Pulled out SSD cable and now windows 10 won't boot

RealZeal said:

Great, tks Topgun.
So the other boot option is the windows install I lost a month ago and if I had of just use macrium then and fixed the boot option I would have survived my last crash?

Yep, yep. Macrium can fix just about anything, even SSD failure, if you have an extra SSD or w/e.

Macrium Reflect can do even more, if you actually make full OS image backups with it.

RealZeal said:

I've been having issues with Macrium, have a separate thread going. After the image it always fails on the verification part. Last night I ran a backup without the verify and then verified it this morning and it said it was fine.

I don't use the Verify Option, myself. I instead just make lots of full OS image backups.



This is how I have Macrium set, and how I use the program for EACH full backup I make...

1. Click the Windows symbol in top left RED circle. It will auto select all the partitions you need to restore Windows fully.
2. Choose the drive letter (to store the backup) in the 2nd RED circle. I identify the backups by DATE. 3rd RED circle. Click "Next"
3. RED circle in 2nd pic, is how I set the Retention Rules. Click "Next" and then "Finish"
4. RED circle on 3rd pic... I uncheck the "Save backup and schedules as an XML file". (personal choice)
5. Then click "OK".

My total Windows 10 install is 27.0 GB. It takes me under 2 minutes to make a backup. (Or to restore from one).









/edit I always make a new full OS image backup when I'm about to make major changes, or right before MS Tuesday, the 2nd Tuesday of each month (aka... before the Windows Updates). I also Optimize the SSD, and run a scan for cooties, before I make the backup.

OldNavyGuy said:

Unless you test your images by randomly selecting individual files and restoring them, validate (or verify) byte-for-byte is the way to go.

You want to know that the image is good when you need it.

I'm NOT recommending that folks don't verify. I was just saying I don't do it. In 20 years with three diff backup softwares, never had a bad backup.

I also, always save the last 4-5 backups, anyway.







/edit Yes, I even have a CD/DVD burner.

OldNavyGuy said:

I knew a guy that had a half a dozen backups he thought were good, until he got hit with ransomware, and found out none of them were.

I've made it through 4-5 ransomwares, But that was with Acronis, which makes encrypted backups. I'm not sure yet if Macrium does that, but even so... I saved ONE Acronis backup just in case (May 23).




Normally I don't make this many backups, but I've been tweaking a lot, and testing a lot of questionable software.

OldNavyGuy said:

Got a copy of those backups stored offline?

Ofc. I have another 2TB HDD with the exact same data as the internal one.