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@ Ascaris,
Thanks for such a thorough, detailed explanation. You’ve been so patient. I now see there’s more than plugging in a backup drive, following steps, and making an image. A valuable lesson to keep my current pc’s running.

“As long as all of the drives you want backed up are checked, you should be in great shape…”

On my Win 7 pc, I back up what’s presented: “System (System); OS (C:) System; and HP Recovery (D:) System”. No, my D: drive is not an external or DVD drive.

I should’ve studied before asking my question, though I didn’t know so much was involved. My apologies! Yours, and others, replies have pointed me in good directions. Do you have a link to where it explains what the different drives do, which to back up, etc.?

“I don’t have a USB flash drive image, though, which it sounds like Macrium does. Would Macrium also create a “repair disc”, but on a flash drive?”

I was asking about both. As recommended, I’ll continue my images on external drive.

I was also asking about a rescue drive. My Win 7 pc offered me to make “system repair discs” in addition to system image, to enable boot and restore, if pc has problems. Win 8.1 didn’t. So, my initial “recovery” flash drive would act the same as the Win 7 repair discs? This could re-install windows, assist a boot.

Another question: The “recovery” flash drive says its file format is FAT32, but my pc’s local disk is NTFS. Is this a problem? The external drive I back up to is NTFS.

Thanks again! I’ve had 3 critical events at boot on the Win 8.1 pc (Event 41, Kernel-power) since 2-22-2018. Still looking for the cause.

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Ascaris

I was offered KB4011187 thru Windows Update (fix for when PowerPoint 2010 isn’t as fast as before you installed Windows 10 Fall Creators Update). As I have Win 7 (x64), Home, SP1; I wasn’t sure why I was offered this update and if I should install it.

So, a 3rd party may be better for a Win 8.1 image than using the “hidden Win 7-era Recovery and Backup Tool” on an external USB hard-drive, as currently do? (I do file backups in between images using the drive’s software. For my Win 7 pc, I also have repair discs.)

There seems to be a split opinion on this. Is the biggest advantage with 3rd parties that I could make an image on an USB flash drive vs. external drive? And, it’d give me a boot option for my Win 8.1 pc? Though, having an image on both an external and a flash drive does seem like double safety, if one would fail.

Do I need to partition a flash drive? My current external drives came pre-formatted in a single partition for NTFS, and I’ve been creating the images for the various computer drives on that one partition. Is this wrong?

For a non-tech person, is one backup system easier than another to restore from an image?

Thanks, PaulT. Everyone is so generous about sharing their time and knowledge; I’ve learned so much over the last 2-3 years! Congrats on becoming a MVP!

@ Ascaris, Thanks! Congrats on becoming a MVP!

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Ascaris

Thanks! I’m so relieved! When I read WildBill’s comment, “Backups on 8/8.1 are through File History, but they’re limited. File History only backups files in Libraries, as well as the Desktop, Contacts, Favorites…”, I worried my Win 8.1 system images were incomplete. I’ve never done an image restoration before.

Also, I couldn’t follow all the discussion on partitions; so I wanted to be sure I was ok. Both external drives came pre-formatted in a single partition for NTFS. On my Win 8.1 pc, as I wouldn’t want to use the factory USB flash drive for recovery and there are no “repair discs” like in Win 7, is the media necessary to re-boot my pc stored within the system image?

I’m wondering if my current ways of making “full system images” aren’t adequate? I make them 2-3x/year, (and for the pre-January WU). I don’t use Macrium Reflect, but was considering it.

On my W7 64-bit Home Ed. desktop, I use a WD My Book external drive (2 TB). I don’t use the drive’s included software (“WD Smartware”) for the image itself, just for occasional file backup. I make the image thru Windows Backup and restore: “Create a system image”. The drive does show Windows Image Backup’s stored on it. I made a 2nd set of system repair discs recently.

I don’t have a USB flash drive image, though, which it sounds like Macrium does. Would Macrium also create a “repair disc”, but on a flash drive? Is Macrium better than what I do now, or would it just give me a second backup option? Should I do disk cleanup and defragmentation on my external drives?

On my W8.1, home, 64-bit laptop:  I thought I was making full system images on a Seagate Backup Plus 1 TB external drive (not using the drive’s software either); but after reading this article, I’m not sure. I go to backup and restore, and click on “create a system image” in the bottom left corner. It says it makes an image of the EFI partition, (C:) System and System. (I see “images” stored on the drive.)

Are these not “full” images, capable of restoring my pc? I don’t get a “repair disc” option. All I have for that is a recovery item on a flash drive, made when the pc was first purchased. Would Macrium give me a more complete system image, and would it also act as “repair disc” on a flash drive?

