当Windows 10由于更新错误或无法正确启动而崩溃时，您可以尝试使用USB恢复驱动器修复它。创建恢复驱动器需要将USB记忆棒插入运行中的Windows 10计算机并运行Recovery Media Creator向导。以下是它的工作原理以及如何创建适用于您的 PC 和其他设备的Windows 10恢复USB驱动器：(USB)
有关创建USB Windows 10恢复驱动器的重要事项
您可以在打算使用它的同一台计算机上或另一台 PC 上创建恢复驱动器。此外，您可以同时使用USB记忆棒或USB外部硬盘驱动器。在我们的测试中，该程序在两种类型的设备上都运行良好。
互联网上的一些网站告诉您，您只能在创建它的Windows 10 PC上使用USB恢复驱动器。那不是真的。恢复驱动器适用于所有Windows 10电脑，只要它们使用相同的体系结构（64 位或 32 位）和相同版本的Windows 10，或者至少是与用于创建恢复的版本相对接近的版本驾驶。如果您不了解有关Windows 10的这些详细信息，请按照以下说明检查 Windows 10 版本、操作系统构建、版本或类型(how to check the Windows 10 version, OS build, edition, or type)。
即使您要修复的计算机不使用与您创建恢复驱动器的 PC 完全相同的Windows 10版本，您仍然可以从USB恢复驱动器启动并使用其上可用的大多数恢复选项。但是，您可能无法使用所有恢复工具。有些可能不起作用，例如重新安装Windows 10的选项，因为USB恢复驱动器的系统文件与您要恢复的 PC 上的Windows 10版本不同。(Windows 10)当您使用在较旧的Windows 10版本上创建的USB恢复驱动器来修复具有更新的Windows 10的 PC 时尤其如此(Windows 10)版本。
您可以使用任何USB记忆棒，只要它有 16 GB 的可用空间。这是Microsoft推荐的空间量。但是，在我们的测试中，恢复驱动器的总大小为 12.4 GB。因此(Therefore)，具有 13 GB 可用空间的USB驱动器应该足够了。
您可以在任何类型的U(USB)盘上创建恢复驱动器
要记住的一个方面是USB 2.0记忆棒比USB 3.0 记忆棒慢得多。因此，如果您不希望这个过程永远持续下去，请尝试寻找更快的USB记忆棒。
提示：(TIP:)如果您想了解更多关于USB驱动器的信息，以及(USB)USB 3.0和USB 2.0之间的区别，请阅读这篇文章：什么是 USB（通用串行总线）？(What is USB (Universal Serial Bus)?).
如何在Windows 10中启动(Windows 10)恢复媒体创建器(Recovery Media Creator)
有多种方法可以启动用于为Windows 10创建 USB 恢复驱动器的Recovery Media Creator向导。一种方法是打开开始菜单(Start Menu)并向下滚动到Windows 管理工具(Windows Administrative Tools)文件夹。单击(Click)或点击此文件夹以将其打开。
打开开始菜单(Start Menu)，然后打开Windows 管理工具(Windows Administrative Tools)文件夹
然后，您会看到一长串Windows 10系统工具。再次向下滚动(Scroll)，直到看到Recovery Drive，然后单击或点击此快捷方式。
单击(Click)或点击“开始”菜单中的“(Start Menu)恢复驱动器(Recovery Drive)”快捷方式
在恢复媒体创建(Recovery Media Creator)程序打开之前，您会看到一个UAC 提示(UAC prompt)，要求您允许此应用程序对您的设备进行更改。按是(Yes)继续。
在UAC提示中，单击 Yes 以运行Recovery Media Creator
注意：(NOTE:)如果您使用非管理员用户帐户启动此应用程序，则必须在UAC窗口中输入管理员帐户的密码。
另一种打开创建恢复驱动器向导的方法是使用搜索(search)。在Windows 10搜索栏中键入单词“恢复驱动器”(“recovery drive”)，然后单击或点击恢复驱动器(Recovery Drive)搜索结果或右侧显示的打开选项。(Open)
使用搜索查找恢复驱动器
提示：您在(TIP:)Windows 10中没有搜索栏，就像我们上面的屏幕截图一样？阅读本指南：Windows 10 搜索栏是否丢失？6种方式来展示它(Is the Windows 10 Search bar missing? 6 ways to show it)。
另一种方法是打开文件资源管理器(open File Explorer)并导航到“C:\Windows\System32\”文件夹，您可以在其中找到运行Recovery Media Creator的(Recovery Media Creator)RecoveryDrive.exe文件。
RecoveryDrive.exe文件的路径
重要提示：(IMPORTANT:)在继续使用Recovery Media Creator之前，请将USB记忆棒插入您的 Windows 10 计算机（理想情况下具有 16 GB 可用空间），并确保 Windows 正确检测到它。
如何为Windows 10创建 USB 恢复驱动器(Windows 10)
在“恢复驱动器(Recovery Drive)”窗口中，您首先会看到恢复驱动器用途的描述和一个复选标记，上面写着：“将系统文件备份到恢复驱动器”。(“Back up system files to the recovery drive.”)当您选中此选项时，将创建恢复驱动器以包含Windows 10系统文件，这些文件允许您在有问题的 PC 上重新安装Windows。保持选中状态并按Next是个好主意。但是，请记住，此选项还会增加U(USB)盘上所需的可用空间。因此，如果您的USB记忆棒的可用空间有限，您可能需要取消选中此选项。
