Lenovo M58 won't boot Win10

Sidecar Bob · 13 Jan 2020

That looks exactly like the Windows recovery screens that Windows Startup Repair produced when I tried starting it with the original hard drive. The more I tried to recover Windows using that the longer it took to run and the less options it showed (not that any of them worked anyway).

At this point I have a fresh working install on a different hard drive and I am looking for ways to extract the data from the old drive.

Once I have exhausted all possibilities there I will want to set up some sort of automatic backup to the external drive that I will be giving them (and probably the same for my similar computer too).

dalchina · 14 Jan 2020

Recommend you start with routinely using disk imaging (Macrium reflect - free/paid) - this can be scheduled with control of the data retained so it's sustainable- but the safest way is to keep ultimate backups separate from the PC. I gather the licensed version has features to inprove security of backups and guard against their infection is left connected (Image Guardian I think). You need disk imaging to you can recover Windows when corrupt.

After that any critical fast changing data can be managed with a separate backup routine.

HDTune: it says freeware on that site- must be wrong. This is the better known free version from a reputable site:
Download HD Tune 2.55

Sidecar Bob · 16 Jan 2020

I don't know why I would want to remove that partition. From the description it is something useful.

OK, so I've exhausted all of the data recovery possibilities I'm going to and I'm ready to set up something that will back it up automatically (& do the same on my own M58 while I'm at it) and as I type this I'm just finishing up resetting Win10 to get rid of all of the software I tried for that.

Recommendations?
I'm planning to tell them to leave the external drive on & connected and store most of their data on it. Is it a good idea to store the backups there too?

Berton · 16 Jan 2020

Sidecar Bob said:

Recommendations?
I'm planning to tell them to leave the external drive on & connected and store most of their data on it. Is it a good idea to store the backups there too?

Only caveat I can offer is to disconnect any internal drives except the one for the OS to avert the possibility of create a RAID setup unless that is desired. My experience was learned when removing the second drive and it broke the booting process.

Storing backups would generally be better to removable drives that could be stored elsewhere such as off-site to avoid loss, at least so with those that contain very important files such as a company's book keeping.

Sidecar Bob · 17 Jan 2020

Yeah, this is just for personal use so off site storage probably won't happen. And there is no room or connections in the Lenovo SFF computers for a second hard drive (except maybe if you replaced the optical drive).

Part of the problem with using a removable drive is making sure that 1) They actually remember to plug the drive in and make a fresh backup periodically, 2) They remember what that particular USB drive is for so they don't use it for something else and loose the backup and 3) They keep it somewhere safe where they can actually find it again (not everyone is well organized).

- - - Updated - - -

OK, I downloaded & installed Macrium and tried to set it up and it made my head spin. Yes, I know about the tutorial for it on this forum and I'm sure I could figure it out well enough from that

BUT I need something that is very simple for my daughter and her husband to use.

And I need to get it set up tomorrow so my daughter can take the computer home when she visits in a couple of days.