Should I Reload OS on Used Laptop?

dalchina · 1 Week Ago

are you referring to the embedded MS tool, "create a system restore point" ?

I use System Restore points successfully and find them very handy on the odd occasion
A huge difference between creating a disk image (with a 3rd party program, as MS recommends) and a restore point is that using a restore point has no effect on your personal data.

Restoring a disk image means restoring 1 or more partitions to the state they were in when you created the image. That's everything on that partition.

I use both- periodic disk imaging as a fundamental means of recovery from bad situations to a failed disk- potentially even a stolen PC.

To me, restore points complement routine disk imaging nicely - I have one created daily on schedule (tutorial available).

Supplement that with more frequent backup of fast changing key data, so that you have a recent and additional copy, and you should be reasonably safe. Excepting asteroids, floods and ELE's, of course.

mridzon · 1 Week Ago

Try3 said:

What I suggested was testing the boot disk i.e. boot from it to make sure it works.
Not the image, the boot disk.

Your system imaging utility offers to make a boot disk for you somewhere in its menu system. Stick in a USB stick & let it make it into its boot disk for you.
It will only need a small USB. I use old 1GB/2GB/4GB/8GB USB sticks for the job.
It will almost certainly format it as Fat32. You will almost certainly not need to do the formatting yourself.

@Try3, your explanation adds clarity. But I am confused about creating the boot disk. I used the supposed free AOMEI Backupper. It made the system image. When I clicked the button to create a boot disk, it wanted me to buy the software. So at that point, I stopped. Not knowing any better, I just copied the system image file to an ordinary USB and tried to boot from it, to no avail. I thought AOMEI was freeware.

dalchina · 1 Week Ago

AOMEI Backupper Edition Comparison

I thought AOMEI was freeware.

As you can see here there's a free version, and under Tools, you can see you should be able to create a bootable disk.

(Tools, Create bootable media).

They have a forum, and their tech support used to answer questions years ago whan I had a free version.

Hasleo Backupper is completely free I believe.

Try3 · 1 Week Ago

Perhaps the Backupper user guide will help resolve the boot disk problem?

Ghot posted a guide at
Macrium Reflect and Aomei Backupper - Guides - ElevenForum
so perhaps @Ghot can help with the boot disk problem?

@SIW2 - You're familiar with Aomei backupper aswell, I think. Can you help?

Denis

Ghot · 1 Week Ago

@mridzon

From what I can see you should be able to create the bootable media, in the free version...

Should I Reload OS on Used Laptop?-image1.jpg

Instructions...

System Restore with AOMEI Backupper

Everything you need should be posted here... (scroll down to the AOMEI section)...

Macrium Reflect, AOMEI Backupper and Hasleo Backup Suite - GUIDES | Windows 11 Forum

Should I Reload OS on Used Laptop?-image1.png

And here's a link to AOMEI's forum...

AOMEI Forum