Question What Is the best way to make Rescue/Restore Media for a new laptop ?

[janebeth]

I got a new Lenovo Legion 5 with Windows 11 Home. I want to make external rescue and restore media BEFORE any connection to the internet or any change. I want to be able to restore the computer to its initial state right out of the box. What is the best way to do this?

After I set-up the laptop I want to make another restore or system image at that point.
What is the best restore/system image software? Using a different computer, can I load your recommended software onto a USB drive and insert it in the USB drive in my new Lenovo so that I do NOT need to connect my new Lenovo to the internet?

I am not familiar with Windows 11. I was using Windows 7 on my older computer.

 

[USAFRet]

I got a new Lenovo Legion5 with Windows 11 Home. I want to make external rescue and restore media BEFORE any connection to the internet or any change. I want to be able to restore the computer to its initial state right out of the box. What is the best way to do this?

After I set-up the computer I want to make another restore or system image at that point.
What is the best restore/system image software? Using a different computer, can I load your recommended software onto a USB drive and insert it in the USB drive in my new Lenovo so that I do NOT need to connect my new Lenovo to the internet?
I am not familiar with Windows 11. I was using Windows 7 on my older computer.

There should be (I think it is required by MS licensing) a function within Lenovo to create a backup of the original installation.
The 'how' will be listed in the user manual.

After that...
I use Macrium Reflect for this, and create full drive Images.

Day 1 Image - After activation and the initial load of OS updates
Day 2 Image - After my basic load of applications are installed.

After that, an ongoing series of full drive images, and/or Incrementals.

 

[janebeth]

Hello USAF Retired,

Do I have to activate Windows 11 Home before I can run any software to make a system image or rescue/restore media? Or alternatively can I load Macrium Reflect onto a USB Drive (using a different computer) and then insert that USB drive into the new Lenovo to make a system image prior to activating Windows on the new Lenovo?

My goal is to make a copy of the new computer in its current pristine state BEFORE any changes whatsoever have been made.
Can I get a pristine system image after I activate Windows 11 Home by copying the Lenovo restore partition unto an external media like a USB drive?

 

[ubuysa]

Lenovo laptops typically come with a hidden partition that allows for a 'factory reset'. This will restore your laptop to exactly that state it was in when you bought it.

 

[USAFRet]

Hello USAF Retired,

Do I have to activate Windows 11 Home before I can run any software to make a system image or rescue/restore media? Or alternatively can I load Macrium Reflect onto a USB Drive (using a different computer) and then insert that USB drive into the new Lenovo to make a system image prior to activating Windows on the new Lenovo?

My goal is to make a copy of the new computer in its current pristine state BEFORE any changes whatsoever have been made.
Can I get a pristine system image after I activate Windows 11 Home by copying the Lenovo restore partition unto an external media like a USB drive?

It makes no difference, activated or not.
The Lenovo factory reset partition function, if used, will return it to the exact same out of the box, unactivated state.

And you don't 'copy' that partition. You run it however Lenovo says, and it will create the needed stuff on a flash drive.

 

[janebeth]

Hi USAF Retired,

So before activating Windows 11, I can insert a USB drive containing Macrium Reflect into the new Lenovo and make an image of the Lenovo?

 

[USAFRet]

Hi USAF Retired,

So before activating Windows 11, I can insert a USB drive containing Macrium Reflect into the new Lenovo and make an image of the Lenovo?

Yes.
Booting from that Macrium USB does not need activation on the new system.

But also, you DO want to utilize the Lenovo function, and create whatever it wants.
That is a true "factory reset".

 

[janebeth]

Hi USAF Retired,

I see that Macrium Reflect is upgrading to Macrium Reflect X, so I plan to buy and install that.

Which External Hard Drive do you find to be most reliable, dependable and long lasting? Should I get a 2TB external drive since the new Lenovo has a 1TB internal drive?

Thanks for all your wisdom! Janebeth

 

[USAFRet]

Which External Hard Drive do you find to be most reliable, dependable and long lasting? Should I get a 2TB external drive since the new Lenovo has a 1TB internal drive?

On the single drive on your desk, there really isn't a lot of difference between the major brands.