IMHO This link should be made a sticky

holdum323

holdum323

Posts: 1,721   +452
Hi IMHO this link should be made a sticky here on TS. There are two major problems for windows users. They are Hardware and Software.. Here's a link to get ISO files for Windows OS,s; where you can create a media creation installation tool to reinstall the Windows OS of your choice. If you have a hardware problem, that's another ball game. I also have suggestions for that LOL Yes reinstalling your OS is the nuclear suggestion, but some times it's the only solution that's left.
PS1 Please post your comments. I'm here to learn new things and then pass them forward. If you have any questions, I'll try my best to answer them. If you have comments or suggestions, I'm also ready to listen.
PS 2 this is a great forum. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of it!
Here's link to all your ISO windows files. Enjoy!https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/15088/windows-create-installation-media
 
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Some times you have to bite the bullet and preform a clean install. It won't be painless, but it may be the best thing you ever do.
I have been there. Now I have learned how to create back up images and maintain my PC, and that makes me a fearless windows user. I know I can reinstall back exactly like I was the day I created the image. I just wish I could get every windows user to learn these things, and create regular image back ups. It's not that hard and it will make your computer life a lot less stressful . I guess I'll keep preaching these things on help forums like TS until I'm no longer welcome and then I'll move on to the next help forum and preach my message there. LOL
 
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Personally, with so much business data on my system, rolling back to the last image would induce massive losses, let alone impact my web development code. As I don't visit porn sites nor waste my time on social media, I rarely find an issue that can't be fixed without resorting to a full restore. The one time that WAS necessary it was due to an HD failure and there's no other choice.

Over the years, I've found Malwarebytes to be an effective removal tool (used it once) and resetting the system with a System Restore to be sufficient, at least for my needs.

There's always alternative choices and resultant consequences - - seldom is there only ONE correct answer.

Just my $0.02
 
Hi @jobeard Thanks for your reply. Glad to hear you don't visit porn sites. FYI I don't visit them either. I have Malwarebytes pro. I've had it for years. I have the life time license. It scans my PC every day along with Windows Defender. Not real sure what you're saying about rolling back to the last image. Yes using this media installation will restore your PC back to out of the box stage. As far as losing massive data, you need to back up that to cloud or a external drive on a daily basis. Also not sure what you're referring to as a Restore point as being sufficient. This thread is about restoring a PC back to factory with media installation DVD,s or USB,s that you create. They would be used if your OS became so corrupted that it couldn't be repaired with normal repair. I use a 3rd party image program to create a back up image. When ever I make a major change to my PC, I create a image on a external drive where I also back up important data.
That's my 2 cents.
PS I agree with your statement about "seldom is there only one correct answer" It would be cool, but that ain't going to happen, but windows is giving us easier ways to recover our systems. Here's link from Microsoft how to recover W10.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12415/windows-10-recovery-options
 
Hey Jobeard, I read your post here with great surprise that restoring an image file would not help you because what I think you are saying you would still encounter a big time file and data loss and I am surprised such a big time tech as yourself would not be vested in additional file and data backup and personally I like Handy Backup I use to synch all files. The other thought since you have such a "vast store of business data" on your system, I would have though as such a heavyweight as yourself would have a server for files and data anyway, or at least maybe a NAS drive. Can I help you with any of that?
 
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Good to see you too see that an image recovery is insufficient when you have time sensitive data to recover :grin:

I've used another technique other than backups to cover that - - data replication that implements the differential method. With multiple systems in-house, replicating to other systems is easy and makes recovery simple.
 
Hi! Always trying to learn new things. What if you get malware? Will that not corrupt all systems? That's one reason I don't like differentials. I like a clean image some where on cloud or external drive. What ever works for you. I don't have multiple systems, but if I did , I think I might listen to what @Rich M has to say about keeping your important data safe, but that's all over my head, so I'll let you guys hash that out. Thanks for your reply!
 
As file replication will carry any infection present with it, if that file is restored it will reinfect.

As the file copy on the secondary is dormant and unused, the secondary system is safe even if infected files are copied. Additionally, my secondary systems are non-windows and thus this operation is just like FTP to the cloud. As the original system is clean, there's nothing to worry about. Scan before replication is the key, just like CHKDSK before restore is prudent.

File Shares are a key infection vector, and this is how a virus can run amuck in a company and take down 100s of systems. At home, I mount my shares when needed, use it and then disconnect to avoid the issue. And again, the shares are on non-windows systems so they're safe.
 
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Thanks for your reply. Why beyond my pay grade, but Rich may have some thing to add latter.
 
Stellar idea to use non-Windows systems for file and data synch. I use a NAS drive to backup the server, but I never thought of using Linux on that to avoid the need to keep it shutdown all the time.
 
holdum323 said:
What if you get malware? Will that not corrupt all systems?
Click to expand...
Regardless of HOW you save your files {backups, file replications} it is prudent to always perform a full, in-depth scan of the system before you begin. Otherwise you only generate Garbage IN -- Garbage OUT, and delude yourself.
 
OK well everyone reading this thread and being entertained by it, how are you protecting your data?
I venture to bet not at all, right? You think your hard drive is "bullet proof" right? I know it couldn't happen to you!
 
Reinstall keeping nothing to get rid of problems.
That is easy to understand even for someone as stupid as I am.
 
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