Bare Metal Recovery

Resetting a Windows RT device using a recovery image

Windows Media Builder provides an alternative to the original or extracted Windows RT 8.1 recovery images listed on this page and is capable of producing updated installation media in any supported language.

Download

Download the required Bare Metal Recovery image from the list below. Unless otherwise stated all downloads will be in the English language.

The recovery images below are official downloads provided by the manufacturer of the device.

Microsoft Surface 2

• Windows RT 8.1 - Microsoft.com / Archive.org (Wi-FI) / Archive.org (Wi-Fi+4G)

Microsoft Surface RT

• Windows RT 8.1 - Microsoft.com / Archive.org

• Windows RT 8 Surface RT recovery image instructions.pdf - Microsoft.com / Archive.org Surface RT 8.0 Japan.zip - Microsoft.com / Archive.org Surface RT 8.0 Asia.zip - Microsoft.com / Archive.org Surface RT 8.0 North America.zip - Microsoft.com / Archive.org Surface RT 8.0 CEE1.zip - Microsoft.com / Archive.org Surface RT 8.0 Mediterranean.zip - Microsoft.com / Archive.org Surface RT 8.0 China.zip - Microsoft.com / Archive.org Surface RT 8.0 SE Asia.zip - Microsoft.com / Archive.org Surface RT 8.0 Euro.zip - Microsoft.com / Archive.org Surface RT 8.0 Taiwan.zip - Microsoft.com / Archive.org Surface RT 8.0 Nordic.zip - Microsoft.com / Archive.org

The recovery images below were obtained by creating a recovery drive on devices with existing installations, they are not official downloads from the manufacturer. Third party images should be treated as untested and are provided only if no manufacturer download is available.

ASUS VivoTab RT

• Windows RT 8.1 ASUS_VivoTab_RT_TF600T_Windows_RT_8.1_Recovery_Files.zip - Archive.org

• Windows RT 8 ASUS_VivoTab_RT_TF600T_Windows_RT_8.0_Recovery_Files.zip - Archive.org ASUS_VivoTab_RT_TF600TL_TG_Windows_RT_8.0_Recovery_Files.zip - Archive.org

Dell XPS 10

• Windows RT 8.1 Dell_XPS_10_Windows_RT_8.1_Recovery_Files.zip - Archive.org

• Windows RT 8 Dell_XPS_10_Windows_RT_8.0_Recovery_Files_2013.zip - Archive.org

Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11

• Windows RT 8.1 Lenovo_IdeaPad_Yoga_11_Windows_RT_8.1_Recovery_Files.zip - Archive.org

• Windows RT 8 Lenovo_IdeaPad_Yoga_11_Windows_RT_8.0_Recovery_Files.zip - Archive.org

NEC LaVie Y

• Windows RT 8.1 (Japanese) NEC_LaVie_Y_Windows_RT_8.1_Recovery_Files.zip - Archive.org Original upload by @Pollada. The file above has been repackaged from 7-Zip to standard Zip format for ease of use if it needs to be extracted on an RT device without 7-Zip installed. The NEC LaVie Y is a rebadged Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11 released for the Japanese market.

Nokia Lumia 2520

• Windows RT 8.1 Nokia_Lumia_2520_Windows_RT_8.1_Recovery_Files.zip - Archive.org Nokia_Lumia_2520_ATT_Windows_RT_8.1_Recovery_Files.zip - Archive.org

Samsung Ativ Tab

• Windows RT 8.1 Samsung_ATIV_Tab_GT-P8510_Windows_RT_8.1_Recovery_Files.zip - Archive.org

• Windows RT 8 Samsung_ATIV_Tab_GT-P8510_Windows_RT_8.0_Recovery_Files.zip - Archive.org

Extract

This will permanently delete any data stored on the USB drive.

1. Format a USB drive as FAT32.

2. Right click on the downloaded file and select "Extract All..."

3. Select a destination for the extracted files.

4. Click "Extract".

Selecting and formatting USB drive

Extracting Bare Metal Recovery Image to USB drive

Expected contents of USB drive after extraction (Surface 2), may vary depending on recovery files in use.

Installing Windows

Windows Recovery Environment

This will permanently delete ALL data stored on the device. This includes any operating system installation, software and any personal data.

1. Boot from USB.

2. Wait until the above screen is displayed.

3. Select keyboard layout.

4. Select "Troubleshoot".

5. Select "Reset your PC".

6. Select target OS to be replaced if there is one, this step won't appear if the eMMC has been cleared before starting.

7. Select "Next".

8. Select "Yes, repartition the drives".

9. Select drive erasure level.

10. Select "Reset".

11. Once complete the device will reboot, follow onscreen instructions to complete the Windows Out of Box Experience (OOBE).

Troubleshooting

Recovery Fails

If the recovery fails after it has started try the following steps:

1. Follow the instructions on the Clearing eMMC page.

2. Try again starting from Installing Windows.

USB Boot Failed

If the USB drive does not boot on the target device try the following steps:

1. Follow the instructions on the Format USB Drive page.

2. Extract again starting at Step 2.