I've learned so much from you today! Thanks for the concise, clear instructions. I'm attempting to make a recovery drive. I have an old recovery thumb drive 16 gb. If it has data on it, will it delete that - or should I delete an old recovery?
Yes, it backups all the drivers as well. When you reinstall Windows this way your PC will be restored to factory settings, as it was when you bought the PC.
Leo, when I bought a new desktop recently, I had a second SSD installed. The idea at the time was that, once I had all of my apps installed, I would clone C:\ to the second SSD so that if C: ever became unbootable or corrupt, I would go into the BIOS and boot from that second SSD. Periodically I would update the clone from C: so that all of the app settings were updated as well. I thought this small additional cost would avoid creating an external recovery drive and would be much faster to get back up and running. Do you see any problem with that ? (P.S., I partition both SSD's so that the O/S is on one partition and data on the other. )
I would ABSOLUTELY test it before you need it. It's not uncommon for something important to have been overlooked. (And what that is varies, unfortunately, hence testing it out.)
@@askleonotenboom Leo - test yes - but how? Testing it would presumably wipe the OS on C and reinstall Windows - so if the test demonstrated the recovery drive was corrupt you’d have neither the OS nor the recovery drive useable!
Leo, I did this but picked the D drive as the E drive did have my files saved on it and I "assumed" the D drive just was system backup from my previous computer as I had backed that up years ago on this 1Tb external disk. Once completed, all I had was a 100Gb D drive. I 'found" the other 900Gb in Disk Management and it is now "unallocated". How can I get this back to an E drive, and did I somehow lose that data. I figured since they were partitioned, and I created the "recovery" on the D drive, the E drive would be left alone. Otherwise, why would it even allow me to choose between them if it was going to wipe them both out? Thanks for ALL of your vids.
Thank you for your video! I tried the second method of creating a Windows installation disk on a USB drive. I booted off of it (windows 10) but it only gave me the option to install Windows, there was no option to repair and access the repair tools Any ideas? Thank you
I'm trying upgrade my SSD. I've followed your video and download a recovery drive to a USB. Does this allow me to reinstall windows to my new SSD? and would I have to back-up all my personal files etc to a separate USB to recover them after I've reinstalled windows 11?
Very good, of course, but I am unable to find the (accompanying?) video "How do I boot from a USB Thumb Drive?" Without it, the recovery drive is of no use. Are you able to help, please?
I have SSD 256 only for OS and separate HDD for my xyz data files for storing. Whether it is wiping only SSD while restoring OS or wiping both SSD and HDD during the process. I am using windows 10 Pro 22H2. Please comment.
For me every time I have tried this it said something went wrong (For my main desktop PC I have a USB with Windows installation media on it, which can also (attempt to) repair an existing Windows installation, I’ve never tried using the repair function, but I do know the USB will work for doing a clean install)
I've just created a Recovery USB Drive on my laptop (too late to make one for the faulty Desktop...). Inserted into my Win 11 desktop m/c but it doesn't boot automatically from it. and I can see no way to alter the Bios Setup to change that. HELP.
Leo: I created the drive as you instructed. When I go to use it it boots fine, and takes me to a screen where it wants me to select my keyboard type. Unfortunately, it is unresponsive to my keyboard. The keyboard is a USB keyboard my PC does not have, any PS2 connectors so I can’t plug a traditional keyboard into it. I have tried all the USB ports on my system and a USB hub. Nothing let me get past the screen. Originally, when I created the drive per your video, I did do a test boot to make sure the USB drive would work. when I got to the keyboard screen, I thought I was free and clear. I didn’t go any further. Now I see that I should have. Any suggestions? Thank you.
Thank you: Questions, does the drive have to be formatted a certain way & why would someone else take more than twice the time to explain this differently but essentially the same result?
Doesn't work for me. I have Windows 11 Pro on a Dell Inspirion. It's not recognizing my thumb drive. Used same thumb drive on my girlfriend's Dell Inspirion and it does recognize that same thumb drive. After researching, other people have this problem. It's a mystery to me. The thumb drive works for all other purposes and tried several different thumb drives with the same result of non-recognition but only for the task of creating a recovery drive. Very strange
Also once I have the recovery drive. can it be used on different models of computers with different Windows 10? If my plan is just to repair to install?
I did a system image backup using the backup and restore (windows 7) we find in control panel to an external drive having windows 23H2, afterwards I updated to 24H2. If I search for the system image I saved externally and did a back up, would it come back to 23H2? Also if I save my current system that has 24H2 update, will it save and overwrite the 23H2? Thank you.
A restore would return your machine to the state it was in when the backup was created, so 23H2. A second backup should be stored alongside if there's room on the external disk.
@@askleonotenboom Thank you for your kind reply. So I did save a system image backup up using that built in system. So I can save multiple system images on one external drive? Seems like every-time I try it overwrites the one already there. I open the external disk and I only see one back up. I just assume any future system images would be saved and over-write the one there.
