Windows 10: Backup & repair disk of PC with external HDD

Suppose want to create a System Image ISO and a repair disk or thumb drive for a Windows 10 PC that has an external drive containing data that doesn't need to be backed backed up. Should I disconnect the external drive before the doing the backup & repair disk and then reconnect afterwards?Suppose I disconnected the external drive for the backup/restore drive creation, then there comes a time when I need to use the ISO or the repair disk. What will happen if I forget to reconnect the external drive? Seems to me that the repair disk wouldn't work.

:)

 

Windows 10 Restore from Backup fails for a 2TB external HDD

Hi Frank,

I realize that it must be difficult for you when things are not working as it should. Sorry to know that you are facing this issue. I will try to help you with this issue.

Plug in the external drive into another pc and run check disk on the external HDD to check if that helps.

If the other pc has Windows 10 installed, then follow the steps suggested by “Alan Russell” from this thread.

CHKDSK Windows 10

Important: While performing check disk on the hard drive, if any bad sectors are found, then check disk will try to repair that sector. Any data available on a bad sector might be lost.

Keep us informed to help you further.

 

SSD, HDD installation and backup strategy

I do this:

1. Create a separate backup partition on your HDD and use this to make frequent images of your system on drive C. I do this to avoid the need to backup this partition on drive D.
2. Backup the system on drive C and your user files on the HDD to an external hard disk
3. Use file history to copy your user files to the external drive.

You will then have 2 back up storage locations for your system backups and your user files. Also, consider making a further full backup to another external HDD stored in another location and not normally connected to the PC in case of ransomware attack or your house burning down!

 

No access to external HDD

Just over a week ago I posted the below problem of inability to access my external HDD. I had one response from someone who asked me to send a mailshot of my Disk Management. This failed on my first attempt but was successful on the second. Despite
sending him/her a reminder I have heard nothing further. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE SEND A POSSIBLE SOLUTION AS I CANNOT DO ANY BACKUPS!

I have Windows 10 Pro Version 1903 and use Macrium Reflect for my scheduled backups

to an external HDD housed in a caddy. Recently the backups have failed four times

due to an error "the semaphore timeout period has expired". Despite trying various

suggestions to fix from Google - no luck! Now I have no access to my external HDD

as the drive cannot be seen in ‎File Explorer. Your help for a fix will be greatly

appreciated.