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[VAIO_PC] Fails in creating recovery media

Difficulty Creating Recovery Media

Applicable Products
VAIO PC General

Table of contents
Notes
Workaround
1. Initializing the BIOS
2. Uninstall any added software
3. Run Scandisk on the recovery media
4. Format the recovery media in FAT 32
5. Restart the PC and connect the recovery media to a USB Port
6. Find out if you can create a different kind of recovery media
7. Creating a different user account
8. Using the “contact us” page to consult with us

Content

Notes

  • Format your recovery media with a FAT32 file system and use USB 2.0 with your flash drive. If you create recovery media using a USB 3.0 device, your recovery may fail and your system may not be able to be recovered.
  • Use a USB storage device with a 8GB-32GB capacity range. If your storage device is larger than 32GB, the recovery media may not be successfully created.
  • If your PC recommends a 6-8GB storage capacity, we recommended that you use a storage device of at least 8GB to avoid creating recovery media that fails due to a capacity shortage.
  • When you create recovery media, we recommended using more capacity than is minimally required for your USB flash memory.
  • When you create recovery media, connect the AC adapter and do not let your machine go into standby, hibernation, or sleep mode.
  • Please remove all additional USB flash memory other than the peripherals device that you are currently using to create your recovery media.
  • If you do not have the necessary storage capacity available, you will not be able to create your recovery media.
  • Due to the way some OS installations divide partitions, if you install an OS other than what is factory preset you may not be able to create recovery media.
  • If your USB flash memory is equipped with security software/features, it may be recognized as multiple drives or partitions.If this is the case, the ability to create recovery media and save data might be limited. For more information, please refer to the instruction manual of the USB flash memory.

Workaround
1. Initialize the BIOS

Refer to the following related Q&A for information on how to initialize the BIOS.
▼related Q & A:
How to initialize the settings of the BIOS setup menu

After initializing the BIOS, check to see whether or not you can create recovery media to start Windows.  If you can not create recovery media successfully after completing this step, please proceed to the next STEP.

2. Uninstall software that my affect your ability to make changes to your partition configuration.
Encryption software may affect this process, so you may need to remove added security software.
Due to the influence of these types of software, during recovery creation some data may not be able to be read which would then cause the recovery media creation process to not complete successfully.
After uninstalling the security software, you can check whether the PC can create the recovery media after restarting.
If you can not create recovery media successfully after completing this step, please proceed to the next STEP.

3. Perform a disk error check and verify that the media is formatted with FAT32

If an error is displayed during the error checking phase, there is a possibility that there is a problem with the data being read.
Please use a different recovery media device.
If there are no problems during the error check phase, check whether the PC restart after the recovery media can be created.
If you are still unable to create recovery media, please proceed to the next STEP.

4. Format the recovery media in FAT32
Please execute the format in the following procedure.
1. Connect the recovery media.
2. Click the Start Button and then click Computer (Win7) or click the PC Screen (Win8.1/Win10)
3. Right-click the recovery media and then select Format from the menu that appears.
4. When the format screen appears, make sure that the File System is listed as FAT32.
5. Remove the check in the box next to “Quick format” in the Format Options and press “Start”.
6. When the warning box is displayed, please select “OK” to begin the formatting.
7. When the message “format has been completed” appears, please select “OK”.
After formatting is complete, you can check whether you can create the recovery media.  If not, please proceed to the next STEP.

5. Restart the PC and connect the recovery media to another USB port
Restart your PC.  After confirming that your system can recognize the recovery media, connect it to a different USB port and check to see if you can create the recovery media.  Use the USB2.0 port if you have one on your system.  If the recovery media can not be created, please proceed to the next STEP.

6. Check whether you can create in a different recovery media
Check to see if you can create recovery media with a different flash drive or external type of media.  If you are still unable to create recovery media, please proceed to the next step.

7. Create a different user account
Use an account with administrator privileges to create another user account so you can create recovery media.
Please refer to the following information to create another user account.  In addition, please use alphanumeric symbols for the new user name.
If you are still unable to create recovery media, please proceed to the next step.

8. Using the “contact us” page to consult with us
We apologize if, after using the guide, you are still unable to create recovery media.  We are happy to assist you further.  Please use the inquiry form on the consultation page and provide the following information in the contact section:
Q & A that you see here now

  • The specific time an error occurs (for example, immediately after you start creating the recovery media)
  • The OS of the system you are trying to create recovery media for
  • Information about the USB flash memory that is being used
  • The presence or absence of the added software on your machine
  • When you are creating the recovery media (for example right after purchase or after recovering your system)