Windows 8.1: Recovery Drive or System Image?

[Pinoy.Boy]

So I bought a laptop containing W8.1, and before I do a clean install, I would like to back up the factory OS with all its bloatware goodness. I'm familiar with the system image, but what is the recovery drive? From what I've read, it resets your PC. Is it similar to the systems image?


In case some of you might not know what I am talking about, here are the paths:

to access systems image in windows 8.1
Control panel\all control panel items\windows 7 file recovery

to access recovery drive in windows 8.1
Control panel\all control panel items\recovery

 

[Dahak]

Depending on the brand of laptop, I would check to see if they have a way to create the recovery media. HP for example has the HP Recovery Media Creation

I have not had a chance to play with the recovery options much n 8/8.1 so I am unsure my self

 

[corkyg]

In some lappies, the Recovery Drive is a hidden partition that can restore the system to original condition. My solution is a bit different. I order my laptop with the cheapest HDD. Then, when I get it, I clone that to a preferred drive, (nowadays a SSD) and remove the OEM original. I bag it and store it. That is then my emergency recovery drive. It works for me.

 

[Berryracer]

I usually just image my system using something like Macrium Reflect, works best