Windows 11 Recovery Backup to USB Flash Drive

Question

I am trying to perform a recovery backup  to my USB flash Drive (Drive D)

On my Windows 11 Dell Inspiron 15, 5000 Series Laptop

But I keep getting the message

“WE CANT CREATE THE RECOVERY DRIVE”

“A PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE CREATING THE RECOVERY DRIVE”

This is a new USB stick and has never been used before!

The memory on the USB stick is 128GB

Why do I keep getting this message?

my USB ports work on my dell laptop as I connect external hard drives to my laptop using the same usb ports and they work fine!

I have contacted Microsoft live chat and they say it’s a hardware issue.  But how can it be a hardware issue when my external hard drive works fine?

Answer 1

Dear Andrea Ferns,

I hope you are doing well.

I suggest doing the following (First: backup any data from USB if it has something as we will format it)

1. Insert your USB on a different USB port
2. Open CMD (as Administrator)
3. Type the below commands
   diskpart
list disk

select disk x (note: x is a number you should choose from the list disk. Be Careful --> choose your USB not your harddrive)

list disk
"Confirm that the start/asterisk ***** symbol on the right/correct disk(USB) -- AGAIN, BE CAREFULL OF THIS STEP

clean
create partition primary size=16384 "This will take only 16GB of your USB"
format fs=fat32 quick
assign
exit

Then try creating the recovery drive again.

Warning: Make absolutely sure you select the correct disk. The clean command erases the selected drive.

---

#2
FYI: The Recovery Drive wizard copies files from the hidden Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), so if it's damanged or corrupted, you will get an error.

Check it's status by doing the following:

1. Open CMD
2. reagentc /info "if yo usee that Windows RE status: Disabled OR Location: (blank)"
   --> it's a problem (root cause).

---

You can try fix windows system files by

• sfc /scannow
• DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
• sfc /scannow
• reboot

Further Actions:

1. Do you have bit locker enabled?
2. Any other info/error messages?
3. Check logs from (Event Viewer)

Final Recommendations:

If you need to create a full image of your OS + Files + Whole Drive, I suggest the good old backup tool:
as Recovery Drive can help only with booting issues. Additionally, you can create one by downloading
Windows ISO from Microsoft and boot from it, then create Recovery Drive from the installation media

KB: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/experience/backup-recovery/recovery-drive

Best,

M.