Will a Windows 10 recovery usb work on someone else's computer?

Question

My mother's computer isn't working and we have been told that she needs a recovery stick to repair it. The problem is she has either lost her recovery stick or it wasn't supplied when she bought the computer. However, I have one for my computer and it is also Windows 10. I was wondering if I could use mine to fix her computer, or is it coded or something?

Hasib · Answer

Now, please be informed that you can't use the Recovery Disk/Image from a different computer (unless it is the exact make and model with exactly the same devices installed) because the Recovery Disk includes drivers and they won't be appropriate for your computer and the installation will fail.

The Master · Answer

Why do you need a windows 10 recovery USB when you can just log into repair mode when the machine boots and do internet recovery?

hit f8 at startup.

? · Answer

If you have a Windows 10 installation USB that was made with the Windows 10 media installation tool then it will work on any computer.

If you use the piece of software in your control panel to make a system image on a USB it's very specific to only the device that you made it on.

If you try to restore it to a computer that it didn't come from you're going to have a real mess.

but like I said if it's an installer that you made using the Windows 10 media installation tool then it will work on any computer. The only thing you will have to know is what version of Windows that was on there before Windows home or Windows professional there's a certificate of authenticity on the side of the computer the license so you should be able to determine from the license what version that you're going to install.

I hope you know how to do an installation and to completely delete all the old partitions and create a new one if you don't know what you're doing don't just go to guessing you'll waste your time so learn what you're doing before you do the job

Spock (rhp) · Answer

think i read that the Media Creation Tool is how a current version of Windows Recovery is created.  your old version [for your computer] won't be up to date, so it can't be relied on.  -- grampa  Note:  requires 32 Gb thumb drive for Windows Home and 64 Gb for all other versions.  Note: getting her computer to boot from the USB stick likely requires entering the BIOS/UEFI on startup and altering the boot sequence -- her owner's manual tells you how to do that [manual is online at computer maker's website or motherboard maker's website -- needs model number].  -- Proceed step by step and you can do this ... if you must take it in somewhere, local outfit might bargain over the cost or waive the $75 detection fee since you already know what you want done.

? · Answer

depends on what type of recovery stick it is. if it is a Windows Recovery stick, then yes.
if it is a Password Recovery stick, then no.
even so, if you don't know how to use the Recovery stick, you'd be better off taking it to a repair shop. you don't just plug it in and it fixes everything magically. you have tobknow what you're doing...

Bill-M · Answer

No it will not work.  BUT, you can use Microsoft Media Creation Tool to fix her PC.
Just go to the MCT web site and download the tool.  It will place the current version of windows 10 onto a usb stick then you can boot off of the USB and reinstall windows on her pc.

Anonymous · Answer

If your mother's computer has Windows 10 installed, download the media creation tool.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO

I also recommend backing up the files before a fresh install.

Will a Windows 10 recovery usb work on someone else's computer?

7 Answers