# Bare Metal Recovery {% hint style="info" %} [Windows Media Builder](/windows/tools/windows-media-builder.md) 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. {% endhint %} ## 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](https://support.microsoft.com/surface-recovery-image) / [Archive.org](https://archive.org/download/surface-2-8.1/Surface2_BMR_20.2.19.0.zip) (Wi-FI) / [Archive.org](https://archive.org/download/surface-2-8.1/Surface24GLTE_BMR_2020.2.21.0.zip) (Wi-Fi+4G)
Microsoft Surface RT * **Windows RT 8.1** - [Microsoft.com](https://support.microsoft.com/surface-recovery-image) / [Archive.org](https://archive.org/download/surface-rt-8.1/SurfaceRT_BMR_20.8.17.0.zip)
* **Windows RT 8**\ Surface RT recovery image instructions.pdf - [Microsoft.com](https://download.microsoft.com/download/8/3/7/837ABEB8-D419-43E0-8C7F-474004F2C016/Surface%20RT%20recovery%20image%20instructions.pdf) / [Archive.org](https://archive.org/download/surface-rt-8.0/Surface%20RT%20recovery%20image%20instructions.pdf)\ Surface RT 8.0 Japan.zip - [Microsoft.com](https://download.microsoft.com/download/4/A/8/4A845135-916D-4A39-88B7-F8F5D3468571/Surface%20RT%208.0%20Japan.zip) / [Archive.org](https://archive.org/download/surface-rt-8.0/Surface%20RT%208.0%20Japan.zip)\ Surface RT 8.0 Asia.zip - [Microsoft.com](https://download.microsoft.com/download/6/A/C/6AC7C4CA-22BB-47A4-9737-2745997856D8/Surface%20RT%208.0%20Asia.zip) / [Archive.org](https://archive.org/download/surface-rt-8.0/Surface%20RT%208.0%20Asia.zip)\ Surface RT 8.0 North America.zip - [Microsoft.com](https://download.microsoft.com/download/8/3/7/837ABEB8-D419-43E0-8C7F-474004F2C016/Surface%20RT%208.0%20North%20America.zip) / [Archive.org](https://archive.org/download/surface-rt-8.0/Surface%20RT%208.0%20North%20America.zip)\ Surface RT 8.0 CEE1.zip - [Microsoft.com](https://download.microsoft.com/download/9/1/2/91274E2E-ED80-43EA-976A-92CEFA60E71A/Surface%20RT%208.0%20CEE1.zip) / [Archive.org](https://archive.org/download/surface-rt-8.0/Surface%20RT%208.0%20CEE1.zip)\ Surface RT 8.0 Mediterranean.zip - [Microsoft.com](https://download.microsoft.com/download/9/3/4/934E4D9F-ED97-4EB2-90EA-81F3FF31E74D/Surface%20RT%208.0%20Mediterranean.zip) / [Archive.org](https://archive.org/download/surface-rt-8.0/Surface%20RT%208.0%20Mediterranean.zip)\ Surface RT 8.0 China.zip - [Microsoft.com](https://download.microsoft.com/download/A/A/6/AA67D2DA-49FC-4606-907D-FBB7562B91A6/Surface%20RT%208.0%20China.zip) / [Archive.org](https://archive.org/download/surface-rt-8.0/Surface%20RT%208.0%20China.zip)\ Surface RT 8.0 SE Asia.zip - [Microsoft.com](https://download.microsoft.com/download/B/A/D/BAD4B2C0-42BE-4753-959E-ADFDB14B6B80/Surface%20RT%208.0%20SE%20Asia.zip) / [Archive.org](https://archive.org/download/surface-rt-8.0/Surface%20RT%208.0%20SE%20Asia.zip)\ Surface RT 8.0 Euro.zip - [Microsoft.com](https://download.microsoft.com/download/D/B/6/DB66988F-4AB7-4F87-A0DE-E8D48D851356/Surface%20RT%208.0%20Euro.zip) / [Archive.org](https://archive.org/download/surface-rt-8.0/Surface%20RT%208.0%20Euro.zip)\ Surface RT 8.0 Taiwan.zip - [Microsoft.com](https://download.microsoft.com/download/F/9/5/F95D1A81-33CB-4053-B9FA-D718C26F52E3/Surface%20RT%208.0%20Taiwan.zip) / [Archive.org](https://archive.org/download/surface-rt-8.0/Surface%20RT%208.0%20Taiwan.zip)\ Surface RT 8.0 Nordic.zip - [Microsoft.com](https://download.microsoft.com/download/F/B/9/FB93C9FB-C94A-4BE5-93CE-20B425ECB18D/Surface%20RT%208.0%20Nordic.zip) / [Archive.org](https://archive.org/download/surface-rt-8.0/Surface%20RT%208.0%20Nordic.zip)