If I use Macrium Reflect, free version, do I need to know how to set up partitions to use it? I don’t think I’ll do more WU until I know if my images are adequate. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Installed KB4077561, KB4056568. Wasn’t offered KB4056895 or KB4057401. But installed KB4055266 for .NET frame 4.71 thru WU (was checked). Computer is running fine, but noticed later that you said not to install .NET frame 4.71 updates. Didn’t install optional unchecked .NET frame KB4033369 .  (Antivirus registry item present). Do I need to uninstall KB4055266, or let it be?

Should we be getting clean scans with Steve Gibson’s new “InSpectre” utility, or not until Feb. updates? Mine says protected against Meltdown, not for Spectre. Performance good. Thanks.

Never made any Intel or Bios changes, or installed any other updates after the December WU.

Windows 8.1, 64-bit, Home edition. Intel i5 core 4200U, Haswell ULT.

Java 32-bit came installed on my pc. I disabled it in my browser a while back due to security concerns. I didn’t uninstall it, as I didn’t know if it was needed for something. I haven’t noticed any problems since disabled. Is it ok to uninstall it? I’ve never used it on Windows 8.1 laptop.

Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit SP1

Has there been a fix for the W 8.1 logging-in problem? I saw it’s Defcon 3, but couldn’t tell if this issue is fixed? Does the problem occur in the Sept. security only update, too?

I have a w8.1 64-bit pc, and log in via a Microsoft account. Do I need to create a local account (in case there’s a problem) to install the September updates; or is it best to skip them, and just install the IE update? Is the .NET frame update still problematic, or should I wait on it, too?

So true about headlines. After breaches (Equifax!), hacks, malware; companies leave us uncertain on what to do. Esp. less-technical folks. Piriform emailed about new version; but not ownership change or malware.

If after removal, scans are clean–is malware likely gone? (I didn’t let CCleaner actively monitor or run at start. Ran it on demand. But I let it check for, not download, updates.)

What/how do you recommend to clean unwanted files and cookies? (CCleaner let me choose which cookies to keep or delete.) Another software?

I’m grateful for your help! What would I do without the great people here! Lori

PS: I have v1.11.42 on Fire HD 8 tablet, which I run on demand. Uninstall it?

I use the free Ccleaner (not the registry part). I wait several weeks to install new versions, but installed and ran v 5.33  on W8.1, 64-bit pc just prior to the malware announcement.

On use later, CCleaner tried to update to v 5.34 within the software itself, without going to the Piriform site for download. I didn’t update it immediately, as that was “strange” behavior. Then, I was waiting to hear what to do about malware.

I later updated to v 5.34, as it sounded like that was the “fix” for the malware. I updated to v 5.35 when it came out, cause I thought it was a further fix for the previous malware, and I couldn’t get on Woody’s blog.

I also had v 5.32 installed on my W7, 64-bit pc. I updated it to v 5.34 after I thought Ccleaner was fixed. Piriform’s site said the malware was only on 32-bit machines. Is that not true?

Do I need to continue to update Ccleaner to provide fixes for any malware that may be on my pc, or should I totally uninstall it? Does uninstalling it remove the malware? (I use Norton Security for protection, but it didn’t flag anything.)

Also, I may have an older version of Ccleaner on a back-up. Would it be safe to use an older version, or better to avoid it? It does remove lots of unwanted files, beside other aids. Is there another cleaner that would be safe? Thanks!

Scans with Malwarebytes (free version) on both pc’s are clean.

Good luck with Linux. This forum is a tremendous help. Did you see Woody’s “Group B update problem” forum?

@anonymous,
I’m a home-user, Windows 8.1, 64-bit, Haswell. I’ve had trouble getting windows update to find/install updates over last 2+ months, even before “processor” problems. Windows update never broke, as it did for the “affected” processors; but it can run 24-36 hours without finding updates. I have to stop WU, come back 1-2 days later and try; or run the windows update trouble shooter. Eventually, I get the monthly security only and IE (from this site), and .NET updates (thru WU) in. I thought I was the only W 8.1 person having WU difficulties. My W 7 pc installs everything just fine and quickly.

[Intel core i5 4200U, Haswell ULT 22nm] [non-tech, Group b]

I wasn’t clear on Office updates… It’s been such a mess! Is it safe to install Office 2010 and Office 2013 updates for March and April now? Are there any I still need to avoid? Thanks!

(I was late with March ones, and it was Defcon 1; so I waited.)

Home User: Home Office 2010 on W7 pc; Home Office 2013 on W8.1 pc. (Still hanging in Group B, thanks to everyone’s help!)