Hi Leo, great video! Will you please help me? I am having a major issue with this. I have a 64 GB thumb drive to use, but when I selected to "create a recovery drive", I got a pop up message that said that I can not create one on my PC! I have a brand new HP desktop Omen with Windows 11 on it. Will you please make a video to show us what to do with this error message? I saw someone else make a video to fix this error message by using the C prompt, but I would rather hear what you have to say please as I can tell you an expert! Thank you so much! ~ Tonya in WV
I've not heard of that error message. Please submit a question over at askleo.com/ask, and after the auto-response you'll be able to include a screen shot in your response.
Thanks i watched too late, recently i bought desktop pc or laptop they come with window recovery drive already installed on hard drive. i just bought gaming pc and i didn't aware of recovery drive. Yesterday my pc went on blue screen and asking me USB or CD room software to system repair or recovery that i don't have. They sell over $2000 pc with no recovery software that's a shame, i have to send back to store for repair. Thanks for the video, once they fixed i will do the recovery USB drive 👍
Say harddrive eats it and you dont need to reinstall but rather fresh install. How is license handled with a recovery drive restoring th pc's OS on a new drive so that I dont have to buy another windows license?
Windows 10 and 11 are activated based on hardware characteristics. If you reinstall it should automatically realize that it had been activated before. (Even if you change out the hard drive.)
If "Back up system files to the recovery drive” is checked it should. But remember, this is not a BACKUP. This is a recovery drive. It's not backing up what's on your hard disk, it's creating something you can boot from to recover/repair an existing installation.
I've learned so much from you today! Thanks for the concise, clear instructions.
I'm attempting to make a recovery drive. I have an old recovery thumb drive 16 gb. If it has data on it, will it delete that - or should I delete an old recovery?
It should delete, and even warn you that it's about to.
Hello Leo, do you know if it backups up all the drivers too. Thanks
While it's technically not a backup, I do believe drivers are included.
Yes, it backups all the drivers as well. When you reinstall Windows this way your PC will be restored to factory settings, as it was when you bought the PC.
Excellent informative video, many thanks Leo👍🇦🇺
Leo, when I bought a new desktop recently, I had a second SSD installed. The idea at the time was that, once I had all of my apps installed, I would clone C:\ to the second SSD so that if C: ever became unbootable or corrupt, I would go into the BIOS and boot from that second SSD. Periodically I would update the clone from C: so that all of the app settings were updated as well. I thought this small additional cost would avoid creating an external recovery drive and would be much faster to get back up and running. Do you see any problem with that ? (P.S., I partition both SSD's so that the O/S is on one partition and data on the other. )
I would ABSOLUTELY test it before you need it. It's not uncommon for something important to have been overlooked. (And what that is varies, unfortunately, hence testing it out.)
@@askleonotenboom
Leo - test yes - but how?
Testing it would presumably wipe the OS on C and reinstall Windows - so if the test demonstrated the recovery drive was corrupt you’d have neither the OS nor the recovery drive useable!
@@Wol747 I thought your setup was to remove the damaged drive and then boot from #2. If I'm correct, then test doing that.
Reply to wrong person! @@askleonotenboom
How does having Bitlocker enabled on the PC effect crreating/using a recovery drive? is that recovery drive secure?
The recovery drive does not contain your data so there's really no need for it to be secure.
For new laptop recovery the windows required bootable usb drive?
Leo, I did this but picked the D drive as the E drive did have my files saved on it and I "assumed" the D drive just was system backup from my previous computer as I had backed that up years ago on this 1Tb external disk. Once completed, all I had was a 100Gb D drive. I 'found" the other 900Gb in Disk Management and it is now "unallocated". How can I get this back to an E drive, and did I somehow lose that data. I figured since they were partitioned, and I created the "recovery" on the D drive, the E drive would be left alone. Otherwise, why would it even allow me to choose between them if it was going to wipe them both out? Thanks for ALL of your vids.
Thank you for your video! I tried the second method of creating a Windows installation disk on a USB drive. I booted off of it (windows 10) but it only gave me the option to install Windows, there was no option to repair and access the repair tools Any ideas? Thank you
I'm trying upgrade my SSD. I've followed your video and download a recovery drive to a USB. Does this allow me to reinstall windows to my new SSD? and would I have to back-up all my personal files etc to a separate USB to recover them after I've reinstalled windows 11?
I believe it can, yes. (IF you checked the option to include system files.)
Very good, of course, but I am unable to find the (accompanying?) video "How do I boot from a USB Thumb Drive?" Without it, the recovery drive is of no use. Are you able to help, please?
askleo.com/how-do-i-boot-from-a-usb-thumbdrive/ and th-cam.com/video/3Qo4Jt-9Ltg/w-d-xo.html
Thank you, sir. Most useful.@@askleonotenboom
I have SSD 256 only for OS and separate HDD for my xyz data files for storing. Whether it is wiping only SSD while restoring OS or wiping both SSD and HDD during the process. I am using windows 10 Pro 22H2. Please comment.
Does the recovery drive also, along with the OS, copy the settings and drivers?
