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There are isolated problems with current patches, but they are well-known and documented on this site. |
Would rescue media (disk or USB) be advisable in addition to Macrium Image?
related topic, I am using ver 1903 HOME currently-is it advisable to get an ISO for 1909 now rather than waiting for it to be pushed on me? (using ‘Pause’ function currently. so updates will be forced when pause date arrives….
Many Thanks!
D
Would rescue media (disk or USB) be advisable in addition to Macrium Image?
Yes, you absolutely need the Rescue media. If you need to restore, the only way you can access the backup is to boot from the Rescue media and point Macrium at the image and your HDD/SDD.
is it advisable to get an ISO for 1909 now
Again, yes. You can use it to install v1909 offline whenever you want to. Also, down the road when you are on v1909, it will give you a way to reinstall it after v2004 comes out and the image is not available on MS.
Thanks! So I’m clear, in addition to the winpe bootable USB(which I made from Macrium I believe), I should have the windows rescue media also(as a backup of sorts?) I ask because I use this when I have to restore an image. Is the windows rescue usb/disk giving me access to different image?Macrium images are on USB external ssd…is windows rescue on c:/drive?
Color me confused….
The Macrium Rescue disk has a copy of Macrium on it that allows Macrium to run from the Rescue media to do a backup and a restore. The Windows disk does not have the Macrium program on it. It boots into Macrium
The Windows Rescue lets you get to utilities on Windows: Command Prompt, Restore points, maybe hardware testing partition, etc. It boots into WinRE
Other than being able to boot the computer, the two Rescue media are different,
With Macrium you can create a boot option (seen by Windows as a second operating system), which will boot you into the recovery environment rather than into Windows. This option is fine if the system is bootable, but for some reason you want to restore an image. It does not require the use of a recovery disk. However, a recovery disk is essential to have if the machine is not bootable or if the recovery environment cannot be accessed. For peace of mind, have both options available – Other Tasks > Create Rescue Media > Windows Boot Menu AND an external device.
Windows 10 Pro 64 bit 20H2
Control Panel=>system repair disk=>yields the following:
No USB available?? USB 3.0 32gb empty stick inserted and ready
Any ideas welcomed. Why is it so b***** hard to find such a basic function??? I do not want to use a disk, dang it!
D
Now, to find how to create that usb….Control panel=>system repair disk ??
In Windows 10 = try searching for ‘ Create a recovery drive ‘ = see How-To Geek article for more information about creating the bootable USB stick, need 8 GB or bigger: –
Article is dated 21 October 2019, and covers Windows 10 also.
Edit by Lars220: Not absolutely certain that USB stick is bootable, read article about use.
My Bad:
Not absolutely certain that USB stick is bootable, read article about use.
I read the referenced article Too Fast and missed following statement: “The recovery drive is new to Windows 8 and 10. It’s a bootable USB drive that gives you access to the same troubleshooting tools as a system repair disc, but also allows you to reinstall Windows if it comes to that. To achieve this, the recovery drive actually copies the system files necessary for reinstallation from your current PC.”
Hi Lars!
I did finally find the recovery drive choice for USB and it DID take a LONG time!!! After reading that article, I am going to burn a system repair disk tomorrow. I just have a feeling of impending doom regarding microsofts ability to keep this wagon named win10 on the road beacause of the [problems] every month since release. With macrium images and duplicate ssd’s with these images, MAYBE I’ll not lose my mind!!
Again, Thanks to all who patiently help us with our varied issues!
DriftyDonN
Easy way to find the utility create it:
Type “Create Recovery Drive” after clicking the Start button
You also have the option during of telling it to include the necessary files so it can do a clean install of whatever version of Windows is presently installed. It will tell you the size drive it needs.
System repair disk offers ONLY for disk. I burned that on CD. Then Lars helped w/ the following which helped find the how to create USB .
Article is dated 21 October 2019, and covers Windows 10 also.
Nice day!!
DiftyDonN
edit: Guess I’ll have to make new ones for ver 1909 
Because Windows 10 makes me paranoid I have the following:
1) Macrium recovery USB stick
2) Macrium recovery boot menu option
3) Macrium backups and images to separate external drives
4) Windows 10 recovery disk (USB stick)
5) Windows 10 on USB stick
6) Files synced to a fallback computer
Better safe than sorry.
Note:
1) If your computer can boot from USB (often F12), you can use USB sticks for recovery media.
2) If you have an older computer, keep in mind that the chipset might not have native USB 3.0 support.
KyKaren, what list are you referring to? What is missing? Carls ‘list ‘ is his personal backup/emergency toolbox. He happens to prefer Macrium(as do I) and also the win10 emergency tools (in all win10 iterations) and the How to geek article shows you how to make a USB DRIVE step by step. The drive will contain your windows10 system files so you can reinstall clean version in case of catastrope. This is where your personal file back up would be a happy thing to have unless you dont have any photos , letters etc that you want to keep-hence backup -these can be on any media you choose.
