How to reimage a computer without disc
- #HOW TO REIMAGE A COMPUTER WITHOUT DISC HOW TO#
- #HOW TO REIMAGE A COMPUTER WITHOUT DISC INSTALL#
- #HOW TO REIMAGE A COMPUTER WITHOUT DISC WINDOWS 10#
Should I Convert to Linux? covers many of the issues you’ll encounter along the way to help you make your decision. Linux is similar, yet different, so depending on your own flexibility and Linux’s ability to run the programs you need (or provide an alternative), it may or may not be a viable solution for you. Linux distributions are free to download and install. No list of solutions would be complete without mentioning the possibility that you abandon Windows and move to Linux. If you have a computer from a different manufacturer, the disc may not work. Each OEM copy is tailored to the computer manufacturer that originally sold it. So-called OEM copies are often just illegal and may not work with all PCs. Sometimes these are often not quite legitimate, and may not activate. I now strongly discourage purchasing discount or OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) copies from third-party sellers. If the options above don’t work, the only alternative is to purchase a retail copy. You’ll need to decide which of those additions you want and visit the manufacturer’s website to download them. That means it won’t have all the additional tools, bells, and whistles that might have been added by your computer’s manufacturer. There’s an important caveat, though: these are generic “retail” copies, equivalent to the copy of Windows you would purchase from a retail store or Microsoft itself. Where Can I Download Windows? has all the information and links.
#HOW TO REIMAGE A COMPUTER WITHOUT DISC WINDOWS 10#
You can download a generic retail copy of Windows 10 installation media directly from Microsoft. If you ever need to reinstall from scratch, restore this backup image instead, and your machine will be exactly as it was when you took that backup.īest of all, a backup image can be restored to an empty replacement hard disk - that’s actually what backup images are ideal for. That backup image takes the place of installation media in the case of system failure. Here’s an example using EaseUS Todo: Creating a Backup Image Using EaseUS Todo Free.ĭo this as soon as possible after getting a new machine. Use a program like Macrium Reflect or EaseUS Todo (the free editions of either will do) to take a complete image backup of all the partitions on the machine’s hard disk. If you can’t get original installation media or create a recovery drive, a system image backup is the next best thing. Those “system files” are Windows itself, which means this recovery drive, once created, can be used to reinstall Windows 10 from scratch.Īs a bonus, the process lets you create either a bootable DVD or USB stick. Make sure that the option “ Back up system files to the recovery drive” is checked. Back up system files to the recovery drive.
![how to reimage a computer without disc how to reimage a computer without disc](https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/r/restore-disc.jpg)
#HOW TO REIMAGE A COMPUTER WITHOUT DISC HOW TO#
How To Create a Windows 10 Recovery Drive has step-by-step details, but I want to call out one important selection along the way.
![how to reimage a computer without disc how to reimage a computer without disc](https://www.passcope.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/safe-mode-with-command-prompt-in-windows-7.jpg)
In Windows 10, you can make installation media for your system yourself. It’s rare, these days, for that to be an option.įortunately, Microsoft now has a couple of fine alternatives. That’s the media allowing you to reinstall Windows on a completely empty hard drive. I used to recommend that when purchasing a new computer, you try to get installation media. In the past: insist on installation media
#HOW TO REIMAGE A COMPUTER WITHOUT DISC INSTALL#
Or you could abandon ship and install Linux instead. Download a retail copy of Windows 10 from Microsoft.Make a backup image when you get the machine to restore, instead of reinstalling.Make a recovery drive that includes system files.