[Q:] There is no recdisc.exe in W8-1?

Probably Outphased, it only supported Optical medium while the newer tool supports USB too.

Use RecoveryDrive.exe instead.

 

When using the HP OEM Recovery disc creator HP Recovery Disc Manager v8.0.1.0 (Optical or USB) it allows for (1) set to be created.

In Win8.1 I used a app accessed by typing into the search box (via Classic Shell) that appears to be a app from Microsoft.

"Create a Recovery Disc" IIRC (Don't have access to machine right now to confirm exact spelling.)

Within the app is a option to create a "Start-Up Media on USB with recovery tools on it for troubleshooting AND within the app there is a "tick" box to "copy" the recovery partition to the USB.... It saying you could delete the recovery partition to gain back disc space if desired. The app stating you could "reset" a existing install, or use the data copied from the recovery partition to do a total restore.


Tonight when running thru the features of 8.1 with a family member who owns the PC, happened to click the app again and noticed the ability to create "Start UP" Media is totally greyed out.... The tick box of course not being accessible.

Q: Is the app of the "Single use" type as is the case with the HP Recovery Disc Manager v8.0.1.0 ?

Q: Is there a way to reset it? If so how?

Q: Best to use RecoveryDrive.exe , or recdisc.exe

.

 

I had the same problem setting up a new HP laptop from scratch, and after researching various sites found the following instructions which cured the problem. I take no credit for these instructions, otherb than slight alterations which I found more logical:
"Checking whether your PC has a recovery partition

Before you create the recovery drive, you should check if your PC has a recovery partition. If it doesn't, you can create one and then create the recovery drive.
To check for a recovery partition

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, then tap Search.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the top-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, then click Search.)

Enter Command in the search box, swipe down on or right-click Command Prompt, and then tap or click Run as administrator.

Administrator permission required You might be asked for an admin password or to confirm your choice.

Enter recimg /showcurrent, then press Enter.

If you see an error message stating "There is no active custom recovery image" you will need to create one before you can create a recovery drive.

To create a recovery partition

You should only create a recovery partition if you don't currently have one on your PC.

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, then tap Search.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the top-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, then click Search.)

Enter Command in the search box, swipe down on or right-click Command Prompt, and then tap or click Run as administrator.

Administrator permission required You might be asked for an admin password or to confirm your choice.

To create a folder for the recovery partition, enter mkdir C:\RefreshImage, and then press Enter.

To create the image in the folder you just created, enter recimg -CreateImage C:\RefreshImage, and then press Enter.

To create a USB recovery drive

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, then tap Search.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the top-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, then click Search.)

Enter recovery drive in the search box, and then tap or click Create a recovery drive.

Administrator permission required You might be asked for an admin password or to confirm your choice.

After the recovery drive tool has opened, make sure the Copy the recovery partition from the PC to the recovery drive checkbox is ticked, then tap or click Next.

Just follow steps to resolve.

1 Locate the CustomRefresh.wim file Rename it to INSTALL.wim.

2 Press window + X key and select Command Prompt (Admin) to open a new elevated Command Prompt window.

3 Inside the Command Prompt window, run the following command line to register the copied INSTALL.WIM file as the Recovery Image on your PC: REAGENTC /SetOSImage /Path C:\RefreshImage\INSTALL.WIM /Index 1 .

The recovery partition checkbox in Recovery should now be available .

Insert a USB flash drive into your PC that is at least as large as the size indicated on the screen.

Tap or click the USB drive you would like to use for your recovery drive, then tap or click Next.

Tap or click Create.

The recovery image and necessary recovery tools will be copied to your USB flash drive, which will take a while depending on your PC and the size of the recovery image.

When the process is finished, do one of the following:

If you want to keep the recovery partition on your PC, tap or click Finish.

If you want to remove the recovery partition from your PC and free up disk space, tap or click Delete the recovery partition. Then tap or click Delete. This will free up the disk space used to store your recovery image. When the removal is finished, tap or click Finish.

Remove the USB flash drive."
Hope this helps