In the past, personal computers would come with a CD/DVD disc containing an image of the system. If the operating system encountered issues, users could readily restore it to its original factory settings. However, manufacturers have begun streamlining the process of restoring Windows. Nowadays, they store the system image on a hidden partition of the primary drive or provide a Windows recovery USB drive. Apart from facilitating the reinstallation of Windows, these tools also include various troubleshooting utilities for emergency situations, particularly when the system fails to boot.
In Windows 10, for instance, there are several Windows recovery tools (options) that address different OS issues.
Windows Recovery Tools (Options) | Solves What Kind of Problems |
---|---|
Reset your PC | Your PC is not functioning properly and it has been some time since you installed an application, driver, or update. |
Windows recovery drive | Your PC fails to start and you have created a recovery drive. |
Windows installation media | Your PC does not boot up, you have not created a recovery drive, and resetting your PC was unsuccessful. |
A Windows 10 recovery tool is utilized to create a Windows 10 recovery USB or CD/DVD disc. It's recommended to make a Windows 10 recovery drive before your computer fails. Both Microsoft and independent software developers offer reliable recovery tools. Here, we have selected two of the best Windows recovery tools based on their efficiency and user-friendliness. One is the built-in Windows 10 tool, and the other is tools Todo Backup, a reputable third-party backup and recovery software.
Pros of Todo Backup tools:
Next, you'll learn how to create a Windows 10 recovery USB using both the built-in tool and third-party software. Each method can address an unbootable Windows OS issue and restore your operating system to a functioning state.
#1. To create a Windows 10 recovery drive, follow these steps:
Step 1. Insert the USB drive into your computer. In the Windows 10 Control Panel, click "Recovery."
Step 2. You'll arrive at the Advanced recovery tools section. Choose "Create a recovery drive".
Step 3. If you want to use the drive to reinstall Windows or restore a previous version, check the box for "Back up system files to the recovery drive." Click "Next."
Step 4. Wait until the wizard is ready to copy files to your flash drive.
Step 5. Choose your USB flash drive as the recovery drive and click Next.
Step 6. Acknowledge the warning message that states "everything on the drive will be deleted. If you have any personal files on this drive, make sure you've backed up the files," and then click "Create."
Step 7. When the final message "The recovery drive is ready" appears, click "Finish".
To Recover Windows 10 Using the Windows 10 Recovery Drive: 1. Connect the USB recovery drive to your computer. 2. Restart your PC while holding down the appropriate key (usually F2, F10, F12, or Esc) to enter the Boot Menu. 3. Select the USB drive from the boot options and press Enter. 4. Wait for the Windows Recovery Environment to load. 5. Choose your preferred language, time, and keyboard settings, then click "Next." 6. Click on "Troubleshoot" in the Recovery Options. 7. Select "Advanced options" and then click on "System Restore." 8. Follow the on-screen instructions to choose a restore point. Make sure to select a point where you know your system was working correctly. 9. Review the apps and settings that will be affected by the restoration and click "Next." 10. Confirm the action by clicking "Finish." The system restore process will begin. 11. Wait for the process to complete, which may take some time. 12. Once done, your computer will automatically restart with the restored settings. 13. Remove the recovery drive and continue using your Windows 10 system as usual. Remember that a system restore will not affect your personal files, but it will remove recently installed updates, drivers, and applications.
Step 1. Connect the recovery drive to your PC and turn it on.
Step 2. Select "Troubleshoot" and choose a recovery option.
#2. To create a Windows 10 installation media recovery tool, follow these steps: 1. Visit the official Microsoft website and go to the Windows 10 download page: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10. 2. Click on the "Create Windows 10 installation media" option under the "Download Windows 10" section. 3. You will be directed to the "Microsoft Software Download Windows 10" page. Here, choose the "Download tool now" button to download the Media Creation Tool. 4. Once the download is complete, run the MediaCreationTool.exe file to launch the tool. 5. Accept the terms of the license agreement and click "Next." 6. Choose the option "Create installation media for another PC" and then click "Next." 7. Select the preferred language, edition (usually Windows 10 Home or Pro), and architecture (32-bit or 64-bit) for the installation media. Click "Next" again. 8. Choose the USB flash drive option, ensuring that the drive you select is empty as it will be formatted during the process. Connect the USB drive to your computer and click "Next." 9. The tool will now begin downloading the necessary files and create the installation media on the USB drive. This process may take some time depending on your internet speed and the size of the files. 10. Once the process is complete, safely remove the USB drive from your computer and use it to boot into the recovery environment when needed. Remember that this media can also be used to perform a clean installation of Windows 10 on a different computer if required.
Step 1. On a functioning computer, visit the Microsoft software download website.
Step 2. Download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool, and then run it.
Step 3. Choose Create installation media for another PC.
Step 4. Choose a language, edition, and architecture (64-bit or 32-bit).
Step 5. Follow the steps to create the installation media, and then select Finish.
To utilize Todo Backup to create a Windows 10 recovery drive for the purpose of restoring from an OS crash or corruption, you will first need to download the Windows backup software on a functioning computer. Next, follow this step-by-step guide to create a bootable USB drive. Make sure to also create a Windows 10 system backup image for future recovery to a functional restore point.