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](https://archive.org/download/vivotab-rt-8.1/ASUS_VivoTab_RT_TF600T_Windows_RT_8.1_Recovery_Files.zip)
* **Windows RT 8**\ ASUS\_VivoTab\_RT\_TF600T\_Windows\_RT\_8.0\_Recovery\_Files.zip - [Archive.org](https://archive.org/download/vivotab-rt-8.0/ASUS_VivoTab_RT_TF600T_Windows_RT_8.0_Recovery_Files.zip)\ ASUS\_VivoTab\_RT\_TF600TL\_TG\_Windows\_RT\_8.0\_Recovery\_Files.zip - [Archive.org](https://archive.org/download/vivotab-rt-8.0/ASUS_VivoTab_RT_TF600TL_TG_Windows_RT_8.0_Recovery_Files.zip)
Dell XPS 10 * **Windows RT 8.1**\ Dell\_XPS\_10\_Windows\_RT\_8.1\_Recovery\_Files.zip - [Archive.org](https://archive.org/download/xps10-rt-8.1/Dell_XPS_10_Windows_RT_8.1_Recovery_Files.zip)
* **Windows RT 8**\ Dell\_XPS\_10\_Windows\_RT\_8.0\_Recovery\_Files\_2013.zip - [Archive.org](https://archive.org/download/xps10-rt-8.0/Dell_XPS_10_Windows_RT_8.0_Recovery_Files_2013.zip)
Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11 * **Windows RT 8.1**\ Lenovo\_IdeaPad\_Yoga\_11\_Windows\_RT\_8.1\_Recovery\_Files.zip - [Archive.org](https://archive.org/download/yoga-rt-8.1/Lenovo_IdeaPad_Yoga_11_Windows_RT_8.1_Recovery_Files.zip)
* **Windows RT 8**\ Lenovo\_IdeaPad\_Yoga\_11\_Windows\_RT\_8.0\_Recovery\_Files.zip - [Archive.org](https://archive.org/download/yoga-rt-8.0/Lenovo_IdeaPad_Yoga_11_Windows_RT_8.0_Recovery_Files.zip)
NEC LaVie Y * **Windows RT 8.1 (Japanese)**\ NEC\_LaVie\_Y\_Windows\_RT\_8.1\_Recovery\_Files.zip - [Archive.org](https://archive.org/download/nec-lavie-y-rt-8.1/NEC_LaVie_Y_Windows_RT_8.1_Recovery_Files.zip)\ \ [Original upload](https://archive.org/details/pc-ly-750-jw.-7z) by [@Pollada](https://archive.org/details/@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](https://archive.org/download/lumia2520-rt-8.1/Nokia_Lumia_2520_Windows_RT_8.1_Recovery_Files.zip)\ Nokia\_Lumia\_2520\_ATT\_Windows\_RT\_8.1\_Recovery\_Files.zip - [Archive.org](https://archive.org/download/lumia2520-rt-8.1/Nokia_Lumia_2520_ATT_Windows_RT_8.1_Recovery_Files.zip)
Samsung Ativ Tab * **Windows RT 8.1**\ Samsung\_ATIV\_Tab\_GT-P8510\_Windows\_RT\_8.1\_Recovery\_Files.zip - [Archive.org](https://archive.org/download/ativ-tab-rt-8.1/Samsung_ATIV_Tab_GT-P8510_Windows_RT_8.1_Recovery_Files.zip)
* **Windows RT 8**\ Samsung\_ATIV\_Tab\_GT-P8510\_Windows\_RT\_8.0\_Recovery\_Files.zip - [Archive.org](https://archive.org/download/ativ-tab-rt-8.0/Samsung_ATIV_Tab_GT-P8510_Windows_RT_8.0_Recovery_Files.zip)
## Extract {% hint style="danger" %} This will permanently delete any data stored on the USB drive. {% endhint %} 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](/files/BFljFfKxfcjMB20vH8rP) ![Extracting Bare Metal Recovery Image to USB drive](/files/3C7z6rkVyPKqH2WEZbYB) ![Expected contents of USB drive after extraction (Surface 2), may vary depending on recovery files in use.](/files/GZ9ADuB9MgE2I29rIvbv) ## Installing Windows ![Windows Recovery Environment](/files/X4iamjmGPPzgyOWpgnwo) {% hint style="danger" %} This will permanently delete ALL data stored on the device. This includes any operating system installation, software and any personal data. {% endhint %} 1. [Boot from USB](/windows/miscellaneous/boot-from-usb.md). 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](/windows/miscellaneous/clearing-emmc.md) page. 2. Try again starting from [Installing Windows](#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](/windows/miscellaneous/format-usb-drive.md) page. 2. [Extract](#extract) again starting at Step 2. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://windows-rt-devices.gitbook.io/windows/miscellaneous/bare-metal-recovery.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.