External USB drive not recognized for Disk Image


  1. Posts : 9
    Windows 10
       #1

    External USB drive not recognized for Disk Image


    Greeting with a smile.

    I'm trying to save a first time disk image on an external USB drive. And I had it working at the start. The first time, it started fine, and was running fine. But it took longer than I thought it would, and I had to shut it down before it was finished.

    Now, when I try to start the process up again, I receive a message that the file history part of the computer is not connected to the USB drive. I can open and view everything on the USB drive, but the file history part of the computer says the USB drive isn't connected.

    Help!
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #2

    Hi, you mention both disk imaging and file history. I guess you are aware these are two completely different things, and assume you're using the same external disk for both.

    1. Which disk imaging program are you using? Could you explain why you thought creating an image (of what?) took longer than you thought it should?

    2.
    when I try to start the process up again,
    - sorry- which process - disk imaging?

    Note that you may need to make sure the disk is always allocated the same drive letter each time it is connected. There is a trick to achieve this: in Computer Management, simply change the drive letter to one you'll never use e.g. R - or whatever you like late in the alphabet. Next time you connect the drive it will be allocated the same letter.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 9
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    It appears I was trying to make a "File history" backup using the file history part of the "Settings" group in windows 10. And I wanted to make a disk image. I wasn't trying to make what I thought I was trying to make.

    I'd like to make both, starting with file history.

    And I thought file history was about the same as system restore and should take about the same time.

    Help!
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 4,752
    Windows 11 Pro 64 Bit 22H2
       #4

    System Restore has Restore points, you can create your own or it automatically does it for you when you install a new program or driver, usually. A System Restore just restore Windows System files and not any documents, pictures etc.
    File History is all of the User files on your computer, Pictures, Music, Documents etc. So this will take a lot longer.
    For your problem, go to Settings/Backup/More Options/Backup to a Different Drive/Stop Using Drive. Then you can Add the drive again in File History
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #5

    System restore is to help you recover your system to a previously working state when sthg has gone wrong; programs you have installed since the restore point will be unavailable (a list is provided); updates will be removed; settings and driver versions will revert to their state when the restore point was created.

    Note that System Restore is viewed as temperamental- it's too commonly found that restoring fails, and it's not easy to solve that.

    See System Restore in the Tutorial section where there's an updated tutorial on scheduling it, should you wish to.

    File history by default in '10 backs up of your documents ONLY in Libraries, Desktop, Contacts and Favourites - no others.
    However, you can add other folders in Settings. (That's new in '10).
    How To Work With File History In Windows 10, From The Settings App

    This is a sort of scheduled on-the-fly backup.

    Don't rely on the above to provide a complete backup solution. It doesn't. You need disk imaging. Think: what will I do if my PC is unbootable? If I get hit with ransomware? If my hard disk/SSD fails?
      My Computers


 

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