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windows 10 bootable system repair disc

Anonymous
2020-05-27T09:03:19+00:00

In the Windows 10 Control Panel, under the “Windows 7 Backup and Restore” function, Microsoft offers a link named “Create System Repair disc”, which provides for creating a nice small simple 525MB bootable CD or DVD media  --intended for booting up an ailing computer (outside of Windows, and directly into a self-contained ‘recovery module’), to allow searching for and restoring a previously saved Windows 10 System Image from an Ext. HD. This utility and function is of course invaluable in situations where a new (blank) Int. HD is being installed, or the Windows OS program code is corrupted for some reason.

MY QUESTION:

“Does Microsoft also provide for creating a ‘similar’ nice small and simple bootable System Repair “USB” media for use in these same situations?”   I haven’t seen one.

Thank you,

Dan D. in NJ

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Performance and system failures

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-05-29T05:34:28+00:00

    The 'system repair disc' by that and similar names is a legacy technology that fell out of favor many years ago. It's replacement is the backup image, which is an exact copy of the hard drive (or a partition) that can be made in minutes.

    When restored, which also takes minutes, the computer returns to exactly as it was when the image was made, with no need to recover, repair or reinstall anything.

    There is an entire industry built around imaging, and many of these same developers now make consumer-friendly versions of their software.

    Hi BullDogXX

    The "System Repair Disc" is a small bootable 525MB utility program (on CD on DVD media, used for booting up (outside of Windows) an  otherwise inoperable/unbootable computer. It boots you into a self-contained 'Recovery mode', and thereby allowing you to search for your previously saved System Image 'backup copy of your entire computer.  It works well (It has saved my Windows 10 laptop a few times), and is the only means available for recovering/replacing your saved System Image if your computer is otherwise unbootable (ie the OS code is badly corrupted, or your Int. Hard Drive is being replaced

    (with a blank), etc)

    Dand10

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-05-30T08:11:34+00:00

    Windows 10 has not had a supported image backup utility since the Fall Creators Update (v.1709) of 2017, when Microsoft deprecated System Image Builder and "recommend[ed] that users use full-disk backup solutions from other vendors."

    Hey BulldogXX,

    Not sure where you're getting info from, but I can tell you the Microsoft Windows 10  'System Image' facility/function (on Windows 10 Version 1909) is definitely alive and well! I use it all the time, (--usually every 2 weeks or so, and definitely after the "patch Tuesday updates are installed and running OK). And in spite of the rumors about their thoughts of discontinuing it, I hope they never do because  although it's not as sophisticated (or complex) as the 3rd party backup products out there, it's simple, quick, and works great.  (I also have a very good 3rd Party product, called EaseUS Todo in case its ever needed.)

           But if you really want to see this current built-in Windows 10 System Image function, just go to the Control Panel and click on "Back Up and Restore (Windows 7)". It'l take you to the screen where in the upper left corner you have two options:

    (1) 'Create a System Repair Disc' --on CD/DVD media (which is actually the subject of this whole thread that Dave M121 an myself have been discussing here), 

     and (2) 'Create System Image'  --about a 17 to 20 min process that will system-image your 'entire' internal HD, on either DVD's or an Ext. HD unit.  

    NOTE: The whole System Image backup facility thing is actually a direct carry over from Windows 7; why they didn't take the time to rename it for Windows 8 and Windows 10,--who knows?

    Hope this helps, Let me know what you think.

    Dand10

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  3. DaveM121 868K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2020-05-28T06:17:39+00:00

    Hi dand10

    The Recovery disk you are referring to is PC specific, so there is no way to download that from the Internet, because there is no 'One Size fits All' version of that recovery disk

    The process in Windows 10 to create that Recovery Disk accessible from the Control Panel, does allow the disk to be created on a DVD or a USB flash drive . . .

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-05-29T13:03:04+00:00

    Windows 10 has not had a supported image backup utility since the Fall Creators Update (v.1709) of 2017, when Microsoft deprecated System Image Builder and "recommend[ed] that users use full-disk backup solutions from other vendors."

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-05-30T08:46:59+00:00

    Backup and Restore (Windows 7) was carried over to Windows 10 so that people who used it to make a backup in Windows 7 can restore their backup in Windows 10. It's not supported for making new backups.

    Look, it's not my role to persuade you, only to inform. You do what feels right to you and live with the results.

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