How to fix 'Problem Occurred While Creating the Recovery Drive' error on Windows

The error message continued saying 'A problem occurred while creating the recovery drive'. .

What causes "We can't create the recovery drive" error

This error usually occurs when you choose to back up system files to the recovery drive. If you uncheck the option to back up system files, the restore drive will complete without errors.

The reason for this error can be different. But often includes bad sectors in USB, conflicting background services and temporary glitches.

How to fix Problem Occurred While Creating the Recovery Drive on Windows

1. Perform a complete USB format

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You can fix this error by formatting your USB. However, the trick here is to do the full formatting.

Windows, by default, selects the Quick Format option to complete the format quickly. But this option does not check your drive for bad sectors, which can often cause errors when copying files.

If you uncheck the Quick Format option, Windows will do the full formatting process, check for bad sectors and mark them as unusable. Here's how to do it.

Step 1: Open File Explorer and right-click on the USB you intend to use as the recovery drive.

Step 2: Select the Format option.

Step 3: In the Format window, uncheck Quick Format in Format options.

Step 4: Click Start to format the USB. This process will take a while to complete, so wait until it completes.

Once done, run the recovery drive tool and see if the error is resolved.

2. Scan for computer viruses

If you notice that the recovery drive stops suddenly right after the Microsoft Security message appears in the Notification Center, check to see if the system is infected with a virus.

Click the security message and take the recommended actions to remove the malware. If no action is taken, perform a full scan with Microsoft Defender to remove any hidden malware.

Microsoft Defender will scan the selected drive for malware. If found, take the recommended actions to clean the system.

While Microsoft Defender is a strong security tool, consider using third-party antivirus for Windows like Malwarebytes to scan your system for potential threats.

After cleaning the system for malware, create a recovery drive and see if it completes without the "We can't create a recovery drive" error.

3. Add, delete files and then create a recovery drive

If the problem persists, here is a quirky solution to it. You can copy a random file to USB. After that, delete the file and run the recovery drive utility to complete the process without errors. Here's how to do it.

Step 1: Make sure that the USB is formatted correctly.

Step 2: Next, copy a random file and paste it on the USB in File Explorer.

Step 3: Right-click the copied file and select Delete.

Step 4: After the file is deleted, launch the Recovery Drive tool and continue the recovery drive creation process.

4. Use the two-step method to ignore errors

Another solution to fix the "A problem occurred while creating the recovery drive" error is to use the two-step method. It involves creating the recovery drive twice. First, you will need to complete the process without backing up system files. Then repeat the process with the option to back up the system files and hope the process completes successfully.

Step 1: Press the Win key, enter recovery drive and launch the tool.

Step 2: In the Recovery Drive wizard, uncheck the option Back up system files to the recovery drive.

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Step 3: Click Next.

Step 4: Select the USB that you intend to use as the recovery drive.

Step 5: Click Next to continue.

Step 6: Click the Create button to confirm the action. The utility will format the drive and copy the necessary files to the storage device.

Step 7: Regardless of whether you see an error or the process completes successfully, don't click the Finish or Close button.

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Step 8: Instead, click the Back button (in the top left corner). Alternatively, press Alt + B to return to the Create a recovery drive window.

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Step 9: Here, select the option Back up system files to the recovery drive and click Next.

Step 10: Next, select your USB and click Next.

Step 11: Click Create to start the process and create the recovery drive without any errors.

5. Temporarily disable Microsoft services

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You can manually disable some Microsoft Word and Excel services to resolve recovery drive errors. As is known, the Application Virtualization service seems to conflict with the process. So disabling these services will help you create a recovery drive without causing errors.

Step 1: Press Win + R to open Run.

Step 2: Type msconfig and click OK to open System Configuration.

Step 3: In the System Configuration window, open the Services tab.

Step 4: Next, locate and uncheck the following services:

1. Application Virtualization Services Agent
2. Application Virtualization Client
3. Client Virtualization Handler

Step 5: Once you have unchecked the services, click Apply to disable the services and save the changes.

Restart the PC, run the recovery drive utility and test again. Note that, regardless of the outcome, enable the 3 services that you disabled earlier in System Configuration and restart the PC to avoid any problems with Microsoft Office applications.

6. Create a bootable USB

If the error persists, consider creating a Windows bootable USB instead. The recovery drive provides repair tools and additional files for reinstalling Windows if you choose to back up system files.

With a Windows bootable USB you can get a similar set of tools and more. Unlike a recovery drive, bootable installation media offers more flexibility because you can continue to add and use other files to the storage device.

Samuel Daniel

Update 26 January 2022