Why do I need Rescue Media?

Haydon · Feb 28, 2023

I have the following conceptual issue.

If a machine won't boot and I can't even do a clean install of Windows, I would have lost confidence in the integrity of the machine, and I would buy a new machine.

Considering that I would always do a restore from within Windows (to first and foremost ascertain that Windows is installed on a reliable machine) why do I need rescue media?

Bree · Feb 28, 2023

Haydon said:
Considering that I would always do a restore from within Windows (to first and foremost ascertain that Windows is installed on a reliable machine) why do I need rescue media?

You've never had a drive die on you and need replacing, then?

Edwin · Feb 28, 2023

Haydon said:
... why do I need rescue media?

• failing hard drive
• corrupt boot loader
• ransomware...

Ghot · Feb 28, 2023

Haydon said:
I have the following conceptual issue.

If a machine won't boot and I can't even do a clean install of Windows, I would have lost confidence in the integrity of the machine, and I would buy a new machine.

Considering that I would always do a restore from within Windows (to first and foremost ascertain that Windows is installed on a reliable machine) why do I need rescue media?

The rescue media is for when "Windows" won't boot.
If the machine won't boot... you've got bigger problems, as you have surmised.

Cause it's easier than swimming the 10 miles, back to shore.

Haydon · Mar 1, 2023

Folks, does the following sound about right for a disaster recovery plan?

1) In case my C: drive dies, I would replace it and install Windows on the replacement drive (I had never had a C: drive die on me, indeed)

2) In case ransomware hits, I would re-install Windows with the 'remove everything' and 'clean disk' options. If that does not work, proceed as in 1) (I never had ransomware either, although I did have very few, much less serious incidents that were easily remedied with anti-malware apps)

I trust I can do 1) or 2) > do some testing of the Windows installation > do a restore from backup

3) I don't think I can repair a corrupt boot loader, nor can I do any significant command line work, nor do I have any special tools > I would buy a new machine > do a restore from backup (may seem wasteful, but this is the catch-all fallback option)

kelper · Mar 1, 2023

Many problems with booting can be fixed in minutes! Why waste time reinstalling Windows?

Fabler2 · Mar 1, 2023

Haydon said:
Folks, does the following sound about right for a disaster recovery plan?

1) In case my C: drive dies, I would replace it and install Windows on the replacement drive (I had never had a C: drive die on me, indeed)

2) In case ransomware hits, I would re-install Windows with the 'remove everything' and 'clean disk' options. If that does not work, proceed as in 1) (I never had ransomware either, although I did have very few, much less serious incidents that were easily remedied with anti-malware apps)

I trust I can do 1) or 2) > do some testing of the Windows installation > do a restore from backup

3) I don't think I can repair a corrupt boot loader, nor can I do any significant command line work, nor do I have any special tools > I would buy a new machine > do a restore from backup (may seem wasteful, but this is the catch-all fallback option)

1 I would replace the drive and boot from the recovery and restore an image.

2 I would do a fresh install of Windows then restore an image.

3 I would boot from the recovery and use the 'fix boot' tool.

TairikuOkami · Mar 1, 2023

Haydon said:
Considering that I would always do a restore from within Windows (to first and foremost ascertain that Windows is installed on a reliable machine) why do I need rescue media?

If you use 3rd party system backup, you do not need a rescue media, that is only needed, if the partition gets corrupted and that is highly unlikely. I just use PreOS with the backup on the second partition, Windows backup/restore takes about 2 mins.

A Guy · Mar 1, 2023

I always do a Macrium restore from the rescue media

A Guy

Haydon · Mar 1, 2023

Perhaps I should say why the topic of this thread is avoiding the use of rescue media. I use BitLocker, and rescue media require safeguarding so as to not undermine BitLocker security. It's either the extra safeguarding effort or the extra effort for not using rescue media > it's a trade off, and this thread explores what's involved in avoiding the use of rescue media.