These tools generally come into play when ,as I said, catastrophe has befallen your PC. In this case , you will use either the Aomei Backupper materials you have prepared – you would insert either bootable disk or bootable USB DRIVE and , at start up press f2 or f12 or esc -depends on your particular PC- this will bring up a boot menu-depending again on your computer- perhaps “boot from” CD or USB- this also must be set up/enabled in your BIOS or UEFI -it likely is preset from day one at factory but you would have to get into the setup program(BIOS/UEFI) F2 or F12 usually. again based upon your PC. I hope this isn’t sounding condescending. I am confused about what YOU are confused about! 
In any case, you need or at least should have, 1 a bootable DISK and BOOTABLE USB (redundant but different media) in order to start your PC. made as per your software of choice. This will then require your external ssd/hdd with image(s) again prepared by same software which you will be able to access and restore to get back to a good place.
2. A bootable DISK burned using win 10 emergency program. You do not get to choose at this point. It’s a disk. Used the same as the afore mentioned bootable above. This will get you into WINRE environment which you will need to repair your damaged syatem. In tandem with this, you will have a Bootable(!) USB DRIVE prepared from within win10 (see How to geek URL) I have never had to use this option as Macrium has always come thru for me and your software likely will also But, it seems the bootable USB Drive just referred to will have your system (win10) and other tools if needed-I do not know how this works- it appears you may be able to use the BOOTABLE USB for booting and repair. In the end you will have two sets of emergency repair/restore tools to cover most any issues. One set made with Aomi and one set with win10. I hope I understood your question and was of some help.
Regards,
DriftyDonN
(I would be more than happy to have anyone make corrections and point out any errors I may have made.)
This ‘explanation’ might just exemplify the ‘Drifty” part of my pseudonym!
Oh now I see….slow on the uptake. Sorry about the rambling explanation that didn’t really apply. I think the initial question about “menu” and “list” were the source of my confusion. Probably I am trying too hard to be helpful …. Hope these other explanations have cleared up your questions!
DriftyDonN
Here is a URL that explains what I wanted to in a concise manner that I find clear except Macrium uses Backup and Image almost interchangeably. Also it is a couple years old and does not include the addition of Macrium addition to boot menu, but it is essentially accurate with newest versions. Maybe helpful, but not the same backup software you are using @KyKaren.
https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/7363/macrium-reflect-is-a-free-and-easy-to-use-backup-utility/
After creating recovery media, be sure to test it. Make sure you can boot the media and get into recovery options.
If I use DVDs for recovery media, I also make more than one. DVDs can be easily scratched and may degrade over time.
How do I find out the format of the USB that I have in hand? If it’s not a fat32-formatted USB, is there a way to format it that way?
Plug the USB stick into a USB port on your PC/laptop, open File Explorer, look for your USB stick in the left pane (it will have a new drive letter assigned by File Explorer). Right click on the USB stick in the left pane and select Properties. On the General tab, you’ll see the name of the USB stick, the Type: USB Drive, and the File System: FAT32 (probably).
If it is not FAT32 (they usually are), close the Properties dialog box, right-click the USB stick in the left pane again, and this time select Format. Windows default format for USB sticks is FAT32, so all you really need to do is click Start down at the bottom. But, it should already be formatted FAT32.
How large should this USB be?
For a Windows 10 ISO, you’ll need 8GB.
What does “mount the ISO” mean, operationally? I think it means “download it to a folder,” but I could be wrong.
In File Explorer, navigate to where you have downloaded your Windows 10 ISO, then double-click it.
If the ISO is “mounted”, then I should be able to find it in File Explorer, right?
Windows 10 will mount the ISO to a virtual DVD disc and give it a drive letter in the left pane. Click that drive in the left pane and you’ll then see all the contents in the right pane.
Can I do the ‘copy’ via Win10 File Explorer? Sometimes when I copy files from one PC to another PC via FE, FE balks–the most familiar complaint being that the filename is too long.
Yes, use File Explorer. With the contents of the virtual DVD in the right pane, left-click on the top object in the right pane, then press and hold the shift key and left-click the bottom item in the right pane. The entire contents should now be highlighted, and you can release the left mouse button.
With your mouse pointer over that highlighted area, left click and hold, then drag the contents to the USB stick in the left pane. You’ll get a dialog box saying that the copy is in progress.
And what does “unmount the ISO” mean, operationally?
After all the files and folders have been copied to the USB stick, in the left pane right-click on the virtual DVD drive and in the context menu, select Eject. The virtual drive will disappear.
