How To Restore Windows From USB Backup?

How to Restore Windows from USB Backup? You probably have a large collection of data that you need to transfer to another computer or another storage device. Maybe, you are reading this article on a computer which doesn't have the OS installed. Whatever be the reason, it is absolutely necessary for you to backup up all your data before you go into any kind of procedure that requires you to do so. The fact is, if something happens with your system, you can easily repair it from the time-tested restore windows from usb backup.

There are numerous methods to restore Windows on a PC. Some of the methods remove all your data and start a clean installation while others only restore certain files. Therefore, it is important to know which one will work best for you.

This article discusses the method of restoring Windows from a USB flash drive.  It is assumed that a recovery drive was created previously using one of the many good open-source software programs available on the internet.

Please note that this method will only copy Windows and not any personal files or installed applications.  These need to be reloaded from another back-up source, where hopefully all recent personal files were backed up. The sole purpose of the recovery drive is to bring your PC to a bootable and usable condition.

Here are the basic steps to follow. Select an available USB port to insert your recovery drive.

1. Power up your computer while pressing the appropriate keys that take you to Windows Recovery Environment or (WinRe). (Check your PC’s user manual if not sure of the process).
2. Doing this will direct you to the Choose an option menu. This menu usually has three or four options. You should note that the menu options may differ slightly depending on which version of Windows you are running.
3. From the options provided, select Use a device. However, if you cannot see this option, then proceed as follows: Power up while pressing the appropriate function keys that take you to the Boot Menu.
   
4. Highlight the USB drive option and press Enter.The PC will default to the internal hard drive that it always uses to boot up.  It has to relearn where to go and look for Windows. You are effectively changing the boot-up sequence so the PC will go straight to the USB drive instead.
5. Select the appropriate keyboard layout/language for your country (if required) and then press Enter.
6. The Use a Device Screen has two options:
   a)  Refresh this PC
   Here you can choose to keep or remove your files and reinstall Windows. This option is not applicable in this case.
   b)  Recover from a drive
   Select this option to reinstall Windows from your recovery drive and then hit Enter.
7. The Recover from a drive screen has two options.
   a)  Just Remove My Files
   b)  Fully Clean The Drive
   Select the first option if the PC is to be reused by you. However, if the PC is to be used elsewhere, the second option is most appropriate. Also, it is important to note that this process is lengthy and can take a few hours.
8. In the Recover Screen, click on the Recover button. Clicking on the Recover option will remove all personal files, applications, and drivers that did not originally come with the PC.  If the hard drive has been partitioned, this will be reset and will need to be redone later, as will any default Windows settings that you have changed.

The PC will then come up with a progress screen and reboot several times during the process. This process should not be interrupted. When the recovery process is complete, you can then set up Windows again and reload applications, drivers, and personal files.

Summary: Restore Windows from USB Backup

• Insert a USB Drive into your PC that has the backup of your current PC.
• Restart your PC and press F12 or whatever key is needed to enter boot menu.
• Choose the USB drive you just inserted and follow the instructions on screen.
• Select the image you want to restore and choose Next to start.
• Finish the restore process by following the instructions on screen.

Conclusion

These are some of the ways that you can easily restore Windows via USB backup. Follow each of the steps above to complete the restore process. Also, as aforementioned, this process only copies Windows and not the applications or personal files in your computer. All the best in your recovery process!