For these reasons, you should save a copy of Windows recovery on a flash drive
Windows users face various challenges ranging from sudden crashes, malicious attacks, and other unexpected problems that may cause file loss, system crash, and blue screen of death , etc. Although there are several solutions available to prepare for such scenarios such as using rescue discs or activating the “Repair Version” feature in Windows 11, saving a Windows recovery copy on a USB flash drive is the best and most practical option. This method gives you access to what Microsoft calls the “Recovery Environment,” which contains a set of useful tools for troubleshooting, repairing, and maintaining Windows even in the event of a complete system crash. Thus, the flash drive turns into an effective “emergency unit” that enables you to overcome the most complex Windows problems efficiently. Below are some examples of what you can do using a Windows recovery copy on a flash drive.
You can create a Windows recovery image on a flash drive using a built-in tool called Recovery Drive, regardless of the version of Windows you are using, but you will need a USB flash drive that is at least 16GB in size and must be completely empty, so keep a backup copy of any files already on the flash drive to avoid losing them.
All you have to do to create a Windows recovery copy is to connect the flash memory to the computer and then press the Win + S keys together on the keyboard to display the search bar, where you type "Recovery Drive" to display the required tool and press "Open" to run it. In the window that appears, you can activate the "Back up system files to the recovery drive" option if you want to include part of the necessary system files with the Windows recovery copy, and thus you can reinstall Windows again using this copy when needed. Then click Next and select the flash memory you want to use and click Next and then click Create.
After the process is complete, you will now have a Windows recovery copy on the flash drive from which you can access the "Recovery Environment" to fix the Windows problems you are facing. To do this, you will need to go to the BIOS screen to make the computer start booting from the flash drive instead of the internal hard drive. In case you do not know how, you can review the topic How to enter UEFI mode directly from Windows . We also published a topic about changing the boot settings to flash memory on all different computers and laptops, so you can refer to it.
Ransomware and other malware such as viruses, worms, and Trojans are among the possible causes that may lead to corrupted Windows files and computer failure. Even if corrupted system files do not cause the device to crash, they may cause many errors during operation, which hinders the normal use of the device, which ultimately prompts the user to reinstall the Windows version . The process of completely reinstalling the Windows version can take a long time, but the best solution is to have a Windows recovery copy on a flash drive that can repair corrupted system files and fix the problem in less time.
A Windows recovery copy is useful for accessing system files and restoring the device to normal performance, as it allows the operating system to boot into a safe environment where tools such as the command prompt can be used to perform troubleshooting. In this case, you can connect the flash drive and boot into the recovery copy, then on the screen that appears in front of you, click on "Troubleshoot" and select the "Command Prompt" tool. When the command prompt window appears, type " sfc /scannow " and press Enter to run the system file scanning and repair tool . All you have to do is wait until it finishes scanning and repairing corrupted Windows files, then restart your computer.
You can also use a Windows recovery drive to boot into Safe Mode if you encounter a problem booting into normal mode. Safe Mode is another very useful way to troubleshoot corrupted files that cause computer errors. In this mode, Windows uses a limited set of files, applications, and programs that are necessary for the computer to start, and abandons many other files that could be a potential cause of errors.
All you have to do is connect the flash drive to the troubled computer, then boot into Windows Recovery Edition, click Troubleshoot, and choose Command Prompt to open the command prompt, where you need to enter the following command and press Enter if you want to boot into standard Safe Mode:
bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal
Or type the following command to boot into safe mode with internet connection:
bcdedit /set {default} safeboot network
After booting into Safe Mode, you can run antivirus software to detect and remove malware-infected programs and applications that are causing startup errors.
In some cases of system failure, the computer refuses to even boot to the system normally, so the user cannot skip the startup screen, as there are corrupted or missing files that prevent the boot from completing. A Windows recovery copy on a flash drive can help solve this problem through the Startup Repair tool, which is designed to fix startup problems such as corrupted drivers or missing boot files.
All you need to do is connect the flash drive to the computer and then boot to the Windows recovery copy, then click "Troubleshoot" and choose the "Startup Repair" tool. You must then follow the instructions that appear on the screen, then wait for a period ranging from 5-10 minutes until the system finishes scanning the files and applying the necessary repairs. Once these repairs are successfully completed, the computer will restart automatically.
In a previous article, we discussed 3 ways to delete specific updates in Windows, which is what you need if you notice that recent Windows updates are causing errors and problems and even the computer failing to start normally. This may be due to incompatibility or the presence of some corrupted or missing files due to copying errors or the update installation process not being completed properly. In general, if the update causes damage to Windows operating files in a way that prevents you from deleting it using the methods described in the mentioned article, you can then benefit from a copy of Windows recovery on a flash drive.
All you have to do is boot into the recovery version and go to the "Troubleshoot" section, then select the "Uninstall Updates" tool, and you will see two options, the first is related to removing the last monthly update that was installed "Uninstall latest quality update" and the second is related to removing the latest major update "Uninstall latest feature update" which are the new versions of Windows such as the "23H2" or "24H2" update. After choosing the type of update you want to remove, follow the instructions that appear on the screen until the update is uninstalled and the computer is restarted.
Reinstalling Windows completely can be the last resort if all previous troubleshooting attempts to fix Windows errors and restore your computer to normal operation have failed. You can reinstall Windows using a Windows Recovery Drive. First, you will need to connect the flash drive to the USB port, restart your computer, and then select the option "Recover from a drive".
You can then decide whether you want to delete only your temporary files that you have on your computer by clicking on the “Just Remove my Files” option, or you want to remove all the files from your previous copy of Windows by clicking on the “Fully Clean the Drive” option. The latter option will erase all the files stored on the hard drive, and you will not be able to recover them again using any software, so a full disk cleanup may be suitable if you intend to sell your computer. After the file removal process is complete, you will have to follow the on-screen instructions and wait for the Windows reinstallation process to complete.
USB flash drives are small, lightweight, portable and easy to use, making them a great way to keep a Windows recovery copy that can be used in emergency situations to troubleshoot Windows errors or to resolve boot failures, or even to completely reinstall Windows in order to restore the computer to work in dire circumstances without the need for an Internet connection.