In a nutshell, the standard process for creating a third-party Windows 10 recovery drive involves:
To create a Windows 10 recovery USB using the tool Todo Backup:
Step 1. Prepare a USB drive that can be written to and read from.
Step 2. Launch and install Todo Backup on Computer B.
Step 3. Locate and click on "Tools" and select "Create Emergency Disk".
Step 4. Select the Boot Disk location. You can choose to create an ISO file, a bootable USB, or a CD/DVD disc.
Step 5. Click "Create" to begin.
Now you've created your own Todo Backup Bootable USB Recovery Disk. Return to the main window of Todo Backup. You'll need to create a backup image based on your needs, such as System Backup, File Backup, and so on.
To create a Windows 10 system image: 1. Press the Windows key + I to open Settings. 2. Click on Update & Security. 3. In the left pane, select Backup. 4. At the bottom, click on the More options link. 5. Scroll down and click on the Create a system image link. 6. In the System Image Backup window, choose where you want to save the image. You can opt for an external hard drive, a network location, or DVDs (if your computer has a DVD drive). 7. If you selected a network location, enter the credentials if prompted. 8. Click Next. 9. Choose which drives you want to include in the backup. It's recommended to select the main system drive (usually C:). 10. Click Next again. 11. Review your settings, then click Start backup. 12. Wait for the process to complete. This may take some time depending on the size of your system and the speed of your storage device. 13. Once finished, you'll see a message confirming the completion of the backup. Click Close. Now you have a system image of your Windows 10 installation, which can be used for restoring your system in case of a major issue.
Step 1. On the main page, click "Select backup contents".
Step 2. Click on the OS category among the four options available.
Step 3. Todo Backup will automatically select your system partition. You just need to choose a backup destination.
Step 4. You can save the backup file to either your Local Drive or NAS.
Step 5. Once the backup process is done, you can check the backup status, recover, open, or delete the backup by right-clicking the backup task on the left panel.
To recover Windows 10 using the recovery drive: 1. Connect the USB recovery drive to your computer. 2. Restart your PC while it's turned on, and press the appropriate key (usually F2, F10, F12, or Esc) to enter the Boot Menu. The key may vary depending on your computer manufacturer. 3. In the Boot Menu, select the USB drive as the boot device. 4. Your computer will start from the recovery drive, and you'll see the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). 5. Choose your language, time, and keyboard preferences, then click "Next." 6. Click on "Troubleshoot" to access advanced recovery options. 7. From the troubleshoot screen, select "Advanced options." 8. Choose "System Restore" to revert your system to a previous point, "Reset this PC" to reinstall Windows while keeping your files or removing everything, or "Startup Repair" to fix startup issues. 9. Follow the on-screen instructions for the chosen option to complete the recovery process. 10. Once the recovery is finished, remove the USB drive and restart your computer. It should now start with the recovered version of Windows 10.
Step 1. Connect the recovery drive and keep tapping "F2" while turning on your PC. Choose to boot from the Todo Backup tool.
Step 2. After accessing Todo Backup, choose your system image or other backup images and click "Recover".
Windows recovery tools are invaluable, and occasionally indispensable, when your operating system encounters issues, causing crashes, freezes, or trapping you in the notorious black screen of death or blue screen of death. Given that Windows 10 now dominates the market share, it's wise to understand how to leverage the built-in Windows 10 recovery tools or utilize third-party utilities to create a secure recovery USB drive/disk.
Additionally, there are some other common questions that might pique your interest. Keep reading to find the answers.
< strong > 1. Can I download a Windows 10 recovery disk? < /strong >
Yes, you can download a Windows 10 recovery disk. Microsoft provides a tool called the Media Creation Tool, which allows you to create a Windows 10 installation media on a USB drive or a DVD. This can be used for recovery purposes if your system encounters issues or needs to be reinstalled.
Here's how to download and create a Windows 10 recovery disk:
1. Visit the official Microsoft Download Center:
Visit the official download website (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10) where you can download the Windows Media Creation Tool on computers running Windows 10, 8.1, 8, or 7.
2. How do I use the Windows 10 recovery USB?
To utilize the recovery USB drive, simply switch your boot drive to the USB drive that is bootable.
3. Does Windows 10 have a repair tool? Yes, Windows 10 does come with several built-in repair tools to help diagnose and fix issues with your operating system. Some of these tools include: 1. **System File Checker (SFC)**: This utility scans for and repairs corrupted system files. 2. **DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management)**: It helps in repairing the Windows image. 3. **Startup Repair**: A tool that automatically fixes startup issues. 4. **Windows Update Troubleshooter**: Helps identify and resolve problems with Windows Updates. 5. **Event Viewer**: Allows you to view and analyze system events and logs to troubleshoot issues. 6. **System Restore**: Enables you to revert your system to a previous working state. 7. **Safe Mode**: A diagnostic mode that starts Windows with minimal processes and drivers to identify and fix problems. 8. **Reset or Refresh your PC**: These options allow you to reset Windows to its default settings, either keeping your personal files or starting completely fresh. These tools can be accessed through various methods, such as the Settings app, Command Prompt, or by using the Recovery Options available during boot-up.
Windows 10 employs troubleshooters as a general repair tool to assist in resolving issues with your PC. To run a Windows 10 repair troubleshooter, follow these steps: Click on Start, then navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot.