Samsung Recovery Solution missing?

Just bought an ATIV 6 (same as ATIV 8 but with smaller battery). I also bought a Samsung SSD to install right from the start. I need to save my Windows installation before removing the hard drive. I can't find a way to make a recovery disc (would like to do it with a 32G USB flash if possible). After doing online chat with Samsung support, it appears I do not have Samsung Recovery Solution, or any other way to make a Windows reinstall tool. The fellow even connected to my machine, tried to do a software update, and ultimately said there is currently no Recovery Solution for this model.

HUH? How could they ship a product with no way to reinstall WIndows? There is no recovery partition on the hard drive. I found a download for Recovery Solution 5 online, downloaded and ran it, but that product says it can't run because there is no recovery partition set up!

I'm willing to do a full Windows 8 installation on the SSD if necessary. Its not hard to later reinstall the Samsung drivers. What is my solution to saving/reinstalling Windows on the SSD?

Separate question - how do I open the case to access the drive? Just remove the screws on the bottom?

Don

 

Did you check if you can run SRS by tapping the F4 key a few times immediately after turning on the computer? The SRS software won't install unless it can see the recovery partition.

If that won't work then is there a recovery partition (there should be more than one) and do they contain anything? Minitool Partition Wizard is a good free utility for checking this.

Did you buy the computer new? The first turn-on date is store in the BIOS and you can see it on the first BIOS setup screen (tap F2 key a few times immediately after turning on the computer to get to the BIOS setup via the option on the Charms bar. If you don't recognise the first turn-on date then I wonder if someone else had used the computer and trashed the recovery partition (easily done by either formatting the HDD or moving the partitions). Otherwise I suggest you ask Samsung to either re-image the disk under warranty or send you a Windows 8 reinstallation disk.

John

 

I agree, it sounds like you may have received a machine where someone deleted the Recovery. It happens frequently, and dealers generally do not know how to re-create the Recovery, so they "refurbish" them with just a Windows installation, but no Recovery.

As John suggested, you can use Minitool to check it. This post lists the partitions you should see on a normal factory disk from Samsung.

If Recovery is missing, Samsung should offer to either re-image the drive (requiring you to send it in for service) or send you a Recovery disc -- which is a plain Win8 OEM disc, and that's a great one to have.

Samsung Recovery Solution does indeed have features to either clone the entire HDD onto an external SSD or create a backup on a 32GB stick -- which I see that you were wisely planning to do.

Lacking Recovery, you can use Samsung Data Migration (if your SSD comes with that) to clone the existing Windows installation, OR use can use any number of 3rd party tools (Paragon, Acronis etc). In other posts you may see me warning about those 3rd party tools because they don't preserve Samsung Recovery when they clone (and they actually destroy it when they restore). But if you don't have Recovery, you don't have to worry about losing it.

Or you can perform a clean install. Don't look for drivers on Samsung's web site, you use SW Update to pull them from a database. See this Windows install guide for details and links -- it is primarily for Win7, but contains notes for Win8 as well.

 

Thanks for the tip, but I'm not there yet. I rebooted several times, pushed F4 (like I would push F2 for the BIOS), but nothing there. The Samsung tech researched and said there is no recovery solution available for this model, so not surprised the partition is not there. This is a brand new unit purchased from Microsoft Store, so I doubt anyone has played with it. It had all the original protective packaging, clear plastic, etc.

Dannemand, you may be onto a solution with software from the SSD. I bought a Samsung 840 Pro 512gb SSD. I have not opened the box because I am waiting to see if I need to return the SSD, but the box says it includes Magician Software. Could I use that perform this task? I'm a bit confused about how the data would be physically transferred, since I can't connect both the original hard drive and the SSD at the same time.

Keep those suggestions coming!

 

I called Samsung tonight. What a great experience! The girl who took the call understood the problem. I asked for a recovery disc to reinstall Windows. NO PROBLEM. She even asked if I preferred the regular Windows 8, or the Pro version. I don't have the Pro version now, but I prefer it for some of our workplace connectivity. Here you go, we'll ship you out a Win 8 Pro recovery disc tomorrow.

I already exported the system drivers and software to my USB stick, so with the recovery CD I should have no problem loading onto the SSD.

 

People who have a bad experience are quick to share it, so it's great to hear positive story like yours. Thank you for sharing.

Alternatively I believe Magician should be able to clone your HDD to the SSD. But you need an external drive enclosure or docking station to connect it.

Drive imaging software (such as Paragon and Acronis) can save a snapshot of a partition or disk to an external USB drive, so you can restore if after installing the SSD. These tools can be booted straight from a USB stick or CD when all you have is a blank drive in the computer.

In your case I'd just wait for that disc and install everything when you get it. Use the install guide I linked for general guidance.

Edit: But just to clarify: Your model definitely SHOULD have had a Recovery, the same as the AB8 models. No matter what that first Samsung tech told you.

 

1. An SATA to USB 3.0 adapter / enclosure isn't hard to find and may be worth getting so the original HDD can be used for backup storage (but don't reformat it so it remains as a backup bootable drive).

2. Maybe someone forgot to create a recovery partition for the Microsoft edition or assumed that a disc would be included.

John