[Lex Computer & Tech Group/LCTG] Time to create or re-create your Windows Recovery Drive

Thu Mar 2 14:12:11 PST 2023

I concur with Drew. Except:
I would never use any driver provided by Microsoft/Windows Update in place of a working driver from the device manufacturer. This includes driver updates which come with Feature Updates.
I have had more trouble from Microsoft-provided Windows drivers than from manufacturer-provided drivers.
And NEVER trust any third-party "driver update" tool. Those programs lead to disasters more often than not. Your hardware probably will not benefit from a higher-numbered driver. 
Just my 2-cents.
-- Bob Primak 
    On Thursday, March 2, 2023 at 03:48:54 PM EST, George Gamota <ggamota at stma-llc.com> wrote:  

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Drew

Thanks for the good advice.

George

From: Drew King <dking65 at kingconsulting.us> 
Sent: Thursday, March 2, 2023 1:52 PM
To: George Gamota <ggamota at stma-llc.com>; 'Lex Computer Group' <lctg at lists.toku.us>
Subject: Re: [Lex Computer & Tech Group/LCTG] Time to create or re-create your Windows Recovery Drive

George,

First, don't select any of them unless you first create a new System Restore Point. ALWAYS create a new System Restore Point before doing anything that will change the OS, and it's ability to boot and run.

I ALWAYS create a new System Restore Point before doing anything to my/others computers.

Before I let any program update itself, I first create a new Restore Point.

If a Windows Update fails, or a software install/upgrade goes wrong, reverting to a known valid Restore Point is often the only real remedy.

I used to work for a software company that provided, to Microsoft, software that was incorporated into the Microsoft Windows NT install CD. 

The drivers came from Microsoft, only they were written by us, not Microsoft.

You can sometimes get real & proper manufacturer drivers directly from Microsoft.

Other times the best drivers come from the hardware manufacturer. It really depends on the specific hardware configuration.

So, not knowing anything about your situation/system, I would tend to lean towards leaving things alone right now. If it's not broken, don't "Fix" it.

I'd run Windows Device Manager and check for anything that looks yellow/red. Check for anything that looks like it's in an error state. If nothing stands out, leave everything alone.

I'd also run the Windows Event Viewer and check if Windows is generating lots of red level errors like you see in this picture:

Then, you want to take a closer look and see if you have errors that can either easily be fixed, or are perhaps suggesting that there is a real problem somewhere. Periodically checking the event viewer is like taking your car to the mechanic and asking them to take a look under the hood and check for anything that might be wrong. 

Perhaps you didn't notice anything wrong while you were driving your car to the mechanic. But then, you find out your oil is low, tires, and wipers are worn, and brakes are about to go any day. The mechanic will fix it all, while you wait, and figure out where the money is going to come from to fix everything.

Drew.

On 3/2/2023 11:55 AM, George Gamota wrote:

Drew

Thanks for your response. I do have a question about drivers.

I have a PC Windows 10. Every time I look for updates, they are mostly updates on security. However, if I click on optional, there is a list of driver updates. Since they are optional I don’t click them. Should I click them or just stick to the regular updates MS sends me?

George

From: Drew King <dking65 at kingconsulting.us> 
Sent: Thursday, March 2, 2023 1:50 AM
To: George Gamota <ggamota at stma-llc.com>; 'Lex Computer Group' <lctg at lists.toku.us>
Subject: Re: [Lex Computer & Tech Group/LCTG] Time to create or re-create your Windows Recovery Drive

George,

Over time, your PC will update some of the drivers that were current when you made your first drive. You are only updating it to keep pace with Windows updates to your PC configuration.

Once per year is probably fine. Twice, if you want to be cautious, but no more than that.

Drew.

On 3/1/2023 7:26 PM, George Gamota wrote:

Drew

When you say OLD, how often should you do this? Once or twice a year, once a month?

Thanks

George

From: LCTG <lctg-bounces+ggamota=stma-llc.com at lists.toku.us> On Behalf Of Drew King
Sent: Wednesday, March 1, 2023 7:09 PM
To: Lex Computer Group <lctg at lists.toku.us>
Subject: [Lex Computer & Tech Group/LCTG] Time to create or re-create your Windows Recovery Drive

All,

If you don't have a Windows recovery USB flash drive, you should consider making one. You'll need at least a 16 GB drive to hold the system files.

If you have one, and it's OLD, you NEED TO REDO IT! 

To create a Windows recovery drive, follow these steps:

   - Connect a USB drive or external hard drive with at least 16 GB of free space to your computer.
   - Type "Create a recovery drive" in the Windows search bar and select the "Create a recovery drive" option that appears in the search results.
   - When the Recovery Drive wizard opens, make sure that the "Back up system files to the recovery drive" option is checked and click "Next".
   - Select the USB drive or external hard drive that you want to use as the recovery drive and click "Next".
   - Click "Create" to start creating the recovery drive. This may take some time, depending on the size of the Windows system files that need to be copied.
   - Once the recovery drive has been created, click "Finish" to complete the process.

Your Windows recovery drive is now ready to use. Be sure to keep it in a safe place in case you need it in the future. To use the recovery drive, simply connect it to the computer you want to repair or troubleshoot, boot from the recovery drive, and follow the on-screen instructions.

The recovery drive contains specific drivers or software that are unique to the computer it was created on. This means that while the recovery drive can be used on other computers with the same version of Windows, it may not include all of the necessary drivers or software for those computers.

There are several reasons why you might want to create a Windows recovery drive, including:

   - System Failure: In the event of a system failure or a corrupted operating system, a Windows recovery drive can help you restore your computer to its previous state.
   - Virus or Malware Infections: A recovery drive can be useful in case of a virus or malware infection that cannot be removed by regular antivirus software.
   - Hardware Issues: If you experience hardware problems, such as a failing hard drive or memory issues, a recovery drive can help you troubleshoot the problem and repair your system.
   - Reinstallation of Windows: If you need to reinstall Windows, a recovery drive can help you do so quickly and easily without having to go through the entire installation process.
   - Upgrading to a New Operating System: If you are upgrading to a new version of Windows, a recovery drive can be a useful backup in case something goes wrong during the upgrade process.
   - Resetting Your Computer: If you want to reset your computer to its factory settings, a recovery drive can help you do so easily.

Overall, a Windows recovery drive is an essential tool to have in case of any unforeseen problems with your computer's operating system or hardware.

-- 
Drew King 

-- 
Drew King 

-- 
Drew King 

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