FWIW, I used to have a standby machine to restore images to. The images are on BitLocker encrypted external media, so that does not require any extra safeguarding effort (the restored image needs to be BitLocker encrypted again, of course) But after many years of never-ever-use I scrapped the standby machine > this thread attempts to achieve the same peace of mind without the standby machine.

Haydon · Mar 1, 2023

TairikuOkami said:
If you use 3rd party system backup, you do not need a rescue media, that is only needed, if the partition gets corrupted and that is highly unlikely. I just use PreOS with the backup on the second partition, Windows backup/restore takes about 2 mins.

I'm not sure what you mean, do you mean something like the dual boot of Macrium?

DigitalGoat · Mar 1, 2023

Rescue media use is a choice based on circumstances, if you do not need it then don't use it, if you do need it use it, if you want to use it regardless then do so.
You are giving examples of why you do not need or do not want to rely on rescue media, that is fine for you.
Not everyone wants to avoid rescue media use/ reliance, the same way that not everyone wants to use/ rely on rescue media, it is very situational whether rescue media is of use or not.
Also you are combining the use of rescue media with system security, BitLocker in particular? Again, very situational.
Based on all that, what are you actually asking for? How to avoid the use of rescue media? How other people use or not rescue media and the reasons?
Not meant in any way to sound aggressive, just I am confused over what you want to achieve with this thread.

Haydon · Mar 1, 2023

@DigitalGoat The thread title is pretty broad and people can respond pretty broad too. That's even desirable in terms of gaining insights which is what I want to achieve in this (and in many of my) threads.

I posted my own 'situationals' (to borrow your words) to make the broad topic more tangible. Other people can post their own 'situationals', of course! The more the merrier!

DigitalGoat · Mar 1, 2023

Ok, thankyou for explaining.
In my case I use a Macrium rescue disk for restoring images in case a Windows update cause boot issues that can't be fixed using my Windows rescue disk (custom tools etc).
I have a lot of applications I use daily, all configured just so, it would be a massive pain in the proverbial to have to re install Windows, all those apps and then change a multitude of settings or import lots of saved configs.
The speed of the backup process is not as important to me, long gone are the days when the backed up device could not be in use at the time and a restore takes seconds compared to the Windows install process.
Of course these methods only work correctly, in my case, if the backups are done regularly.
I currently have a Macrium rescue disk, a Windows rescue disk and a Linux USB flashdrive install for those tricky moments.

fixer · Mar 1, 2023

@Haydon

"Considering that I would always do a restore from within Windows (to first and foremost ascertain that Windows is installed on a reliable machine) why do I need rescue media?"

Simple fact is you cannot restore your system drive from within Windows. To restore a system drive you need either to first modify the Windows boot menu and boot from that or, if you have not modified the boot menu you have to use rescue media. There is no other choice. Macrium provides the means to modify the boot menu as well as to create rescue media.

Edwin · Mar 1, 2023

I had rescue tools in my hand about an hour ago!!!

Haydon · Mar 1, 2023

@fixer Oops, you are right! I would be limited to file and folder restore, and app re-install/configuration.

After a major incident, though, how can I re-gain confidence in the machine? I thought that the machine ought to run Windows well and reliably first before loading it with the goodies? And even then, I may not see issues hiding under the hood.

If I simply restore the whole shebang all at once, I may see even less of the issues hiding under the hood.

DigitalGoat · Mar 1, 2023

Edwin said:
I had rescue tools in my hand about an hour ago!!!

Yes, "rescue tools".......

DigitalGoat · Mar 1, 2023

Haydon said:
@fixer Oops, you are right! I would be limited to and file and folder restore, and app re-install/configuration.

After a major incident, though, how can I re-gain confidence in the machine? I thought that the machine ought to run Windows well and reliably first before loading it with the goodies? And even then, I may not see issues hiding under the hood.

If I simply restore the whole shebang all at once, I may see even less of the issues hiding under the hood.

Normally if Windows is running fine, then all of a sudden it isn't it is often as a result of an errant app, bad update etc, or user error. If however the hardware has an issue and it is not an easy swap out then a rescue disk is going to be limited in it's effectiveness.