There may come a time when you would either need or simply want to "start over" with the software image on your computer. This "start over" (or "Recovery") will restore the software on your computer back to its original factory condition. The down side of this process is that you will LOSE ALL DATA and programs that were not preinstalled at the factory.

There are several ways to perform the recovery process.  One method is to use CD or DVD** disks or USB flash drive media created especially for this purpose. You can make recovery disks, with blank CD or DVD disks that you provide, using the Toshiba Recovery Media Creator utility. A hi-capacity USB flash drive can also be used and is required on machines that do not have a DVD drive.

You can make as many "sets" of recovery media as you like (please note that the media is specific to YOUR machine and cannot be used to "recover" other computers.) Toshiba recommends you keep at least one set of media to use in case of an emergency.

• For additional information about recovery options and creating recovery media on laptops with Windows 7 and earlier, go to How To: Understanding System Recovery Options + Creating / Purchasing Recovery Media - Windows 7 knowledge base article. This article includes videos showing how to create USB and DVD recovery media.
• For additional information about recovery options and creating recovery media on laptops with Windows 8, go to How To: Understanding System Restore, Refresh, Reset, and, Recovery options in Windows 8 + Video knowledge base article.

NOTE: Not all machines offer both CD and DVD options. DVDs provide much larger storage capacity thus requiring fewer disks to make up the set.

Opening TOSHIBA Recovery Media Creator:

Windows 7

1. To open the Toshiba Recovery Media Creator click on the Start button in the lower left hand portion of the screen.

    

   

    

2. Type "recovery" in to the Search bar. As you type results will start populating the menu. The more you type the more "refined" the list will become, giving fewer and fewer options as you "narrow" the search. Note: If the results do not include the "Recovery Media Creator" utility, type "Toshiba recovery" in the search bar and try again.

    

   

    

3. Next, select "Recovery Media Creator" from the options presented to you to open the recovery media creator.
   NOTE: The option may also be "Toshiba Recovery Media Creator", "Toshiba Recovery Disk Creator" or "Recovery Disk Creator".

    

   

    

4. Go to Steps to Create Recovery Media.

    

Windows 8

1. To open the Toshiba Recovery Media Creator at the Start screen press the "Windows + C" keys together to open the charms bar.
2. Select "Search" from the charms bar.
3. Type "recovery" in to the Search field. As you type, the number of results will start appearing below.

    

   

    

4. Under "Apps" select "Recovery Media Creator" to open the recovery media creator.

    

   

    

5. Go to Steps to Create Recovery Media.
   

    

Steps to create Recovery Media:

NOTE: Windows 7 screens are shown below, once in the recovery media creator, the process is the same Windows 8 is very similar.

1. After locating and clicking on "TOSHIBA Recovery Media Creator", select "Yes" when prompted with the question, "Do you want to allow the following program to make changes to your computer?"
2. Within the "Media Selection" area place checkmarks in the boxes next to the options you desire. The "System Recovery Media" option will make a disk set or USB flash drive (depending on selection) that will perform a complete recovery of your software. Some models include the option to create "Application Disks" (as seen below). This option will allow you to create a disk set you can use to reinstall programs you specifically select from a list of applications originally shipped with the computer.
   NOTE: The "Media Set" section allows you to select the type of media you prefer, the example shows the default selection; DVDs.

   Windows 7

   

    

   Windows 8

   

    

3. The "information" box indicates what type of disks or USB, and how many of them (discs), you will need in order to create the media you’ve selected.
   NOTE: Take the time to label the disks as you create them in order to avoid confusion later.
4. Checking the "Verify" box will allow the program to check the data as it is being written to the disks. Selecting this option will take longer for the application to create the disks but will ensure the disks are in good working order when completed.
5. Place a blank disk into your CD-ROM/DVD drive or connect a USB flash drive then select the "Create" button on the lower right of the page. Follow the on-screen instructions as you move through the process inserting new disks as the program requests them.
   NOTE: It may take several moments for the disc to become available after you close the drive .

Additional Information:

• The path to the Toshiba Media Creator Utility is not identical on each machine. If you want to locate the specific location of the application on non-Windows 8 machines you can use:
  1. Start menu>All Programs>Toshiba>Utilities>Toshiba Recovery Media Creator
  2. Start menu>All Programs>CD & DVD Applications>Toshiba Recovery Media Creator
• On some machines the application can be found by using "Toshiba recovery" into the search while others use simply "recovery".
• On some machines the application is called the "Toshiba Recovery Disk Creator" utility as opposed to the "Toshiba Recovery Media Creator".