How to Restore Win 8.1 w/o USB Boot Option

bill77056

New Member
Messages
7
Location
Houston, TX
Resources:
Win 8.1 USB Recovery Drive
Win 8.1 Full Install Retail 64 bit DVD
Legacy BIOS that does not offer USB in Boot Priority
Internal DVD
USB ports

Question: What would be a secure plan to be able to restore a new disk to a near-current state?

I’m thinking a second HDD and something like Acronis and bypass the MS backup tools. Or perhaps boot from the install DVD and use Macrium Reflect.

TIA…Bill
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Pro Update
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Core 2 Duo E8400
    Motherboard
    Asus P5E
    Memory
    4 G
    Browser
    Firefox 28.0
I prefer Acronis backing up to a 2nd internal drive, but Macrium Reflect Free would work just as well. For either, install it and run on a schedule or as needed (I do it every 7 days or so).

An external drive would also work well.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
All you need is an external disk to store the images - e.g. a new one every week - and a CD reader from which you can boot the recovery program. Then both free Macrium or Acronis would do well. I use free Macrium.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
Thanks, but one more...

Thank you Ztruker and whs, it is good to know how knowledgeable users handle re-build security.

I need to go the internal hdd route; BIOS will not recognize USB for BOOT priority. No way I know of to get the Win 8 Recovery to a bootable DVD/CD reader.

I understand Win 8 has new boot level security - but maybe not with legacy bios. How would one boot to get to the image? Would the original win 8 install (Full), after booting from DVD, offer a method to move the image to a new HDD and mark it as the active boot drive?

TIA...Bill
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Pro Update
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Core 2 Duo E8400
    Motherboard
    Asus P5E
    Memory
    4 G
    Browser
    Firefox 28.0
You create a bootable rescue disc or flash drive via the program you choose to do the backup with. Then you boot that to restore the saved image to a hard drive.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
Does not matter whether your system does not boot from USB. You can still store the images on an external USB attached disk and boot the small recovery program from a CD.

The recovery program and the images are 2 different matters.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
Thank you Ztruker and whs, it is good to know how knowledgeable users handle re-build security.

I need to go the internal hdd route; BIOS will not recognize USB for BOOT priority. No way I know of to get the Win 8 Recovery to a bootable DVD/CD reader.

I understand Win 8 has new boot level security - but maybe not with legacy bios. How would one boot to get to the image? Would the original win 8 install (Full), after booting from DVD, offer a method to move the image to a new HDD and mark it as the active boot drive?

TIA...Bill

Hi there

You might have protected boot enabled -- turn it off and enable legacy boot. You can still leave UEFI boot. Then your BIOS should be able to boot from external devices.

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Centos 7, W8.1, W7, W2K3 Server W10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 X LG 40 inch TV
    Hard Drives
    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
    2 X 3 TB sata
    5 X 1 TB sata
    Internet Speed
    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
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