How to create a recovery partition for a blank HD

You'd need an OS onboard to make the bootable installation partition, which only gives the ability to reinstall or repair by booting it.

By comparison a stored image in the same space (or preferablly externally) can be up and running in 20 minutes since it's already your customized ideal install and doesn't require hours or days of reinstalling and setup.

Hopefully these options are helping to better shape what you want. Keep asking back until you find your perfect solution.

Golden said:

medwatt said:

Is there a way, as in linux distros, to create a bootable USB without formatting ?

This doesn't make any sense to me....to create a bootable Linux USB you usually have to format it. Im quite confused over what you are trying to do....

No I really create linux distros without formatting at all. I use LiLi USB creator and there is an option to uncheck 'format' and I always uncheck it.

I'm sorry to be posting this late.

Can you suggest how I can avoid formatting my HD if I want to create a bootable Win 7 USB ?

Create the bootable sticks from Steps 1 and 2 of Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. Formatting your HDD is not involved.

If you want to use an ISO you had previously the Windows tool may not work since it is picky. In that case use Ultra ISO to create bootable flash stick.

If you'll tell us exactly what you want to do then we will be able to help you better.

I am myself a little bit confused in presenting what I want done.
Ok once more.
1. I want to install win 7 on a blank HDD which has no DVD drive
2. I already have a 1.5TB HDD which is semi full formatted as NTFS
3. I already have an ISO image of win 7
4. How to make the 1.5TB HDD a win 7 bootable installation disk without formatting it (1.e. retaining all files)

Please see the attachment !