1 USB drive recovery & back up image solution wanted.

Page 2 of 3 FirstFirst 123 LastLast

  1. Posts : 43
    win 10 x64
    Thread Starter
       #11

    NavyLCDR said:
    You can manually set up a bootable USB flash drive with NTFS format, but it is only bootable in legacy BIOS (CSM) mode.

    To me, the best option is the external USB hard drive or SSD. Mine is set up with a custom FAT32 recovery partition that boots into Kyhi's recovery tools that also has the Windows setup files extracted to it as well. It also has a large NTFS partition containing system images as well as individual file backups. I can boot from my USB hard drive, make a backup image, restore a backup image, mess around with the partitions on the internal drive of the computer, connect to the internet, or just reinstall Windows. I can also do upgrades or DISM system repairs with it.

    It boots in any computer that allows booting USB hard drives, legacy BIOS or UEFI.
    This sounds like what I need. Could you outline the steps you took to do this. Add some links to the tools you used. I have been a fan of Acronis Disk Director 12, and True image, but they are getting a bit long in the tooth. They are not good with UEFI, or GPT for example
    Thanks
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #12

    KLund1 said:
    This sounds like what I need. Could you outline the steps you took to do this. Add some links to the tools you used. I have been a fan of Acronis Disk Director 12, and True image, but they are getting a bit long in the tooth. They are not good with UEFI, or GPT for example
    Thanks
    Do you want the NTFS formatted USB flash drive that will only boot under legacy BIOS or CSM mode, or do you want the dual partition USB hard drive?
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 43
    win 10 x64
    Thread Starter
       #13

    I am not sure what would be best.
    This is for a friends new HP laptop. I think I would like the HP to be able to boot from the USB drive. Then use tools there to be able fix the HP boot process on the internal drive or reload a drive image.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 56,806
    Multi-boot Windows 10/11 - RTM, RP, Beta, and Insider
       #14

    KLund1 said:
    I am not sure what would be best.
    This is for a friends new HP laptop. I think I would like the HP to be able to boot from the USB drive. Then use tools there to be able fix the HP boot process on the internal drive or reload a drive image.
    @KLund1, good evening. Can you post some info about the friend's HP laptop? Maybe a link to the manufacturers site for the exact model number? Some info would be helpful.. Thanks, TC.....
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 43
    win 10 x64
    Thread Starter
       #15

    Thanks is a HP 15-au123cl.
    I pulled the slow HD out, and migrated the OS to a SSD, including the 3 hidden partitions that go with the OS. There seems to be no way to migrate the OS and the HP recovery partition. The HP drive is in GPT, so there is little compatible software out there. But that is not important now.
    The system is in the condition I want to be able to go back too if some thing goes bad in the future. My friend is not know too much about computers. I want to provide an easy method of recovery, if the laptop can't boot, or win10 becomes corrupted. So I would like one USB stick what will boot to win10 recovery mode, and also have the drive image available.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 56,806
    Multi-boot Windows 10/11 - RTM, RP, Beta, and Insider
       #16

    KLund1 said:
    Thanks is a HP 15-au123cl.
    I pulled the slow HD out, and migrated the OS to a SSD, including the 3 hidden partitions that go with the OS. There seems to be no way to migrate the OS and the HP recovery partition. The HP drive is in GPT, so there is little compatible software out there. But that is not important now.
    The system is in the condition I want to be able to go back too if some thing goes bad in the future. My friend is not know too much about computers. I want to provide an easy method of recovery, if the laptop can't boot, or win10 becomes corrupted. So I would like one USB stick what will boot to win10 recovery mode, and also have the drive image available.
    NavyLCDR's solution would work fine, but may be too complex for your friend. You would need to discuss that with him, the pros and cons. I suggest you get more info from Navy as I'm not that familiar with his setup.

    If you're looking for a simplified, more or less plug-n-play approach, consider the following.

    1 8-16GB USB flash for a Windows Recovery bootable. Could also be used instead to contain a bootable Recovery Environment with many common programs using a tool developed by one of our members. Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk This ISO from Kyhi would be put on the thumb drive using a utility called Rufus Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way or copied manually after formatting the thumb.



    Macrium Reflect (free) for image backup to an external USB HDD of 1TB.

    Macrium Reflect Free | Macrium Software

    1 2-4GB USB flash for a bootable Macrium Rescue to be used to restore images from the external, along with built-in tools for fixing boot problems.

    You should read the info in the links for more insight. Very similar setups are used by many on Tenforums, but the choice is yours, and your friend's.

    TC
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 43
    win 10 x64
    Thread Starter
       #17

    Very good info.
    But I keep seeing that I have to use the whole USB drive for one thing or another.
    Is it possible to treat it as a HD. Make 2 partitions. One bootable partition that will have your PEtools, or Win10 recovery tools, and a second data partition that I could store a disk image.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 56,806
    Multi-boot Windows 10/11 - RTM, RP, Beta, and Insider
       #18

    KLund1 said:
    Very good info.
    But I keep seeing that I have to use the whole USB drive for one thing or another.
    Is it possible to treat it as a HD. Make 2 partitions. One bootable partition that will have your PEtools, or Win10 recovery tools, and a second data partition that I could store a disk image.
    If it's GPT, you can have as many as you want. Within common sense reason! :) Keep in mind.....if all the eggs are in one basket, and the basket breaks........
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 43
    win 10 x64
    Thread Starter
       #19

    I did a bit of research on USB drives. You can have many partitions on them as you want. But Win will only see the first one. There is a bit somewhere in the first sector that defines a USB drive as 'removable'. So Win will only see partition 1. It can be changed but with a lot of work, that I am not in the mood for now. I will have to go with a 2 USB stick solution for my friend.
    But I am going to use the PE tools mentioned above for my own personal use. It has come a long way since I lasted used it about 10+ years ago.
    Thanks everyone, a very educational thread.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 56,806
    Multi-boot Windows 10/11 - RTM, RP, Beta, and Insider
       #20

    KLund1 said:
    I did a bit of research on USB drives. You can have many partitions on them as you want. But Win will only see the first one. There is a bit somewhere in the first sector that defines a USB drive as 'removable'. So Win will only see partition 1. It can be changed but with a lot of work, that I am not in the mood for now. I will have to go with a 2 USB stick solution for my friend.
    But I am going to use the PE tools mentioned above for my own personal use. It has come a long way since I lasted used it about 10+ years ago.
    Thanks everyone, a very educational thread.
    Your welcome. What you posted about seeing only the first partition pertains to flash drives, thumbs. That does not hold true for USB external hard drives.

    Wish you all good luck with your project.

    TC
      My Computers


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 17:27.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums