would creating a disk using this tutorial allow me to re-installl Windows?

Very basic question from a newbie...

Could I re-insall Windows using an emergency disk created using the procedure described here?


1. Even after carefully studying the tutorial, I am unsure whether an emergency disk created this way would re-insall Windows or just my files.
2. What size of a thumb drive do I need? (This is addressed, but I want a second opinion...)

No.
It's description says that it is used to restore a system image that you had previously made.
Whilst that would restore the pre-existing Windows, it will not reinstall it.

There are many third-party system imaging utilities for Windows 11.
There's a discussion about some system imaging utilities in
Macrium Reflect, AOMEI Backupper and Hasleo Backup Suite guides - ElevenForum
There's a discussion about choices of backup methods in
my ditty - File backup vs imaging, imaging utilities, backing up drivers [post #3] - TenForums
but my references to named system imaging utilities are out-of-date.


For reinstallation, see Clean Install Windows 11 - ElevenForumTutorials
ElevenForumTutorials are far better than AskLeo or anything of that type. ElevenForumTutorials start off as being excellent and then they benefit from reviews & improvements suggested by forum members.

Denis

---

Welcome to ElevenForum.

It's really worth making time to browse through the ElevenForum Tutorial index - there's a shortcut to it at the top of every ElevenForum page [within the Tutorials dropdown list].
- At the foot of the ElevenForum Tutorial index is a shortcut to download it as a spreadsheet.
- I download a new copy each month.
- By downloading it as a spreadsheet I can benefit from Excel's excellent filtering capabilities when I search for topics of interest.
- ElevenForum tutorials are also listed at Tutorials and there's a shortcut to that at the top of every page.

You can search ElevenForum using the search box in the top-right corner of all ElevenForum webpages or using Advanced Search - ElevenForum
You can also search ElevenForum threads in many general search engines, such as Google, by adding site:elevenforum.com after your search term. For example,
Taskbar setup site:elevenforum.com

Great support! Thank you, thank you for answering my questions and for the link to the tutorials! I appreciate you sharing your time and expertise.

Olivia J said:

Could I re-insall Windows using an emergency disk created using the procedure described here?

Click to expand...

Welcome to Eleven Forum.


You can Clean Install Windows like this...





Or you could do a Repair Install like this... use Option Two (ISO method)
You won't lose anything this way...







Here's some other things that you may find useful...

What are the problems with the current installation after power on?

What occurred since the computer was last working properly?

What are the status of the important files (backed up / not backed up, etc.)?

Were system restore, reset save files or custom install unable to run or fix the computer?

Ghot, great support! Thanks for the links. This is just the information I was looking for!

Zbook, great support! Thanks for letting me know I have options besides re-install. There is nothing wrong with my computer at this time...just want to be prepared. I paid $100 to have Windows re-installed once... I want to be equipped to do it for myself next time...

Olivia J said:

There is nothing wrong with my computer at this time...just want to be prepared.

Click to expand...

So now is the right time to start making system images.
Always make sure you make the boot disk for your chosen system imaging utility & that you test that boot disk by booting from it before putting it somewhere convenient yet safe. The boot disk ensures that you'll be able to restore your latest system image even if the computer has a serious problem such as a failed main disk.
This boot disk is made in addition to the system image itself.

And, since your own files [Word, Excel, ...] are likely to change much more rapidly than your Windows system itself, do consider separate backups for them.


Denis

When Windows no longer is functioning properly or optimally there are three broad options:

a) clean install after manually backing up files

b) troubleshooting

c) restoring an image


Clean install, custom install, and reset save files all require the reinstallation of drivers and applications.

Restoring an image typically takes less than one hour.

Images can be saved on another disk drive or the cloud or both.


If there is malware, ransomware, registry or operating system corruption, problems related to Windows updates, failure to boot, etc. you then have the option to restore the 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