- Oct 16, 2014
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To reproduce the problem:
1>Connect the HDD containing the system image to a USB3 port, connect a bootable USB flash drive containing Windows 8.1 installer to a USB2 (or USB3) port. (Hard disk must be USB3, I have not tried with a USB2 hard disk, as I don't have one).
2>Restart the laptop and select the option to boot from USB drive, Windows 8.1 boots up from the installer and asks you to select an option. (the external hard disk seems to be working at this point, the LED indicator on the external hard disk is lit up).
3>Go to "troubleshoot" and trigger a "system image recovery".
4>A message pops up saying no system images were found, and asking you to plug in the external hard drive or insert a DVD containing the image.
5>Unplug the external hard disk, and plug it back into the same USB3 port, or another USB3 port, click "Retry", the same message (mentioned in step4) pops up again. The hard disk is working though, the LED is lit up, it's as if Windows is unable to see the Hard Disk even though it's plugged in.
6>Unplug the hard disk and plug it into a USB2 port this time, click "retry", Windows sees the hard disk and shows you the recommended system image to restore from.
Conclusion: It appears that Windows 8.1 system image recovery, when started from the Installation disk, does not load USB3 drivers. The external hard disk is perfectly healthy, and the USB3 ports work fine when accessed from inside Windows 8.1, but fails to see the hard drive when booted up from the installation disk.
If your Windows 8.1 installer is present in a USB2 flash drive, and if you plug this flash drive in your USB3 port, Windows is able to see this flash drive and boot from it though.
Question> Is there a workaround? I have just ordered an Asus ROG laptop, it doesn't have USB2 ports, all 4 ports are USB3. How will I restore system images when I get this computer?
1>Connect the HDD containing the system image to a USB3 port, connect a bootable USB flash drive containing Windows 8.1 installer to a USB2 (or USB3) port. (Hard disk must be USB3, I have not tried with a USB2 hard disk, as I don't have one).
2>Restart the laptop and select the option to boot from USB drive, Windows 8.1 boots up from the installer and asks you to select an option. (the external hard disk seems to be working at this point, the LED indicator on the external hard disk is lit up).
3>Go to "troubleshoot" and trigger a "system image recovery".
4>A message pops up saying no system images were found, and asking you to plug in the external hard drive or insert a DVD containing the image.
5>Unplug the external hard disk, and plug it back into the same USB3 port, or another USB3 port, click "Retry", the same message (mentioned in step4) pops up again. The hard disk is working though, the LED is lit up, it's as if Windows is unable to see the Hard Disk even though it's plugged in.
6>Unplug the hard disk and plug it into a USB2 port this time, click "retry", Windows sees the hard disk and shows you the recommended system image to restore from.
Conclusion: It appears that Windows 8.1 system image recovery, when started from the Installation disk, does not load USB3 drivers. The external hard disk is perfectly healthy, and the USB3 ports work fine when accessed from inside Windows 8.1, but fails to see the hard drive when booted up from the installation disk.
If your Windows 8.1 installer is present in a USB2 flash drive, and if you plug this flash drive in your USB3 port, Windows is able to see this flash drive and boot from it though.
Question> Is there a workaround? I have just ordered an Asus ROG laptop, it doesn't have USB2 ports, all 4 ports are USB3. How will I restore system images when I get this computer?
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