创建 Windows 10 恢复驱动器
恢复驱动器(Recovery Drive)向导会花一些时间检测连接到您计算机的所有USB驱动(USB)器，然后将它们列出。通过单击或点击其驱动器号并按Next(Next)来选择要用于恢复的USB闪存驱动器。
选择您要使用的USB闪存驱动器(USB)
警告您驱动器上的所有内容都将被删除。如果您有任何对您很重要的数据，请在下一步之前将其备份。当您准备好创建USB恢复驱动器时，请按Create。
开始创建恢复驱动器的过程
然后，恢复驱动器(Recovery Drive)向导将格式化您选择的USB驱动器并复制所需的Windows 10恢复实用程序和系统文件。此过程可能需要很长时间，特别是如果您有旧的USB 2.0记忆棒，请等待 30 到 60 分钟完成。即使使用USB 3.0闪存驱动器，该过程也可能需要一段时间，尽管等待不会那么令人沮丧，因为这些驱动器速度更快。
创建恢复驱动器需要很长时间
当Windows 10 USB恢复驱动器准备就绪时，系统会通知您，剩下要做的就是按Finish。
(Click Finish)恢复驱动器准备好后单击完成
然后，当您遇到问题或其他无法正常工作的Windows 10设备时，您可以使用恢复USB记忆棒（或硬盘驱动器）对Windows 10 PC 进行故障排除。(Windows 10)
如何使用USB Windows 10恢复驱动器
您可以使用适用于Windows 10的恢复(Windows 10)USB驱动器执行许多操作：
- 重置 Windows 10
- 将 Windows 10 还原到以前的运行状态
- 通过卸载麻烦的更新返回到以前版本的Windows 10
- (Recover)使用系统映像恢复Windows 10
- 修复(Repair)Windows 10系统启动
- 启动命令提示符(Command Prompt)以运行各种故障排除命令
- 访问 BIOS
Windows 10恢复驱动器上的故障排除选项
我们在另一篇文章中详细介绍了所有这些选项：如何使用 Windows 10 恢复 USB 驱动器(How to use a Windows 10 recovery USB drive)。按照它来修复出现故障的Windows 10笔记本电脑、平板电脑或 PC。
如果USB恢复驱动器不起作用，并且您的 Windows 10 PC 或笔记本电脑可以读取DVD(DVDs)，您可以创建系统修复光盘(create a system repair disc)并从中启动。如果该选项不可用，您还可以创建一个带有Windows 10设置的(Windows 10)U(USB)盘，其中包括必要的故障排除工具。阅读本指南，了解如何获取和使用媒体创建工具来创建 Windows 10 安装媒体（USB 记忆棒或 ISO）(How to get and use Media Creation Tool to create Windows 10 installation media (USB stick or ISO))。
如果您没有设法使用安装介质修复Windows 10，最后一种方法是从头开始重新安装Windows 10 。本指南将提供帮助：如何从 DVD、USB 或 ISO 文件安装 Windows 10(How to install Windows 10 from DVD, USB, or ISO file)。
您(Did)是否设法为Windows 10创建了可启动的 USB 恢复驱动器？
本指南应该可以帮助您创建一个Windows 10恢复USB驱动器，该驱动器也适用于另一台 PC，而不仅仅是您的 PC。在您关闭本文之前，请告诉我们您是否有任何问题以及一切是否顺利。下方评论，一起讨论。
How do you create a USB Windows 10 recovery drive? -
When Windows 10 crashes becauѕe of a faulty update or when it doеsn’t boot correctly, you cаn try fixing it with a USB recovery drive. Creating a recovery drive involves plugging a USB memory stick into a working Windоws 10 computer and running the Recovery Media Creator wizard. Here’s how it all works and how to create a Windows 10 recovery USB drive that works both on your PC and on others:
Important things to know about creating a USB Windows 10 recovery drive
You can create a recovery drive on the same computer on which you intend to use it or on a different PC. Furthermore, you can use both a USB memory stick or a USB external hard drive. In our tests, the procedure worked well on both types of devices.
