Windows Has A Secret Recovery Tool - Here's How To Find It And Use It

Trending 6 hours ago
Windows Recovery Drive
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET

We've astir apt each bumped into boot-up problems erstwhile Windows fails to load properly. That's erstwhile a betterment thrust tin travel successful handy. But really galore of america return nan clip to group 1 up? Well, Windows itself offers a betterment characteristic that you whitethorn not moreover recognize exists.

Known simply arsenic Recovery Drive, this bequest instrumentality lets you create a betterment situation to shop connected an outer USB drive. If Windows ever has problem launching, you'll beryllium capable to footwear up your PC pinch nan betterment media. The instrumentality useful nan aforesaid successful some Windows 10 and 11.

Also: Why you request a information backup scheme for your Mac aliases PC - earlier disaster strikes

There are a mates of conditions to support successful mind. Using Recovery Drive resets Windows backmost to its first mill state. Specifically, nan betterment stores each built-in Windows files, immoderate updates installed astatine nan clip you group up nan drive, and immoderate customizations from nan PC maker. Your ain customizations, your individual files, and immoderate apps you've installed are not included, truthful you'll want to beryllium judge you person abstracted backups of those items. I urge Ed Bott's step-by-step guideline to protecting yourself from data-related catastrophes.

The Recovery Drive is akin to nan Reset action successful Windows. The quality present is that Reset tin clasp your individual files. However, you person to tally Reset from wrong Windows, whereas nan Recovery Drive tin thrust to nan rescue if Windows isn't inaccessible.

However, since nan Recovery Drive removes your individual files and apps, you'll want to usage it arsenic a last-ditch effort if you can't entree Windows done immoderate different means. Here's really it works.

To get started pinch Recovery Drive, link an outer USB instrumentality aliases thrust to your PC. Make judge nan thrust has astatine slightest 32GB of free space. I person a fewer outer drives and respective USB sticks that I usage crossed my PCs, astir of which supply ample abstraction to shop a afloat Windows betterment environment.

Show more

Connect nan USB drive
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET

In Windows 10 aliases 11, commencement typing Recovery Drive successful nan hunt section aliases model and prime Recovery Drive from nan hunt results.

Show more

Open Recovery Drive
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET

Also: Got a caller PC? 5 apps to instal first (and really they'll amended your workflow)

At nan adjacent screen, cheque nan container for "Back up strategy files to nan betterment drive." Click Next.

Show more

Back up strategy files
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET

At nan adjacent screen, make judge nan correct outer thrust aliases instrumentality is selected and past click Next.

Show more

Choose nan USB drive
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET

Also: Your Windows 11 PC has a concealed emergency shutdown characteristic - here's really to usage it

The adjacent surface reminds you that everything connected nan outer thrust will beryllium deleted. Click Create to proceed. Now, measurement distant for a agelong break aliases segue to different task arsenic nan process will return immoderate time. After nan agelong wait, you'll beryllium told that nan betterment thrust is ready. Click Finish.

Show more

Confirm your settings
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET

Now let's recreation into nan early astatine a clip erstwhile Windows is exhibiting footwear up problems and refuses to load properly. You person nary different intends of booting up aliases accessing nan operating system. Then you retrieve your trusty betterment drive. Connect nan USB thrust aliases instrumentality to your PC. Power up aliases reboot your machine and property nan due cardinal for your exemplary to load nan footwear menu. From there, prime your outer thrust to footwear disconnected that device.

Show more

Boot up pinch nan betterment drive
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET

Also: A decade of Windows 10: Chaos, Cortana, and conspiracy theories that ne'er panned out

After nan betterment thrust boots up your PC, you'll beryllium asked to take your keyboard type. The adjacent surface past offers you a fewer choices, specified arsenic recovering from a drive, utilizing a device, aliases troubleshooting a problem. Select nan action to retrieve from a drive. This will reinstall Windows from nan betterment situation but region your individual files and apps.

Show more

Choose nan betterment option
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET

The adjacent surface asks if you want to region files aliases afloat cleanable nan drive. Choose nan first action to conscionable region your files.

Show more

Recover from a drive
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET

Also: The champion outer difficult drives: Expert tested

The last surface present explains what will hap erstwhile nan betterment situation is applied. Make judge you're OK pinch nan process and past click Recover. Your PC goes into betterment mode utilizing nan thrust to reinstall Windows.

Show more

Kick disconnected nan recovery
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET

After your betterment situation is applied, you'll beryllium taken to nan accustomed Windows setup screens. Go done each surface until you complete nan process. After that's done, you'll beryllium deposited astatine your recovered Windows situation wherever you tin chemoreceptor astir to make judge everything is moving arsenic expected. If so, you'll past person to reconstruct your individual files and reinstall immoderate apps you need.

Show more

Set up and motorboat Windows
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET

Get nan morning's apical stories successful your inbox each time pinch our Tech Today newsletter.

Editorial standards
More