What happens to the recovery process if both a USB drive and primary hard drive image are available?

The recovery process prioritizes using the recovery image from the external USB key when both a USB drive and the primary hard drive image are available. This is because external recovery media, such as a USB drive, often contains the most up-to-date recovery tools and images necessary for restoring the system effectively. It allows for a more controlled and standardized recovery procedure that can bypass potential issues that may be present in the primary hard drive image, ensuring a smoother and more reliable recovery experience.

This approach minimizes variability in the recovery process, as the user is not left to navigate options or make selections that may lead to errors. Instead, the system streamlines the steps by automatically utilizing the external USB drive image, assuming it is designed as a recovery device, which enhances the overall efficiency and success rate of the recovery operation.

Given this context, the other choices do not align with how the recovery process is designed to function in these scenarios.