Windows 10: repair install help

A spare internal drive would be preferred. When going to create a full system image backup from a laptop to a drive placed in an external usb enclosure the process took 28hrs. likely due to drive wear since it was pulled from the main build here but still seemed to be in working order.

Is the 500gb of game files on C or on a separate drive? as some like to custom install programs to other drives. I have a few hundred gig of Steam game mods and files I keep in a local folder outside of the Program Files)x86) directory as well as on a separate storage and never have worry in the event the OS drive fails or even a storage flakes out like one apparently did. Those plus a good number of other downloads and updates stored locally for not one but two OS drives yet still create full system image backups before trying out any newer version when not planning a dual boot across two drives.

 

thanks all did a system reset as it would not boot up lucky my games still work and any that i have too reinstall i download have too download the whole thing. so it is a good state now so how can i back up just get external hdd

 

Well since you have the OS in one and the games in another a larger capacity hard drive internal recommended for System Image - Create in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

You can also use a 3rd party program as an alternate the back up option in Windows. And for covering partitions on other then C drives as well as C you will need a good sized one if you don't have enough space on a 3rd drive already present. As for just the C drive that depends mostly on the size and how much is on that which at this time will be rather small. About 17gb for the 64bit Pro clean install with slightly less for the Home edition.

One thing I did here when knowing I would need to redownload all Steam titles once again is I copied the entire Steam folder out of the Program Files(x86) folder and called it a day since installing Steam itself is a minor log back in item as well as only seeing a few settings. Your concern now however besides a possible image of the drive the game folders are on in case that drive goes on you will be simply a fast image of C that will run about 88gb or so compared to a wait where it could easily climb up over 200gb. Note the 88gb size was an image created by Acronis True Image not the Windows option which usually is slightly larger in size. More like 100gb give or take a few gig roughly before you start adding a lot on.