Solved Creating and Using Rescue Media, Both Windows and MR

In March I replaced a dead desktop running Win 7 with a Dell laptop running Win 11. Immediately purchased a 32 GB USB key and created Windows rescue media that now loads up with a volume name of ESD-USB. Before I got any further along with using the laptop and establishing backup routines, the laptop started acting wonky. Fast forward a month and the laptop went back, I built a new desktop with a purchased Win 10 license that just yesterday I upgraded to Win 11. That all sounds like I might know what I'm doing, but really I don't! (If I knew what I was doing, I probably would have been successful using previous rescue media to rescue my dead Win 7 desktop.)

Is that 32 GB key created on OEM version of Win 11 of any use to me or should I go ahead and create new?

Once I have Windows rescue media, can I use the same USB key to create Macrium Reflect rescue media?

Is there any kind of recommended best practices post for how to handle rescue media and backup protocols? So far the only tutorial I've discovered points back to TenForums and was written in 2016.

Thanks in advance for any and all helpful advice!

As It's no trouble, make a new one
I use Macrium Reflect as well. I always redo the usb's when an update of the program is released or on windows every 6 months. I am sure a lot will disagree with that but it works for me

I see no problems with oldish WIn 11 rescue media, since you can always create new one. Assuming you have access to a working system

For MR, it's recommended to refresh (make new) media with every update. But I have successfully restored image with a couple of years MR rescue media.

I have also MR in boot menu (on the current disk) for everyday use, but this won't help in the case of disk failure.

sspohl said:

Is that 32 GB key created on OEM version of Win 11 of any use to me or should I go ahead and create new?

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I do not know exactly what you made. I suggest that the best "rescue media" for Windows [10 & 11] is an installation USB made using the latest Windows Version ISO.
I always also keep the ISO file from which the installation USB was made. I update my ISO & installation USB when each new Windows Version is installed.
See Download Official Windows 11 ISO file from Microsoft - ElevenForumTutorials
See Create Windows 11 Bootable USB Installation Media - ElevenForumTutorials

sspohl said:

Once I have Windows rescue media, can I use the same USB key to create Macrium Reflect rescue media?

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You can make an installation USB or a Macrium boot USB on that original one but it will overwrite its previous contents.
There are apparently some utilities that allow multiple boot USBs. I've never used one but perhaps another contributor has? Such a facility should allow you to boot your Macrium boot USB or a Windows installation USB all from the same physical USB. I just find it simpler to have a bucket of USBs so I can update each one individually as its own software is updated.

sspohl said:

Is there any kind of recommended best practices post for how to handle rescue media and backup protocols? So far the only tutorial I've discovered points back to TenForums and was written in 2016.

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There is no single globally-accepted backup policy. There's nothing wrong with ones written in TenForums in 2016.
My own suggestions on the topic were posted in TenForums as well. They apply equally to Windows 11.
my ditty - File backup vs imaging, imaging utilities, backing up drivers [post #3] - TenForums

AndreTen said:

I have also MR in boot menu (on the current disk) for everyday use, but this won't help in the case of disk failure.

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I agree with Andre's comment. Nine times out of ten you'll restore a system image because Windows has been corrupted so having it as a boot option is very convenient.
You'll still want a Macrium boot USB in case your OS disk fails completely. This does happen.

Best of luck,
Denis

Thank you Denis, for your very helpful response. You've given me plenty to digest.

To clarify, I didn't mean to disparage information from 2016, just that what I was looking at was specifically using Macrium Reflect and I think it referenced version 6 and hadn't been updated to 8. I've found a wealth of useful on Seven/Ten/Eleven Forums, but sometimes it's a little overwhelming to wade through.

sspohl said:

what I was looking at was specifically using Macrium Reflect and I think it referenced version 6

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The Macrium tutorial in TenForums [see the links in my ditty] has been updated [19th May 2021] and is soon to be updated again to cover Macrium reflect version 8.
I've just skimmed through it again and I think that the only problem you'll find using the tutorial as it stands is that some of the diagrams look a bit different. The suggested procedures themselves remain valid.
- I installed Macrium Reflect last week [I'm not normally a Macrium Reflect user] and I was able to install it, make a boot USB, add a Macrium Reflect entry in a boot menu and make my first Macrium Reflect system image using the guidance in that tutorial.

