1. Boot Manager; 2. Flash Drive as OS backup

[BIC2]

New Dell desktop came with 1TB HDD. Added SanDisk 240GB SSD; cloned 48GB OS over OK. Boots to new SSD with HDD disconnected.

1. With both drives connected, in BIOS Boot Sequence, top line, Windows Boot Manager, is checked. Second Line, UEFI HDD, is also checked. There are no options or recognition of the SSD. I un-checked the HDD. Booted to Windows, "This PC", shows the SSD as "C" and the HDD as "E." All seems OK and ready for me to reformat the HDD as a data only drive but just want confirmation of the choices (and what they mean) in Boot Manager.

2. As my backup, I also cloned the OS over to a new PNY 64GB Turbo USB 3.0 Flash Drive (which took 2 hours 38 minutes compared to 7 minutes to the SSD). I disconnected both internal hard drives and tried to boot from the flash drive. Get an error: INACCESSABLE_BOOT_DEVICE. How do I use the flash drive as my backup clone OS? Thanks.

 

[Ironsounds]

Hello... 2) Windows OS will not be USB bootable or used as a portable OS.

 

[BIC2]

Hello... 2) Windows OS will not be USB bootable or used as a portable OS.

Can it still be used as a system backup by copying the flash drive to the SSD if I need to re-install the OS? If so, how do verify it's a good backup? Should I go back to making restore DVDs from Dell Backup & Restore? What's the best option for restoring the OS if needed (before I reformat the original HDD and wipe out the only existing backup). Thanks.

 

[Ironsounds]

Hello... Yes any type of media can be used for "Backup DATA"... Typically a Professional would have a spare "Cloned" OS drive ready to plugin... A "Backup" and "Clone" are two different things... and "Backup programs" typically will have a procedure for it's maintenance, updating, use and "re-install" through a software/OS APP... a Clone drive will be a exact copy and work immediately.

If you feel you need to test your "Backup program" and procedure... You will need to get a test HD and determine the "Restore" procedure for the software you used... there are a lot of "backup" programs out there, people have strong views between them... and it is typically when it comes to the "restore" procedure and results.

 

[BIC2]

Hello... Yes any type of media can be used for "Backup DATA"... Typically a Professional would have a spare "Cloned" OS drive ready to plugin... A "backup" and "Clone" are two different things... and "Backup programs" typically will have a procedure for it's maintenance , use and "re-install" through a software/OS APP... a Clone drive will be a exact copy and work immediately.

If you feel you need to test your "Backup program" and procedure... You will need to get a test HD and determine the "restore" procedure for the software you used... there are a lot of "backup" programs out there, some people strong views between them.

2. Sorry for not being clear. I am all set with regularly backing up data to external hard drives. In the past, I have always created system restore DVDs as recommended by the PC manufacturer. With large flash drives now inexpensive and free cloning software widely available, I was thinking this would be an easier way to go. So, I cloned 48GB off the new PC to the flash drive. I understand now it is not bootable. Nonetheless, is the clone image on the flash drive my best recovery option and/or should I use the Windows and/or Dell Backup & Restore to create the media. There is no Dell recovery partition. I have another HP laptop with a recovery partition of about 12GB. Can I/should I clone this partition to a 16GB flash drive? Thanks.

 

[Ironsounds]

Hello... a USB drive will never be a "CLONE Drive" it will still need to be re-loaded or installed to a HD/SSD, with some Software...
1) a DELL "recovery" will be just LIKE new from the store... No Data, work or programs you installed later.
2) "Clone" "backup" and "recovery" are not the same things...
3) I feel you need to understand these TERMs and what is best for you... And the procedure/Time needed to use these different methods.
4) If your using a DELL computer then the most important backup would be the MB drivers... they use non-name brand Chinese chips in them. The HP recovery will not have "DELL" ID or Recovery hardware data/drivers that are needed to Run on the DELL machine.

What was your procedure and software used to "CLONE" a recovery partition of about 12GB?

It is Typical for people to not follow the "Make Backup and Recovery" before using the computer "NOTICE"... AND then they ALSO delete the Partition later... You can order Pre-made, replacements, from DELL, for your computer... but this will be "Recovery"... OS and Drivers... As NEW.

I prefer the Spare HD/SSD "Clone" because USB/DVD is the slowest speed medium, for this purpose.

 

[BIC2]

Hello... a USB drive will never be a "CLONE Drive" it will still need to be re-loaded or installed to a HD/SSD, with some Software...
1) a DELL "recovery" will be just be LIKE new from the store... No Data, work or programs you installed later.
2) "Clone" "backup" and "recovery" are not the same things...
3) I feel you need to understand these TERMs and what is best for you... And the procedure/Time needed to use these different methods.
4) If your using a DELL computer then the most important backup would be the MB drivers... they use non-name brand Chinese chips in them.

What was your procedure and software used to "CLONE" a recovery partition of about 12GB?

Yes, I understand now I cannot use a USB drive as a clone, per se. I just want to be able to use the USB drive clone to copy the image back to an internal HDD or SSD if need be, either following a HD or Windows crash.

I guess what I am looking for is "recovery." So, can I use the image cloned to the flash drive as recovery media that I can copy back to an internal hard drive? Is this better/same/worse than creating recovery media via Dell/Windows?

Re the 12GB recovery partition on the HP. I have not created any recovery media yet. I was thinking about cloning that partition--if it's possible to just clone a partition, I don't know. Otherwise I can use the HP/Windows recovery creation tools. Thanks.

 

[Ironsounds]

Hello... If you just want "Recovery" Media, OS and drivers... and you deleted your "recovery partition" just order a official Dell DVD/CD set from them... $10? and put them in a safe Place.

The term your describing is making a "DISK IMAGE"... I am not a "backup" APP master... Typically my customers come in without anything for their HP, ACER, DELL... and my experience is getting "Recovery" done on them... OS, drivers and internet... I can install Windows OS in about 30 mins... if their KEY/sticker is still there or Good.

I just use identical "clone" HD/SSD for my personal computing needs... USB and DVD's are way too slow for "backup" and "Image"... at a professional level... downtime is a lot of $$$ for some customers.