I have gone to the MS website for downloading Windows 10. Do I click on the ‘Update Now’ button, under the line that says “The Update Assistant can help you update to the latest version of Windows 10. To get started, click Update now”? Or do I click on “Download tool now” under the heading “Create Windows 10 Installation Media”?
Click “Download tool now”. If you’re given the option to run the tool, select Run, and in the dialog that follows, select Create ISO. If you download the tool and then run it, you’ll be given the same options. One of which is to create a USB stick for installation. For that you’ll need an 8GB stick, minimum, and you’ll need to have it plugged into a USB port.
If I’ve answered your questions, I would suggest that you let Microsoft/Windows/Media Creation Tool take care of you USB stick.
OK, I get it now …
1. USB-connected thumb=flash=stick drive
2. USB-connected hard drive=external drive
3. USB-connected printer
4. USB-connected Solid State Drive
I need some clarification:
I would suggest that you let Microsoft/Windows/Media Creation Tool take care of you USB stick.
So, the above means skip the instructions to “mount the ISO, then copy the contents of the mounted ISO to the USB thumb drive. …….After the copy, unmount the ISO.” ??
If so, :
Click “Download tool now”. If you’re given the option to run the tool, select Run, and in the dialog that follows, select Create ISO. If you download the tool and then run it, you’ll be given the same options. One of which is to create a USB stick for installation. For that you’ll need an 8GB stick, minimum, and you’ll need to have it plugged into a USB port.
Then these are the instructions that I see at Download Windows 10.
I think that although it says “on a different PC,” that can mean “on the same PC” (i.e., I am creating the USB media to re-install Windows 10 on the same PC, at some later time. I am talking about the line where the red arrow is.
Opening the circle with the + in it (where the red arrow is), below is what I see. The first red arrow points to the place you mention for “download the tool now” and “select run”. That’s clear. Then, the place where the second red arrow has two bullets, one for USB flash drive and the other for an ISO file. Is this an either-or choice? (in other words, what is on the USB flash drive is the ISO file? Or alternatively, what’s on the USB flash drive will do the same thing as an ISO file would do, if it were mounted, the contents of the mounted ISO were copied to the USB, and the ISO were unmounted. In other words, whichever way it’s done (via a USB flash drive or via an ISO mounted-contents copied-ISO unmounted routine), a copy of Windows 10 is going to go on the USB flash drive.
I ask because I want to be sure that 1) I get a copy of Windows 10 that can be re-installed, if I need to turn to this fallback as a last resort if/when updating Windows CU goes south. AND 2) in the process of thinking that I am following these instructions correctly to make a copy of Windows 10, I don’t instead replace the Windows that is currently working fine on my PC!!
Lastly, A) if I am doing this on a Win10/Pro PC, will the copy on the USB flash drive be Win10/Pro?
B) Do I need to do this each time I move up to a newer version of Win10. I am on 1909 now.
You’re doing everything right. You will be given the choice of:
1) Creating a bootable USB stick with the full Win 10 OS on it, or
2) Creating an ISO file that can be saved to disk and later burned to DVD
I used this tool to create a Win 10 bootable USB stick while using a Windows 7 Ultimate computer. I then used the USB stick to install Win 10 on a computer that didn’t have any operating system installed. I also used it to clean install on another computer that had been upgraded.
This article stresses that you sign in to your Microsoft Account in order to activate your license. You don’t have to have to have a Microsoft Account, or sign into it, in order to activate your license. (I really hate Microsoft and everyone else pushing you to have a Microsoft Account, when it is, and should be, optional). What should happen, even if you do a ‘clean install’ after wiping everything off the hard drive, is that when it phones home, Microsoft will recognize the hardware and activate your existing license. It might be one thing I’d be happy about Microsoft collecting and keeping…
Non-techy Win 10 Pro and Linux Mint experimenter
Installing Office – if you upgrade a computer that has Office, it will still have Office. If you do a clean install, you will need to install it again.
Office 2013 or newer or 365 required an account when originally activated. Logging into that account will give you what you need to reinstall.
Office 2010 – while the old computer/installation is still working, you need to find the key with a keyfinder software. Once you have that, this site will let you download and you can use your key to reinstall https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/office
Older office – you need your key, and you need install media. If this is a problem, software like PCmover might get you going.
If you restore a full system image of the same computer after a crash, if that image had Office it will be there again.
I ask because I want to be sure that 1) I get a copy of Windows 10 that can be re-installed
You are stressing unnecessarily.
Use a free 3rd party backup app and make an image to external (USB) hard disk.
Make a bootable rescue USB stick from the backup app.
Test the bootable stick.
Put the stick and disk in a safe and secure place.
Relax in the knowledge of a job well done.
cheers, Paul
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