Windows "system repair disc" on an SD card?

[slugg]

The Windows 7 backup feature allows you to burn a boot CD for recovery purposes. Basically, what I'm trying to do is put this same software on a bootable SD card. I've Googled around, but all I get is a bunch of people asking how to recover an SD card, which is not what I'm looking for.

My reasoning is that I run two hard drives in my Thinkpad. One is the system drive, the other is a backup drive. If the system drive needs to be restored for some reason, I won't have my CD-Rom drive available. But with an SD card, I can just leave it in my machine practically permanently.

Is this possible? Thanks

 

[Kusnierek]

You might be able to boot from an SD card if you set the first boot device in your BIOS as "Removable Media" or "Removable Storage" or whatever it's called. Also, if you can get Windows 7 to treat your SD card like a USB flash drive you should be able to make a recovery drive that way. Or you coud just use a USB flash drive, too.

 

[slugg]

USB flash drive would work, but it's not as convenient. I'm trying to go for convenience... The great thing about an SD card is that it sits completely inside the machine; there's nothing to break off or lose.

... But for the time being, how can I make a recovery USB flash drive without burning the disc to then generate an ISO from the disc?

 

[Kusnierek]

http://www.trishtech.com/win7/install_windows_7_from_usb_disk.php
I'd just try following these directions, except try selecting your SD card when copying.

 

[WilliamM2]

... But for the time being, how can I make a recovery USB flash drive without burning the disc to then generate an ISO from the disc?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHk6BNtwy5w

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Fascinating subject...

Here's what I used in order to get a bootable flash disk, to upgrade the firmware on my SSD : http://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/

Yes, it appears to be Linux-oriented, but the drop-down menu offers Windows as an option, too

 

[slugg]

Fascinating subject...

Here's what I used in order to get a bootable flash disk, to upgrade the firmware on my SSD : http://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/

Yes, it appears to be Linux-oriented, but the drop-down menu offers Windows as an option, too

Well, that at least solves the "is an SD card bootable" mystery. I guess now I just need to buy an SD card and experiment a bit.

 

[exdeath]

It's the same as a USB thumb drive.

diskpart
sel disk <sd card>
clean
create part prim
active
format quick

Then copy the contents of the Windows CD onto the SD card.

Done.

All the Windows recovery and installation tools just need to boot an active partition on any device long enough to load a WIM image into a ram drive.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I have an 8gb thumb drive plugged into an internal USB port. Copied the win7 ISO to it using the MS USB DVD download tool.

Sort of a home brew "recovery partition."

It's cool cuz otherwise I'd probably have lost the thumb drive.

 

[taltamir]

My reasoning is that I run two hard drives in my Thinkpad. One is the system drive, the other is a backup drive. If the system drive needs to be restored for some reason, I won't have my CD-Rom drive available. But with an SD card, I can just leave it in my machine practically permanently.

If this is really your entire reasoning (rather then "its cool and I wanna do it for fun"), then perhaps you should just get an external USB CD drive. Those can be booted from.

 

[Dessert Tears]

Well, that at least solves the "is an SD card bootable" mystery. I guess now I just need to buy an SD card and experiment a bit.

I have Memtest86+ booting from a 32MB SD card that I got from a camera. It works on my netbook+ and my desktop. We also have a true netbook (Acer AO722, a known issue) that won't boot from its card reader.

 

[taltamir]

I have Memtest86+ booting from a 32MB SD card that I got from a camera. It works on my netbook+ and my desktop. We also have a true netbook (Acer AO722, a known issue) that won't boot from its card reader.

My experience is that your BIOS needs to support booting from a USB stick. And many mobos do not.

 

[readymix]

USB flash drive if the "system drive" up and dies dead as a door nail. otherwise booting by hitting F6 followed by F8 gets you into that "system repair" setup ,which resides in the 100MB W7 system partition for that random restore for whatever reason.