface with recovery USH

🙍‍♂️User Case: Need A Surface Recovery Image

"Hi, I made a Recovery Image with Microsoft but could not restore it properly. When I unzipped the file with Secure Boot turned off, initially, there were no errors, but upon reboot, I was asked the BitLocker Recovery Code to continue booting. Then, I tried doing a full factory surface recovery Image with everything done. At the end, the system displayed an error message stating, "Error while trying to reset the system."

So, how can I download the System Recovery Image disk to fully factory restore?"

An Overview of Surface Recovery Image

A Surface Recovery Image is a file provided by Microsoft to perform a clean and factory-state installation of Windows on a computer. It is available for Microsoft's Surface devices like Surface Pro, Surface Laptop, and Surface Book. It is stored on a dedicated partition to restore (get back to a previous state) or reset (factory settings) the computer. Some common scenarios where we use Surface Recovery Image.

  • 🧩Corrupt system: If your OS is corrupted due to malware, file corruption, or some software conflict, you can get back to the previous state or clean up everything with the recovery image.
  • 💰Clean up for selling/buying: If the Surface device is to be sold or returned to the organization, recovery images wipe out the entire data.
  • ⚙️Critical system failure recovery: If you are facing critical system failures like blue screen errors, boot failure, or issues restricting the device's functionality, the image helps you reinstall OS and essential drivers. 
  • 🖥️Upgrade or Replacements: if you are upgrading or replacing the hard drives, to reinstall the Windows, drivers, and firmware, you can use the recovery image.

So, if you want to create a surface recovery image and do not know how to create one for Surface Devices, follow the guide below to learn to download, or create a surface recovery image with EaseUS Todo Backup.

[Download] Surface Recovery Image to USB from Microsoft

All the Surface comes with Windows Recovery info by default, which you can use to refresh/reset your device to factory condition. If that does not work, you have to go with downloading the Surface Recovery Image with a USB flash Drive.

USB Flash Drive Requirements:

  • 1️⃣For most Surface Models: The USB flash drive should have at least 16 GB of free space.
  • 2️⃣For Surface RT and Surface 2 models: The USB drive should have at least 8 GB of free space.

And remember to format the USB drive to FAT 32. You can use the Windows Disk Management or Diskpart tools to format the USB, but they can do this only for USBs less than 32 GB. For more, you have to depend on third-party tools.

Let us know how to download the Surface Recovery Image.

Step 1. Navigate to the Microsoft Surface Recovery Image Download page.

Step 2. Find the Select your Surface drive section, select your Surface device model, enter the Serial Number, and click Continue.

Select the Surface Device Model and Serial Number

Step 3. Replace the Download recovery image link, and select the location to save the  recovery_rd.IMG zip file on your device.

Step 4. Decompress the image file and move to the next part to create the Surface Recovery Image with the USB drive.

📖Read Also: Surface Pro Stuck on Windows Logo | Surface Boot Loop

[Create] Surface Bootable Recovery USB via EaseUS Todo Backup

If you don't want to download a Surface recovery file, there is another available option that can help you restore the operating system when your device is unbootable, which is creating an emergency recovery disk.

EaseUS Todo Backup is a professional backup tool that requires only three steps to create a recovery drive with a USB disk. With the WinPE features, you can create a Bootable disk to quickly restore/reset your Surface system. The tool provides advanced backup and clone options to safeguard your data and system anytime.

Key Features of EaseUS Todo Backup:

  • Best to perform Surface Image Recovery.
  • Provides advanced backup and restore options.
  • Create a system image with a few clicks.
  • Clone your disk, system, or partition with ease.
  • Create bootable media with USB or CD/DVD.

After downloading the software, you can follow the guide below to create a Surface Recovery Image on the USB flash drive easily with EaseUS Todo Backup. Using this way, you need to ensure that you have another working computer or laptop that is running the same operating system if your device is unbootable.

Step 1. Prepare a USB drive which can be written and read.

Create emergency disk

Step 2. Launch and install EaseUS Todo Backup on the Computer B.

Step 3. Find and click "Tools" and choose "Create Emergency Disk".

Create Emergency Disk

Step 4. Choose the Boot disk location. You can create an ISO file, a bootable USB or CD/DVD disc.

Create emergency disk step2

Step 5. Then click "Create" to start.

Don't forget to share the post if it does help to download and create a Surface recovery image effectively:

 

[Use] Restore Surface with Recovery USB

Once, you create the Recovery Image on the USB drive, we move on to know how to restore the surface recovery image to reset/restore it. Follow the steps below to do it.

Step 1. Turn off the Surface device, and insert the USB flash drive into the device.

Step 2. While you press and hold the Power button, press and hold the Volume-down button.

Step 3. Once the Microsoft logo appears, release the volume-down button.

Step 4. Select the Language, and Keyboard layout from the options.

Step 5. Navigate to Choose an option > Troubleshoot > Recovery from a drive. If it asks for a recovery key, click on Skip this drive at the bottom.

choose Recover from a drive option

Step 6. Choose from Just remove my files or Fully clean the drive from the recovery options based on your requirements. The former will refresh the computer, and the fully clean option will recycle the entire Surface device. 

select your choice of recovery

Step 7. Click Recovery to let the Surface restart, and complete the resetting process.

🚩You may be interested: 6 Solutions for Windows 10 Can't Create Recovery Drive | eMachines Recovery Disk

Wrapping Up

Now, you know how to download Surface Recovery Image, create it with USB, and restore it on your Surface device. Learn thoroughly to complete the process securely in a go. To create the emergency USB drive with Surface Recovery Image, download the EaseUS Todo Backup. With simple yet advanced programs create the Surface Recovery Image with three steps.

Don't forget to share the post if it does help to download and create a Surface recovery image effectively:

 

FAQs on Surface Recovery Image

1. How do I reimage my Surface?

To reimage the Surface device, navigate to  PC settings > Update and recovery > Recovery. Find the Remove Everything and reinstall Windows section, and click on Get Started. You can just remove your files or fully clean the drive and continue with the reimaging process.

2. How to restore surface RT from USB?

  • Shut down the computer, and plug it in.
  • Insert the USB drive.
  • Press and hold the Volume down while you press and release the Power. Release the volume down, once the Surface logo appears.
  • Follow the on-screen instructions as per your requirements to restore it from USB.

3. How to convert Windows image to bootable USB?

  • Download the Windows ISO file.
  • Download and install Rufus, and plug a USB drive into the PC.
  • Select Device as USB, and Windows ISO for Boot selection on Rufus.
  • Use Rufus to burn the IOS file onto the USB flash drive.

EaseUS Todo Backup

EaseUS Todo Backup is a dependable and professional data backup solution capable of backing up files, folders, drives, APP data and creating a system image. It also makes it easy to clone HDD/SSD, transfer the system to different hardware, and create bootable WinPE bootable disks.

  • Updated by

    Larissa

    Larissa has rich experience in writing technical articles and is now a professional editor at EaseUS. She is good at writing articles about data recovery, disk cloning, disk partitioning, data backup, and other related knowledge. Her detailed and ultimate guides help users find effective solutions to their problems. She is fond of traveling, reading, and riding in her spare time.…
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