You can always ask for Macrium Reflect help in this forum. At least one keen Macrium Reflect user is looking at this thread even as I type.

Best of luck,
Denis

sspohl said:

Thank you Denis, for your very helpful response. You've given me plenty to digest.

To clarify, I didn't mean to disparage information from 2016, just that what I was looking at was specifically using Macrium Reflect and I think it referenced version 6 and hadn't been updated to 8. I've found a wealth of useful on Seven/Ten/Eleven Forums, but sometimes it's a little overwhelming to wade through.

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For Reflect click that with usb plugged in and select your usb from the options

Try3 said:

I suggest that the best "rescue media" for Windows [10 & 11] is an installation USB made using the latest Windows Version ISO.
I always also keep the ISO file from which the installation USB was made. I update my ISO & installation USB when each new Windows Version is installed.
See Download Official Windows 11 ISO file from Microsoft - ElevenForumTutorials
See Create Windows 11 Bootable USB Installation Media - ElevenForumTutorials

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I don't think I understand ISO and rescue media entirely -- apparently I need them both? First I would download the Win 11 ISO, presumably to someplace on my primary drive? Then I use that ISO to create a bootable USB? Is that then a special purpose USB used for nothing else, i.e., I can't copy the ISO and the driver files to that (16GB) USB for one-stop safekeeping?

I'm already on Win 11, it was offered as an update after I purchased and installed Win 10. Did the update to Win 11 somehow already download an ISO to my machine that I'm not aware of?

Once I have the Win 11 ISO and bootable USB, they won't need to be updated until such time as I upgrade to Win 12?

Last question, is there a tutorial for how to quote only a portion of someone's response in your post?

1. An iso is a compressed file that contains the files needed to create the Rescue Media.

2. You can copy iso & drivers to usb for safe keeping.

3. You do not need to update rescue drives, but as Windows (or any 3rd party tool like Reflect) get updated, good idea to update Rescue Media. For Windows you should do this every major version change e.g. 21H2 to 22H1

4. Updates to W11 are automatically offered to pcs via its normal update system if pc qualifies.

If your looking for recovery options a backup image can be restored.

This is useful for:

corruption of the operating system
corruption of the registry
corruption of the component store
corruption of the drive file system
malware
ransomware
failure to boot
drive failure
etc.


A windows 11 iso is not needed.

It is belt and suspenders as one could fail and then you have the other.



For a Windows Media Creation Tool (MCT) (Windows 11 iso) use a flash drive > or = 8 GB.



Macrium has both the option to restore an image and a bootable rescue.



Where you save your backup images could be an additional issue depending on mother nature.

For fire, flood, hurricane, tornado, etc. it's best to save a backup image in the cloud or on a drive that is not in the same location as the computer.


There are other software companies that make free and pay backup images: Acronis, Aoemi, EaseUS, Paragon, etc.
(There were recent free licensed copies of pay versions available in TF and EF.)


For a Windows MCT it too depends on what it is needed for.
A Windows 7 or 8.1 or 10 iso can be used on Windows 11 to fix boot problems.
It however cannot fix operating system problems.
To fix operating system problem then you'll want to have available matching windows edition / version.

sspohl said:

I don't think I understand ISO and rescue media entirely

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The "rescue media", the InstallationUSB, is what matters. It allows you to repair your current Windows & to install it again.
I keep the ISO as well. I find it convenient. If I ever need to do a Repair install [see below], I can run that straight off the ISO file itself instead of the InstallUSB if I want to.
The InstallationUSB can also help with a host of other minor tasks since it has a Command prompt and most of the normal Windows commands [old "DOS" commands].

sspohl said:

apparently I need them both?

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No.

sspohl said:

First I would download the Win 11 ISO, presumably to someplace on my primary drive?

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Not necessarily. As the USB tutorial explains, the MCTool can be used to do the whole thing in one operation - ISO download & USB creation.
I choose to always download the ISO first then make the USB separately. Once you have made an InstallUSB once, you can update it very easily using the ISO without even disturbing the other files you've put on the USB for storage [as discussed below].