Some sites on the internet tell you that you can use the USB recovery drive only on the Windows 10 PC where you created it. That is not true. The recovery drive works on all Windows 10 PCs, as long as they use the same architecture (64-bit or 32-bit) and the same version of Windows 10, or at least a relatively close version to the one used to create the recovery drive. If you don’t know these details about your Windows 10, here’s how to check the Windows 10 version, OS build, edition, or type.
Even if the computer you want to repair doesn’t use the exact same version of Windows 10 as the PC on which you created the recovery drive, you can still boot from the USB recovery drive and use most of the recovery options available on it. However, you might be unable to use all the recovery tools. Some may not work, like the option to reinstall Windows 10, because the USB recovery drive has the system files for a different Windows 10 version than the one found on the PC you want to recover. This is especially true when you use a USB recovery drive created on an older Windows 10 version to repair a PC with a much newer Windows 10 version.
You can use any USB memory stick, as long as it has 16 GB of free space. This is the amount of space recommended by Microsoft. However, in our testing, the recovery drive had a total size of 12.4 GB. Therefore, a USB drive with 13 GB of free space should be enough.
You can create a recovery drive on any kind of USB stick
One aspect to keep in mind is that USB 2.0 memory sticks are much slower than USB 3.0 ones. Therefore, if you don’t want this procedure to take forever, try and find a faster USB stick.
TIP: If you want to know more about USB drives, and the difference between USB 3.0 and USB 2.0, read this article: What is USB (Universal Serial Bus)?.
How to start the Recovery Media Creator in Windows 10
There are many ways to start the Recovery Media Creator wizard you use to create a USB recovery drive for Windows 10. One way is to open the Start Menu and scroll down to the Windows Administrative Tools folder. Click or tap on this folder to open it.
Open the Start Menu and then the Windows Administrative Tools folder
You then see a long list of Windows 10 system tools. Scroll down again until you see Recovery Drive, and then click or tap on this shortcut.
Click or tap on the Recovery Drive shortcut from the Start Menu
Before the Recovery Media Creator opens, you see a UAC prompt asking you to allow this app to make changes to your device. Press Yes to continue.
