can you test a usb recovery drive?

[vi2016]

Just made a usb recovery drive for ASUS computer with windows 10 - is there a way to make sure it works - without resetting the computer that is.... ; )

 

[popatim]

Back up the computer first and this wont ever be a worry. Neither will losing all your data (photos, videos, documents...) when the harddrive dies since you will make regular backups.

 

[photonboy]

I don't know that you can test the recovery disc/USB, but as said backing up is the way to go.

Something like ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE.

I have mine automated to backup once per week, Incremental method, and it deletes older backups so I never worry about it. If you don't have an internal drive you can set Acronis TI to backup once it detects you attaching a USB hard drive (if it missed its backup date).

Other:
I also use SyncbackSE Free for specific folders. That's on a daily basis.

Other:
I setup a WDMYCLOUD for my house and my sisters house. It's an external HDD that attaches to your ROUTER so can be accessed by all local computers and devices. I backup to it from the laptop, and also use it to store videos and play those via a media box attached to the HDTV.

 

[vi2016]

thanks for the answers - but supposedly the recovery drive helps you trouble shoot
so saving data is good - but what if you can't boot up the system - and need to repair it?

 

[Colif]

thanks for the answers - but supposedly the recovery drive helps you trouble shoot
so saving data is good - but what if you can't boot up the system - and need to repair it?

Another good recovery USB to have is a windows 10 Install USB

Download this and it helps you make one: win 10 media creation tool

And like one you have, it can help you boot pc even if windows refuses to.

 

[vi2016]

thanks - can that be used for a pre-built system?

 

[vi2016]

well I was given this info so I will pass it along....
in windows 10 if you load the drive and then look in "Disk Manager" you can see if it is properly formatted Fat 32 and that it is "healthy"...
that is about all I could find on the net that I would do

- someone said just stick the drive in when the computer is off then turn on the computer and press escape - if you see the usb drive as an option it is OK - I couldn't find anywhere else where "escape" was a button to press to check the usb so I didn't do it

 

[Colif]

the win 10 installer can be used on any system unless its running Win 10 enterprise and maybe educational. Its probably the same thing as the Asus recovery disc except it lacks the drivers that would be on the Asus usb.

No way to verify the USB works really

omeone said just stick the drive in when the computer is off then turn on the computer and press escape - if you see the usb drive as an option it is OK - I couldn't find anywhere else where "escape" was a button to press to check the usb so I didn't do it

This is telling you to enter the BIOS and look to see if the USB appears in the boot list. Unfortunately your pc may not use escape to let you in, some use Delete. And going into BIOS without knowing your way around could be dangerous if you changed something you weren't sure about and then saved it on exit.