To update an InstallUSB using a new ISO file:-

sspohl said:

Is that then a special purpose USB used for nothing else, i.e., I can't copy the ISO and the driver files to that (16GB) USB for one-stop safekeeping?

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It is special purpose but you can copy other files to it for storage. I copy my drivers as well as the installation files for my major applications to mine.

sspohl said:

Did the update to Win 11 somehow already download an ISO to my machine that I'm not aware of?

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There isn't an ISO already sitting on your computer, if that's what you are asking.

sspohl said:

Once I have the Win 11 ISO and bootable USB, they won't need to be updated until such time as I upgrade to Win 12?

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I update my InstallationUSB at each new Windows Version.
For Windows 10, this was twice a year.
For Windows 11, it will be once a year.

An InstallationUSB is also a repair tool. It can be used for startup repairs [for which it need not be up to date] and for a very useful procedure called a Repair install or In-place upgrade [for which it needs to be up to date].
Startup Repair - TenForumsTutorials - There isn't yet an ElevenForumTutorial on this topic but it is the same procedure for both anyway.
Repair Install Windows 11 with an In-place Upgrade - ElevenForumTutorials - This is a repair procedure not an installation. Your applications & your own files are not affected.

By the way, a Windows installation disk is not the only thing that can be used for startup repairs. A Macrium reflect boot USB can also be. See Macrium Reflect Boot disk - Fix Boot Problems and, by now, you'll have made a Macrium reflect boot USB anyway.
- So you'll have two USBs sitting there not being used often - Windows installation USB, Macrium reflect boot USB.
- An experienced Macrium reflect user told me that its boot USB's startup repairs are much more comprehensive than those of the Windows installation USB.

sspohl said:

Last question, is there a tutorial for how to quote only a portion of someone's response in your post?

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Select the text you want, pause for a moment, click on Quote in the dialog that appears.
That's what I've been doing all through this post: selecting one bit of your post to quote, writing my response to you, moving on to the next bit.
I haven't really experimented with clicking on +Multi.


All the best,
Denis

Try3 said:

I haven't really experimented with clicking on +Multi.

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That allows you to select one or more quotes, which are then available to insert later by clicking the 'Insert Multi Quotes...' button in the editor.

Thank you all, and especially @Try3, for your patient attempts to educate me. I created a bootable USB and made sure I could boot from it, I copied the ISO to my desktop and did nothing with it, I made a reminder to update them both in a year. I feel like that's all I'm meant to do and I still don't really understand the whole ISO thing, but it's definitely time to move on. Next up Macrium questions once I get the software paid and installed.

sspohl said:

Next up Macrium questions once I get the software paid and installed.

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The Free version has almost all the functionality of the paid one. It actually installs the same software, but with a licence key for the Free version. Should you buy it can be upgraded to the paid for Home version just by changing the installed key.

I started with a free version based on recommendations on SevenForums which I later upgraded to a paid version 7 in Nov. 2019. If I recall correctly, I did that so I could implement a backup strategy that incorporated incrementals and differentials.

Since I was not following helpful suggestions to back up program installation files, I had to go back directly to Macrium to get an installation file for this new computer. The link they sent for 7 did not work and when I asked for help, they sent another link for version 8. Now I have version 8 installed and a daily reminder that my MR trial subscription is going to expire.

I'm not sure what gives. Is the version 7 that outdated that it's time to upgrade? Do I need a paid version for the functionality I mention above?

sspohl said:

I still don't really understand the whole ISO thing

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A Windows 10 ISO file is just a particular type of disk image of an Installation USB.
- By double-clicking on it, you are "mounting" it & seeing its contents just as you would see your OS drive contents if you mounted one of your Macrium reflect system images.

sspohl said:

I feel like that's all I'm meant to do

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Yes. The USB & the ISO file are just sitting their ready for you to use if you ever need to.
The next time there's a new Windows 11 Version, you'll be able to download the ISO and use it to directly update your Installation USB [post #11] without having to go through the whole rigmarole of making the USB with the MCT. It's less work with no downside - you will not have to alter / re-copy / anything else the additional files you've decided to store on the installation USB***.
See Download Official Windows 11 ISO file from Microsoft - ElevenForumTutorials but do note that some, at least, of the sources go-betweens identified in Download Windows 10 ISO File -TenForumsTutorials also provide Windows 11 ISOs - I use Option 5 TechBench by WZT for my Windows 10 & Windows 11 ISO files. My current Windows 10 installation USB was made about four years ago then just updated with a new ISO at every Version and I'll be doing the same with my Windows 11 installation USB.