For me every time I have tried this it said something went wrong
(For my main desktop PC I have a USB with Windows installation media on it, which can also (attempt to) repair an existing Windows installation, I’ve never tried using the repair function, but I do know the USB will work for doing a clean install)
I've just created a Recovery USB Drive on my laptop (too late to make one for the faulty Desktop...).
Inserted into my Win 11 desktop m/c but it doesn't boot automatically from it. and I can see no way to alter the Bios Setup to change that.
HELP.
Leo: I created the drive as you instructed. When I go to use it it boots fine, and takes me to a screen where it wants me to select my keyboard type. Unfortunately, it is unresponsive to my keyboard. The keyboard is a USB keyboard my PC does not have, any PS2 connectors so I can’t plug a traditional keyboard into it. I have tried all the USB ports on my system and a USB hub. Nothing let me get past the screen. Originally, when I created the drive per your video, I did do a test boot to make sure the USB drive would work. when I got to the keyboard screen, I thought I was free and clear. I didn’t go any further. Now I see that I should have. Any suggestions? Thank you.
Whoo hoo!
Is there a way to verify the copy on the thumb drive? Also, how often should you make this backup?
Don't know of a verification method. Typically once is fine, or when you take major updates to Windows.
Thank you: Questions, does the drive have to be formatted a certain way & why would someone else take more than twice the time to explain this differently but essentially the same result?
I believe Windows will format it if needed.
Doesn't work for me. I have Windows 11 Pro on a Dell Inspirion. It's not recognizing my thumb drive. Used same thumb drive on my girlfriend's Dell Inspirion and it does recognize that same thumb drive. After researching, other people have this problem. It's a mystery to me. The thumb drive works for all other purposes and tried several different thumb drives with the same result of non-recognition but only for the task of creating a recovery drive. Very strange
Also once I have the recovery drive. can it be used on different models of computers with different Windows 10? If my plan is just to repair to install?
It should, yes.
I did a system image backup using the backup and restore (windows 7) we find in control panel to an external drive having windows 23H2, afterwards I updated to 24H2. If I search for the system image I saved externally and did a back up, would it come back to 23H2? Also if I save my current system that has 24H2 update, will it save and overwrite the 23H2? Thank you.
A restore would return your machine to the state it was in when the backup was created, so 23H2. A second backup should be stored alongside if there's room on the external disk.
@@askleonotenboom Thank you for your kind reply. So I did save a system image backup up using that built in system. So I can save multiple system images on one external drive? Seems like every-time I try it overwrites the one already there. I open the external disk and I only see one back up. I just assume any future system images would be saved and over-write the one there.
@@ASEmastermechanic It should not overwrite, but I also don;'t know how you're checking to see what's there.
What must be the storage capacity of the recovery drive? Your example here uses a 16 GB drive. Will this size be enough for everybody?
Yes. For current versions of Windows anyway. :-)
@@askleonotenboom I was just told by Win Laptop it has to be 32GB. Perhaps I shouldn't have clicked "include system files"?
Hi Leo, great video! Will you please help me? I am having a major issue with this. I have a 64 GB thumb drive to use, but when I selected to "create a recovery drive", I got a pop up message that said that I can not create one on my PC! I have a brand new HP desktop Omen with Windows 11 on it. Will you please make a video to show us what to do with this error message? I saw someone else make a video to fix this error message by using the C prompt, but I would rather hear what you have to say please as I can tell you an expert! Thank you so much! ~ Tonya in WV
This TH-camr mentioned going to the control panel to do this and I am not getting an error message that way. What do you recommend? Thank you so much!
I've not heard of that error message. Please submit a question over at askleo.com/ask, and after the auto-response you'll be able to include a screen shot in your response.
when it starts i get a message saying insert disk then it starts to create recovery disk - is this ok ?
How is this different from windows installation drive?
I have the same question. Why use the recovery drive facility? Why not completely re-install Windows from scratch?
I just needed to rebuild my EFI partition
why on a simple error should to reinstall the OS
yeh but how do u use it to repair or restore your machine back to how it was
Thanks i watched too late, recently i bought desktop pc or laptop they come with window recovery drive already installed on hard drive. i just bought gaming pc and i didn't aware of recovery drive. Yesterday my pc went on blue screen and asking me USB or CD room software to system repair or recovery that i don't have. They sell over $2000 pc with no recovery software that's a shame, i have to send back to store for repair. Thanks for the video, once they fixed i will do the recovery USB drive 👍
Say harddrive eats it and you dont need to reinstall but rather fresh install. How is license handled with a recovery drive restoring th pc's OS on a new drive so that I dont have to buy another windows license?
Windows 10 and 11 are activated based on hardware characteristics. If you reinstall it should automatically realize that it had been activated before. (Even if you change out the hard drive.)
And for those whose computers will not boot from a USB drive??? Does this work straight on to a CD drive???
Yes
you must change boot priority in bios. make usb boot 1st instead of hdd
Does it also backup drivers ?
If "Back up system files to the recovery drive” is checked it should. But remember, this is not a BACKUP. This is a recovery drive. It's not backing up what's on your hard disk, it's creating something you can boot from to recover/repair an existing installation.
I get a message saying the USB has to be at least 32GB
I have a dvd