Compatibility Mode lock-up

Just curious. Not long ago I tried loading a Photoshop Elements WIN10 disk program into our WIN11 computer using the compatibility mode, which resulted in a BSOD with the computer locking itself into a self-repair loop which it couldn’t get out of, which in turn resulted in my paying good money having the PC diagnosed, then wiping it clean with a fresh install of WIN11 including data backed up. Our computer is almost a year out of warranty. I didn’t save any images nor run a V2 log as at the time I knew nothing of it.

Also, I didn’t find the following website at that time, so I never attempted starting it in safe mode:

How to fix windows 11 automatic repair - Microsoft Q&A

My question to the tech who diagnosed and reinstalled WIN11 was, "Why did WIN11 lock up?" He couldn’t answer specifically other than to say there may have been something previously corrupted in WIN11 causing this. I’m wondering if there isn’t something wrong with WIN11 compatibility mode itself, therefore my question:

Is this a common occurrence using WIN11 compatibility mode? Have others experienced this?

I’m asking because I don’t dare try to load the old Photoshop Elements program again without more information. My only other option is to consider purchasing a new PSE program for photo editing and Adobe licenses it for 3 years now which really burns me.

If you make backup images you can restore an image.

Having the ability to restore images enables the computer to perform trial and error steps.



Consider making a free backup image.
Save the backup image to another disk drive or to the cloud.

If there is malware, ransomware, registry or operating system corruption, failure to boot, BSODs, drive failure, etc. you then have the option to restore an image.

(Acronis, Aoemi, EaseUS, Hasleo, Macrium, Paragon, etc.)



Macrium is widely used in Ten Forums.

Macrium Software | Your Image is Everything


Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect

zbook,

Thank you for your prompt response. I know nothing about restoring images. Is restoring an image the same thing as restoring an operating system, WIN11 in this case, and/or the computer data included?

What is the difference between backing up images as you describe and using something like a WD EasyStore remote drive? Aren't these separate methods to accomplish the same thing? Further, if the computer is locked in a self-repair loop, as happened to us, how could we access the image software?

We do have an older internal HDD in a case which I think we could use, or could we just use a large USB drive?

Some computers come with an extra partition for a factory reset.

If a factory reset were to be performed it restores the image to that moment in time.



Using third party software you can create images that include your files.

At a later time an image can be restored to that moment in time.



Depending upon the importance of the data images can be saved to both an external drive and / or the cloud.

Having both improves protection for acts of mother nature (fire, flood, etc.)

Our computer didn’t come with an extra partition for a factory reset as far as I know, and at this time we are not using any cloud-based services for data/file storage.

Just so I understand correctly. Creating an image is basically taking a snapshot of the computer (the WIN11 OS along with other stored programs) at a given moment in time, either to include files or not, which can be fully restored in the event of a problem, correct?

Is there any difference between a factory reset or using a program like Macrium to restore an image?

In the example of our computer freezing in a self-repair loop, had we used Macrium, how could we have initiated a restoration of the image since we couldn’t even get out of the self-repair loop? Same question goes for using a factory reset.

Finally, is there any inherent risk associated with trying to load older WIN10 software into a WIN11 computer using compatibility mode?

Batuche said:

Is there any difference between a factory reset or using a program like Macrium to restore an image?

Click to expand...

Yes, a factory image puts the computer in the state it was in when you took it out of the box.
A Macrium(or other 3rd party app) image puts the system in the state it was in when you created the image, preserving the OS and all files, applications and settings.

Batuche said:

how could we have initiated a restoration of the image since we couldn’t even get out of the self-repair loop? Same question goes for using a factory reset.

Click to expand...

You could have gotten out of the self repair loop by booting into a Macrium rescue disk which you make when you install Macrium and recover the image you made.

As far as recovering a factory image to out of box state, you also could have booted from a recovery usb created using the recovery drive utility and booted from it.
This is directly from Powerspec guide, I'm calling it a guide loosely. It's only 2 pages.

A computer running Windows 11 can clean install Windows 10.

The licensing information is stored in Microsoft servers.


Third party software can be used to create images at any moment manually.

Or third party software can be used to create automatic backup images.


Computer users can then decide which backup image they want to restore.

If there is unlimited storage then you could make images every month, week, day or hour.


If there is a power outage and the drive fails you could choose any of the backup images to restore onto the new drive.

At anytime you want a larger drive an image could be restored onto a larger drive.


If you purchase a brand new laptop that has never been connected to the internet a backup image can be made and this will be extremely close to a backup image with its preinstalled operating system, drivers, and applications.

If the computer "freezes in a self-repair loop" then you could:
a) attempt to troubleshoot by preventing the loop without macrium by booting to Windows RE and running a command
b) not troubleshoot then clean install then restore only C:
c) not troubleshoot then format the drive then restore any of the backup images
d) if its a likely boot problem and not an operating system or registry problem then attempt a macrium boot repair

Many thanks glasskuter and zbook for your prompt replies. I'm out and about (holiday and other stuff) so haven't fully digested all your info, but it looks like you covered everything. Looks like Macrium is the solution.