*** I've just added a note to post #11 about this updating. I hide the Windows installation files on my Installation USB. So all I see are the files I've deliberately also added to it [copies of application files, perhaps the latest Cumulative update, whatever]. That gives me some confidence that I will never accidentally delete or tamper with the Windows installation files on that USB.

I would wish you good luck with your Macrium reflect use but you won't need any luck,
All the best,
Denis

sspohl said:

I started with a free version based on recommendations on SevenForums which I later upgraded to a paid version 7 in Nov. 2019. If I recall correctly, I did that so I could implement a backup strategy that incorporated incrementals and differentials.

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Your Reflect v7 licence key entitles you to a 50% discount on upgrading it to Reflect v8. Doing so will make your Reflect v7 key no longer valid, you'll get a v8 key to replace it. That's what I did with my 4-pack of v7 licences. Details here:

2.0 For our home customers:​

2.1 Q: Will I be eligible for a free upgrade?
2.1 A: If you purchased on or since the 15th November 2020, you will be eligible for a free upgrade to Reflect 8. Any older Reflect 7 key, and Reflect 6 home keys will be upgradable with a 50% discount.

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Alternatively you could continue to use your paid for Reflect v7. It is now in extended support, and should remain so until a v9 is released. Extended support starts when the next major Reflect version is released, and means patches should still be issued for major issues, but not for minor/cosmetic updates. Reflect v6 got patches for several years after v7 was released.

Macrium is pleased to offer three stages of product support.​

Stage 1: Current Support begins from the release date and lasts until the next full product version is released. For example, Reflect 8 to Reflect 9. The entirety of our customer support services are available during this stage.


Stage 2: Extended Support begins when the Current Support stage ends and lasts for a specific duration. Typically, this is one full year. During this stage, customer support services are limited.


Stage 3: Self-Service Support remains available indefinitely after the Extended Support stage ends. This includes the Knowledge Base, technical documentation, version-specific forum, and other resources to help customers resolve common issues for themselves.

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Another question I have that someone perhaps could clarify: way back on SevenForums I followed a suggestion to keep Data on a separate drive from OS. The suggestion didn't really suggest how to proceed. "Data" for me at that time was simply all my documents and all my pictures. So I formatted my primary drive to have OS on C: and Data on D: and I created a folder on D: called Documents and another called Photos. Then I just tried to remember to always save new stuff to D: and things went along swimmingly. Eventually my operating system did get corrupted and wouldn't boot, and unfortunately (operator error for sure!) none of my bootable Windows or Macrium media would get me back up and running. So here I am with a new pc running Win 11 and thank goodness all my data was on D: because there it is and I am good to go! Except, it's not really all my data, is it? In my case, the biggest overlooked pieces of data are in folders labeled Favorites and Downloads that resided on C:

I think the problem was looking at data piecemeal in folders when really I should have moved the whole user folder with its subset of Docs/Downloads/Favorites/Pics/Vids etc. etc. over to my D: drive. But how do I do that and make Windows understand that all the folder locations are on D: not C:?

sspohl said:

I think the problem was looking at data piecemeal in folders when really I should have moved the whole user folder with its subset of Docs/Downloads/Favorites/Pics/Vids etc. etc. over to my D: drive. But how do I do that and make Windows understand that all the folder locations are on D: not C:?

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You can merely use folders on D:\ for these things without changing any Windows settings at all.
You can merely use folders on D:\ for these things without changing any Windows settings at all.

I relocated mine [during Windows 10 days] and the relocations have survived my Windows 11 upgrade.
my latest ditty about relocating user folders including Screenshots - TenForums

All the best,
Denis

Bree said:

Your Reflect v7 licence key entitles you to a 50% discount on upgrading it to Reflect v8.

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Thank you @Bree, I saved 50% :)