Can't create recovery media "Windows 7 only allows one copy"

[alanrudy]

Tried searching for the answer...my Lenovo x230 has a partitioned 13gb. It says you can recover this disk space if you create recovery media; however when I do that it says..."Windows 7 only allows one copy of the operating system." Anything that I can do? I actually don't even plan on recovering the space but just want a backup in case the partitioned drive fails.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello.


Just create an image to use, have a look through the information in this tutorial at the link below for some additional ideas and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

Imaging with free Macrium



​

 

[Mark Phelps]

The advantage that you will get with using the solution Bare Foot Kid suggested (one I use all the time) is that the image you make NOW, can be restored later exactly is it exists today. In contrast, if you make a restore image using the OEM-provided utility, when you restore later using that, your PC will revert back to the condition it was in when it left their factory -- including ALL the bloatware and NONE of the Window updates your have applied or any of the applications you have installed.

 

[gregrocker]

Please post back a screenshot of your maximized Disk Management drive map and listings:

1. Type Disk Management in Start Search box.
2. Open Disk Mgmt. window and maximize it.
3. Type Snipping Tool in Start Search box.
4. Open Snipping Tool, choose Rectangular Snip, draw a box around full map and all listings.
5, Save Snip, attach using paper clip in Reply Box.

Tell us what is on each partition, what you want to do exactly and we will give you the steps.

 

[alanrudy]

Thanks all for replying! Attached is the image. What I want to do is transfer what is on the Lenovo recovery drive Q and put it on my external hard drive L. Lenovo gives me an option to do that and then has an option to recover that disk space; however when I do it, Windows stops it and says "Windows 7 only allows one copy of the operating system."

The main reason I want to back up is because I have an SSD and have heard some stories of failure with no warning. Also of course in case of a virus or computer problem. The complete imaging solution is not a bad idea, but I think I can make room for both on my external hard drive once I can figure out a solution to this problem. Also, I never hibernate the computer, either sleep, deep sleep (rare), or turn off. I'm thinking of turning off hibernate and recovering the space on the hibernation partition as well, okay to do?

 

[gregrocker]

Hi Alan -

It would help to see a screenshot of the error message moved over so we can see what you're trying to run at the time. The error is not known in Win7, but sounds more like Lenovo being asked to generate another set of Recovery disks. Please clarify.

Your Lenovo Recovery partition runs from boot with the assist of the 1.46 gb boot partition so they both need to remain intact and undisturbed on the HD in order to run Factory Recovery, unless Lenovo now provides another option to save Recovery to external besides generating Recovery disks.

You can also always run WIn7 backup imaging to save a backup image of your current state of the first two partitions. This built-in Win7 backup imaging also comes into play if you choose the best method of all which is to replace the inferior pre-installed Win7 with a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. Then Backup Imaging can become your own custom Recovery of a much leaner and better performing Win7 without the preinstalled bloatware and useless duplicate utilities which have better versions built into the Win7 OS.

Mull over these options and ask back any questions needed to help decide.

 

[alanrudy]

Here is a screenshot of the error. Actually I don't see too many programs that I would not maybe find useful, and since I've already been setting up all my programs and settings the way I like, I prefer not to start over. Do you all think I would get the same issue if I attempt to backup the Q drive with the Macrium utility? Okay to delete Hibernate drive?

 

[SIW2]

That is not a message from Windows - it is deliberate limitation Lenovo have set on their recovery app.

I would think you could get around relatively easily, if you wish.

HP do the same kind of thing.

Not all oem's do that.

The solution with HP is to delete a couple of files , typically:

c:\windows\sminst\hpcd.sys

d:\hpcd.sys

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Hibernate is a file, not a drive.

You get rid of it with a command. I think it's power -cfg off

That will save you some space on C----equivalent to the amount of your RAM.

Some swear by hibernation, but it's pointless if you shut down instead.

 

[gregrocker]

It looks like a warning box that comes up when you try to delete the Recovery partition.

Have you actually tried generating your Recovery media from within the Lenovo programs at Start>All Programs? That might work. The error message might only refer to trying to copy or delete the partition itself.

If you haven't already made the Recovery media and it errors similarly when you try to do so, it may be a defect which will allow Lenovo Tech Support to send you Recovery media.

I'd like to be able to say that saving a backup image will work, but there is no guarantee that it won't lose it's ability to boot from Windows or it's hot key even if re-imaged onto the HD. It's best to have the Recovery media in hand before deleting it.

 

[SIW2]

It is a lenovo annoyance.

Go to Folder options and make sure Hidden Files and Protected operating system files are showing.

