Update Scare: As I was shutting down last night, Windows wanted to update. I clicked on Update and Shut Down. I went back an hour later, and I had the "Dell" screen. No spinning dots -...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

As I was shutting down last night, Windows wanted to update. I clicked on Update and Shut Down. I went back an hour later, and I had the "Dell" screen. No spinning dots - just "Dell," so I shut it down. This morning, I started it, expecting it to take longer than usual as it always does after an update. When I went back to it five minutes later, it was turned off, powered down - no lights. I waited a bit and turned it on. It booted normally.

I was glad that I had a disk image available.

Klickitatdave Loc: Seattle Washington

Any computer user who does not keep a recent recovery disk image available is playing Russian Roulette. You hopefully never need to use it but if you do, you will not have to go through the long and arduous process of reinstalling the OS and programs by having it on hand. Personally, I do a back up image weekly and keep a months worth of backups on file.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Klickitatdave wrote:

Any computer user who does not keep a recent recovery disk image available is playing Russian Roulette. You hopefully never need to use it but if you do, you will not have to go through the long and arduous process of reinstalling the OS and programs by having it on hand. Personally, I do a back up image weekly and keep a months worth of backups on file.

I was surprised that it took so long to do an incremental backup a couple of days later.

I've asked my friends about backups and password managers, and none of them use either.

I have a separate external drive that I'm using for the image backups. Of course, if that goes bad, then where am I?

Gilkar

I have been using Windows for a looooong time and have never used a recovery disk. I wish I could say I never needed one. I've always had to reinstall the whole thing and as was noted, had to reinstall all of the old programs as well. Please advise me as to how to create a recovery disk, and how to use it. I guess I have overlooked this feature.
Gilkar

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Gilkar wrote:

I have been using Windows for a looooong time and have never used a recovery disk. I wish I could say I never needed one. I've always had to reinstall the whole thing and as was noted, had to reinstall all of the old programs as well. Please advise me as to how to create a recovery disk, and how to use it. I guess I have overlooked this feature.
Gilkar

I'm new to this, but you can get Aomei for free. Run that and select Image to make a disk image. Macrium Reflect used to have a free version, but no more. You can make an image using Windows, but I've heard that it's not as straight forward as using other software.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=create+a+disk+image+windows+10+

Gilkar

jerryc41 wrote:

I'm new to this, but you can get Aomei for free. Run that and select Image to make a disk image. Macrium Reflect used to have a free version, but no more. You can make an image using Windows, but I've heard that it's not as straight forward as using other software.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=create+a+disk+image+windows+10+

Thanks Jerry, as always UHH comes through with good advice and answers. I appreciate everyone on this forum.
Gilkar

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Gilkar wrote:

Thanks Jerry, as always UHH comes through with good advice and answers. I appreciate everyone on this forum.
Gilkar

My pleasure!

Laramie Loc: Tempe

click the start button then type recovery. click on Recovery disk. Have a clean thumb drive attached.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Laramie wrote:

click the start button then type recovery. click on Recovery disk. Have a clean thumb drive attached.

Is this what you mean?

Klickitatdave Loc: Seattle Washington

jerryc41 wrote:

I was surprised that it took so long to do an incremental backup a couple of days later.

I've asked my friends about backups and password managers, and none of them use either.

I have a separate external drive that I'm using for the image backups. Of course, if that goes bad, then where am I?

I never do a cloud system backup because as you point out it may take days if your primary drive is 1Tb or larger. Like you I have an external drive which I use as a backup drive. I suppose that one could use an external backup-backup drive which you can use if one of the drives dies but this just seems like too much work and hassle in the long run. As far as password managers, we all know how LastPass let us down but my aging brain cannot remember dozens of complex, secure passwords that will keep my accounts safe. It also seems ineffective to just write them down because I have a tendency to lose notes and documents and go through a period of high anxiety when searching for them. LastPass has lost my trust and therefore my business and I have moved over to Bitwarden.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Klickitatdave wrote:

It also seems ineffective to just write them down because I have a tendency to lose notes...

I finally printed a list of passwords, and I used it for the first time last night. I wanted to order something and use PayPal, but I couldn't remember the p/w. I dug out that sheet, looked up the word, and completed the transaction on my Kindle. Without having the UserID on the list, it wouldn't do anyone much good, but it's not like we have a lot of people coming into the house.

Klickitatdave Loc: Seattle Washington

Do you also use 2-factor authentication whenever it is available? I definitely set it up for all of my critical accounts.