In the UAC prompt, click Yes to run the Recovery Media Creator
NOTE: If you are using a non-administrator user account to start this app, you must enter the password for the administrator account in the UAC window.
Another way to open the wizard for creating a recovery drive is to use search. Type the words “recovery drive” in the Windows 10 search bar, and then click or tap on the Recovery Drive search result or the Open option shown on the right.
Use search to find Recovery Drive
TIP: You don’t have a search bar in Windows 10, like in our screenshot above? Read this guide: Is the Windows 10 Search bar missing? 6 ways to show it.
Another way is to open File Explorer and navigate to the “C:\Windows\System32\” folder, where you find the RecoveryDrive.exe file that runs the Recovery Media Creator.
The path to the RecoveryDrive.exe file
IMPORTANT: Before you go ahead and use the Recovery Media Creator, plug a USB memory stick into your Windows 10 computer, which ideally has 16 GB of free space, and make sure that Windows correctly detects it.
How to create a USB recovery drive for Windows 10
In the Recovery Drive window, you first see a description of the recovery drive’s usefulness and a checkmark that says: “Back up system files to the recovery drive.” When you check this option, the recovery drive is created to include Windows 10 system files that allow you to reinstall Windows on a PC with problems. It is a good idea to leave it checked and press Next. However, keep in mind that this option also increases the free space required on the USB stick. Therefore, if your USB memory stick has limited free space, you may want to uncheck this option.
Create a Windows 10 recovery drive
The Recovery Drive wizard spends some time detecting all the USB drives connected to your computer and then lists them. Select the USB flash drive you want to use for recovery by clicking or tapping on its drive letter and pressing Next.
Select the USB flash drive you want to use
You are warned that everything on the drive is going to be deleted. If you have any data that matters to you, back it up before the next step. When you’re ready to create the USB recovery drive, press Create.
Start the process to create the recovery drive
The Recovery Drive wizard is then going to format the USB drive you chose and copy the required Windows 10 recovery utilities and system files. This process may take a long time, especially if you have an old USB 2.0 memory stick, so give it between 30 and 60 minutes to finish. Even with USB 3.0 flash drives, the process can take a while, although the wait will be less frustrating because these drives are faster.
Creating the recovery drive takes a long time
When the Windows 10 USB recovery drive is ready, you are informed, and all that is left to do is press Finish.
Click Finish when the recovery drive is ready
You can then use the recovery USB stick (or hard drive) to troubleshoot your Windows 10 PC when you encounter a problem or on other Windows 10 devices that don’t work as they should.
How to use the USB Windows 10 recovery drive
There are many things you can do with the recovery USB drive for Windows 10:
- Reset Windows 10
- Restore Windows 10 to a previous functioning state
- Go back to a previous version of Windows 10 by uninstalling troublesome updates
- Recover Windows 10 using a system image
- Repair the Windows 10 system startup
- Start the Command Prompt to run all kinds of troubleshooting commands
- Access the BIOS
Troubleshooting options on a Windows 10 recovery drive
We covered all these options in detail in a separate article: How to use a Windows 10 recovery USB drive. Follow it to repair your malfunctioning Windows 10 laptop, tablet, or PC.
If the USB recovery drive doesn’t work, and your Windows 10 PC or laptop can read DVDs, you can create a system repair disc and boot from it. If that option isn’t available, you can also create a USB stick with the Windows 10 setup on it, which includes the necessary troubleshooting tool. Read this guide on How to get and use Media Creation Tool to create Windows 10 installation media (USB stick or ISO).
If you didn’t manage to repair Windows 10 with the installation media, one last resort is to reinstall Windows 10 from scratch. This guide will help: How to install Windows 10 from DVD, USB, or ISO file.
Did you manage to create a bootable USB recovery drive for Windows 10?
This guide should have helped you create a Windows 10 recovery USB drive that also works on another PC, not just yours. Before you close this article, tell us if you have any questions and if everything went well for you. Comment below, and let’s discuss.