Now look at the recov partition.

If there is a folder in there called FactoryRecovery.

In there should be a file with the .ini extension.

They used to call it servicedone.ini - they might still call it that.

Open it in notepad and change done=1 to done=0

Then click Save at the top notepad.

Now you should be able to run off another set.

 

[alanrudy]

About Hibernation, oh okay, I thought you had turn Hibernate off and then do something else to recover the space it is taking. Will the space be automatically recovered to C drive or do I have to do something else?

It gives the same error when I try to recover from Start>All programs as well. Thanks all for the help, I'm not an expert like you all are so I don't want to delete any files just in case that causes some other problem. I will try the Macrium program to see if I get the same error.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

About Hibernation, oh okay, I thought you had turn Hibernate off and then do something else to recover the space it is taking. Will the space be automatically recovered to C drive or do I have to do something else?

No. You don't have to do anything else.

If you have 50 gigs of free space and 8 GB of RAM, you will have 58 GB of free space after you run that command. Just like deleting a file.

If you later decide you want to use hibernation, just run that command again, substituting "on" for "off".

 

[F5ing]

About Hibernation, oh okay, I thought you had turn Hibernate off and then do something else to recover the space it is taking. Will the space be automatically recovered to C drive or do I have to do something else?

No. You don't have to do anything else.

If you have 50 gigs of free space and 8 GB of RAM, you will have 58 GB of free space after you run that command. Just like deleting a file.

Except in the OP's situation it appears as though the hibernation file is saved to its own, dedicated partition. He'll have to manipulate his partitions to be able to recover that space (or use 'as is' as a separate 8 GB partition).

 

[alanrudy]

F5ing is right, it's still there even though I turned off Hibernation. I don't know how to recover that space...how do I manipulate the partions to recover or even worst case, just use the partition as a separate 8gb. SIW2, actually when I click on that Q drive it is empty even though it shows about 11gb being used, so I can't make the changes you advised. But for backing up, I just used Windows backup and restore to copy just that Q drive to the external L drive, I think it worked. It shows that 11gb on there, I can't really figure out if that will work because I don't really want to restore my computer after all I've done to get it how I want. Did I likely do it right and is there a reason why Macrium was advised and not the Windows backup and restore? I will do a system image in the next few days as I've still been making a lot of changes to the computer to get it how I want.

 

[F5ing]

If you've disabled hibernation, and you're sure nothing else is there, you can simply delete it and adjust the remaining partitions to utilize that space using either Disk Management or Partition Wizard.

How did you go about getting hibernation to work that way to begin with? Typically the hibernation file gets created in the root of the boot drive, not within a separate, specially created partition...

 

[alanrudy]

That's how Lenovo shipped it. Just to be safe, repartitioning the c drive won't make me lose anything, correct?

 

[gregrocker]

Q is likely not empty. Try unhiding Hidden and System files at Control Panel>Folder options>View to access and edit the file SIW2 referenced which will allow another set of disks to be made.

If you still can't get it to generate Recovery Disks, then you can save externally a Win7 or Macrium backup image of the state it's in now which may be the closest you get without ordering Recovery Disks from Lenovo.

Then you can delete Recovery if you want, resize into the space using Disk Mgmt: Partition or Volume - Extend

Or you can save Recovery knowing that if it won't run from Windows or using it's hotkey given on first boot screen, you can force it to run by adding it to a Dual Boot this way: Boot Recovery Partition using EasyBCD.

Most tech enthusiasts won't even run the factory preinstall with it's smothering bloatware and useless OEM utilities than duplicate much better versions in Win7, but choose to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

At the minimum I'd Clean Up Factory Bloatware

 

[alanrudy]

Yeah, it's not empty, just when I click on it nothing comes up, even with show hidden folders clicked, so I can't do what SIW2 advised. I was able to create a backup disk using Windows 7 backup and restore, just basically copied the Q drive and it didn't give me any issues, but not sure I did it right. I can't really figure out if that will work because I don't really want to restore my computer after all I've done to get it how I want. Did I likely do it right? It's safe to repartition my C drive with everything on it and make it 8gb bigger, correct?

 

[gregrocker]

I was suggesting to save a backup image of Win7 and it's boot partition, nothing more. It won't hurt to have Recovery on the image, however, in case you later want to try to boot it and it's functional.

Sometimes you must change the Partition ID to get it to show OEM files. SIW2 knows how to do this using Partition Wizard.

But you say you don't need Recovery any longer. If so you can delete the partition now and Extend C into it.

Turn off Hibernation if you want to delete it's partition too, then after reboot turn it back on to recreate it on C.