Planning for and Recovering from a failed PC System

[holdum323]

Hi I was asked to create this thread. That's a big chore, and I'll need some help. I'm going to be using W10, so other OS's will be a little different.
So you turn on your PC and it fails to boot into Windows; and your sure it's not a hardware problem.
I hope you took the time to create a rescue USB. Here's how to create and use this rescue USB by HTG.
https://www.howtogeek.com/131907/ho...ery-drive-or-system-repair-disc-in-windows-8/
If your a smart PC user you have taken the time to learn how to use a system image program to make a backup image of your OS. I prefer Macrium Reflect, but there are several programs out there. Windows 10 has a back up feature that's better then nothing, but can't measure up to Macrium Here's a quick link by HTG on Macrium. You can Google and get better information.
https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/7363/macrium-reflect-is-a-free-and-easy-to-use-backup-utility/
Here's how to use the W10 back up feature. Again I use HTG because I'm very lazy.HTG is my friend!
https://www.howtogeek.com/239312/how-to-restore-system-image-backups-on-windows-7-8-and-10/
This is a good start and I'm counting on other techs here on TS to add their suggestions and I will also when one comes to my mind. There are some smart people here and I'm sure they will have suggestions,but here's a start. @jobeard suggested I start this thread, so here you go jo.
Here's a good link from MS. Please move this thread to the appropriate section!
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12415/windows-10-recovery-options

 

[DavidBailey]

 

[holdum323]

Hi @DavidBailey Thanks for your reply. The rescue disk is no longer needed. You can boot straight into Macrium.(y)

 

[Rich M]

I sure wasn't aware of that nice find Gary though image file and my Handy Backup synch for files and data is all I need.

 

[Cycloid Torus]

A different idea. I think offsite backups are important. I use a cloud service for that. All data from 5 machines is backed up with version control every night / thirty versions deep. I do not use an image as I expect that if I have a failure, it will be HDD wipeout or a really nasty malware which got through my defenses. In either case, I would do a clean install from current media downloaded from Microsoft directly.

I have rescue disks for all OS I am using plus a few more floating in my disk archive. I also have various ISO's for several flavors of OS (not Vista or 2000).

A full recovery would take a day or so, but my key files are probably less than 1 hour of downloading.

 

[holdum323]

Thanks @Cycloid Torus Good information. Here's windows software.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/home
PS You can restore a Macrium image on a brand new HDD. That's another + for Macrium.
You will need the Macrium recovery CD to restore the image to a new HDD

 

[Rich M]

I forgot to mention my files are all on a server backed up to an offline NAS drive that is only on for the daily backup.
All pcs and laptops have weekly image files saved to extra hard drive in tower or external drive for laptop.

 

[DavidBailey]

The rescue disk is no longer needed. You can boot straight into Macrium.

A full recovery would take a day or so, but my key files are probably less than 1 hour of downloading.

A full recovery takes Macrium about 5-25 minutes for me. Depends on the R/W speeds.

PS You can restore a Macrium image on a brand new HDD. That's another + for Macrium.
You will need the Macrium recovery CD to restore the image to a new HDD

Macrium ReDeploy is not included in the free version.

https://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW7/Re-deploying+to+new+hardware

 

[Cycloid Torus]

I also change spark plugs.

 

[learninmypc]

Would like a guesstimate on how many cd's it could/would/might take on a harddrive of 186 gb . ??

 

[Cycloid Torus]

My guess...without compression ~40. Better to use another HDD and/or a second machine via network. Backup utilities, like Macrium, might cut it to 20, but you still have issue of feeding disks.

 

[learninmypc]

My guess...without compression ~40. Better to use another HDD and/or a second machine via network. Backup utilities, like Macrium, might cut it to 20, but you still have issue of feeding disks.

OMGosh, Big $$$ .I see . Thanks.

 

[Cycloid Torus]

Makes that $45 1tb drive look useful.

 

[DavidBailey]

Would like a guesstimate on how many cd's it could/would/might take on a harddrive of 186 gb . ??

Could you post a screenshot of your C: Properties ?

 

[learninmypc]

Could you post a screenshot of your C: Properties ?

Could you post a screenshot of your C: Properties ?

Finally....

 

[holdum323]

Hi As was suggested by @Cycloid Torus a external hard drive is the way to go. Which you can also use to store other things.

 

[learninmypc]

I simply lack the $$$$ thank you.

 

[holdum323]

I simply lack the $$$$ thank you.

Hi @learninmypc Go here and create media installation media. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 That will give you the ability to reinstall your OS.

 

[holdum323]

Hi Here's a thread I created on TS about recovering W10. I think it fits in here?
https://www.techspot.com/community/topics/6-ways-to-recover-windows-10-issues.241367/

 

[DavidBailey]

EDITED TO CORRECT MISTAKES---

You are using 12.4 GBs out of 186 GBs.
With medium compression with Macrium your image would be around 7 GBs.
You would be imaging the 12.4 GBs used space only.
Plus some other partitions that don't amount to much.
You could use High compression & shrink it a bit more.

To capture just the active window press Alt + Print Screen.

 

[Cycloid Torus]

@learninmypc - maybe I read it wrong, but it looks like about 14GB in actual use. Compression takes that to 7GB which is just 2 CD (4.7GB @).

 

[learninmypc]

@learninmypc - maybe I read it wrong, but it looks like about 14GB in actual use. Compression takes that to 7GB which is just 2 CD (4.7GB @).

Ok, I'm asking because I have a couple DVD-R that says up to 8X/4.7GB/2Hrs on it. That was copied from the DVD that I used to reinstall my XP Pro OS. Which is why I am/have been asking, why can't I just use it if my XP pro crashes?

 

[DavidBailey]

@learninmypc - maybe I read it wrong, but it looks like about 14GB in actual use. Compression takes that to 7GB which is just 2 CD (4.7GB @).

You're right.
12.4 GBs out of 186 GBs.
I'm glad you caught that.
My eyes aren't as good as they used to be.
My mind either.

 

[holdum323]

Ok, I'm asking because I have a couple DVD-R that says up to 8X/4.7GB/2Hrs on it. That was copied from the DVD that I used to reinstall my XP Pro OS. Which is why I am/have been asking, why can't I just use it if my XP pro crashes?

Hi you can use it for that. You create images so that you can restore your PC back like it was the day you created the image. With all the updates and changes you have made to the OS. Using the media you created, you start from scratch.
Here's a quote from HTG.
A [URL='https://www.howtogeek.com/192115/what-you-need-to-know-about-creating-system-image-backups/']system image backup, on the other hand, is like a full snapshot of an entire hard drive. The advantage of a system image is that if a hard drive crashes, you can replace it, restore the image, and have your system right back to where it was when the image was captured. No need to reinstall Windows or your apps.[/URL]

 

[cliffordcooley]

Finally....

That image only shows you using 12.4GB. Your backup image should be under that size, which is approximately three DVDs (or one BD).

maybe I read it wrong, but it looks like about 14GB in actual use. Compression takes that to 7GB which is just 2 CD (4.7GB @).

Honest mistake but you said CD instead of DVD.