Windows 10 System Recovery Drive

I've not had success in knowing whether a recovery drive created includes all apps and files, so when using it will those have to be reinstalled after system recovery?
NB: When I created the drive I did click the option to include all system files

 

A system recovery drive only corrects misconfigured boot files. It doesn't backup the whole system, for that you need to create a full system image. You can do that in Win 10 Backup or you can use third party software such as Macrium Reflect. The free version is fine.

 

I should have added that your recovery drive would be needed to restore a system image created in Win 10.

 

It was a full system image, not the smaller recovery tool.
It was a recovery drive for a Win10 2004, created on a Win 10 2004 system

 

I don't believe that. To create a full system image in Win 10 you have to use the Win 7 Backup and Restore feature in Settings > Update and Security > Backup. Is that what you did?

 

Of course, I followed that exact path on MSs own help page.
I'm asking a very simple question - does that image include non Microsoft store apps and files.

 

Good! In that case all your own installed apps and your personal files are in the image and will not require any other recovery action on your part. Only exception would be if you have chosen to move any apps or files to another drive. However I remain slightly puzzled because of this -

NB: When I created the drive I did click the option to include all system files

When using the Win 7 Backup and Restore system you aren't asked that question

 

Yes generally I find MS products pretty confusing. I do remember clicking in a 'save all system files' via that exact recovery method. Then I had the ridiculous back and forth trying to do a restore from it and not accepting the admin password I remembered, but that took 3 times being asked to complete the 'recovery of an MS account' form and on the 3rd attempt it allowed me to reset the PW (I used the original) which it accepted, and now says my 2 tb Transcend drive has only 32gb free space. I went through tree size, it has 193gb of old files -confirmed by easeus. I'm seeing if a wipe of the drive - nothing on it I want - will get it 'recognised' as having a lot of space. lol

 

The problem of my external StoreJet Transcend 2tb is now the issue. I've used it to store system images before. Now it is identified as have 31.9 space 31.9gb free space. This is on two win 10 systems. Yet on both systems the hardware software - Transcend Elite' says it has 1.9 tb free space of 2 tb space.
This appears to mean this external hard drive is now worthless on these two devices with useless Microsoft operating systems.

 

Sounds like there is a 32Gb FAT32 partition on the drive. Have a look at the disk in Disk Management.

 

Disk Management enabled me to use the 1.83tb as a new volume and Windows now recognises that space. Once again thank you so much for your help.