I've never done it, but computers used to allow you to create boot media by which you could reformat and reload operating system. Is that not a thing? I don't mean, that disks come with the machine, but that there is a system by which you can create disks or a bootable flash drive.
If that option were available, I wasn't aware of it and never got any blank media to use in making my own version of the old "system restore" disks.
I did have an option to boot up from an external drive, but this was useless to me. I now wonder if I can create this kind of backup media from this new laptop. Hmmm . . .
> Am I lost in the past?
You, sir, are living in the future! We simply have to get . . . back to the future! Great Scott! 🤯 😅
Great Scott, Tom! 1.21 gigawatts?! What was I thinking?!
Grok sez it's always been a thing. You just gotta provide your own media and have the new laptop create you a new boot-up thumbdrive (or whatever):
"Yes, a new computer in 2025 will almost certainly have the capacity to create boot media for reinstalling the operating system in case of a fatal crash. This capability has been standard for decades and remains a core feature of modern systems.
Most computers come with built-in tools or support for creating recovery media, such as USB drives or DVDs, using utilities like Windows Media Creation Tool, macOS Recovery, or Linux distribution-specific tools (e.g., Ubuntu's Startup Disk Creator). These tools allow you to create bootable media that can repair or reinstall the OS. Additionally, many systems include a dedicated recovery partition on the internal drive, which can be accessed during boot to restore the system without external media.
Hardware-wise, 2025 computers will continue to support booting from external devices (USB, external SSDs, etc.), and BIOS/UEFI settings will allow configuring boot priorities. Even in cases where manufacturers lock down systems (e.g., some ARM-based devices or locked-down enterprise machines), recovery options are typically provided via cloud-based tools or proprietary recovery media.
If you're concerned about a specific brand or model, let me know, and I can dig into its recovery options for you."
I still use em (except pre-1982 I save as they still contain copper), and will even still pick one up if I see one. And apparently, some Wheat Pennies are selling for insane amounts ever since the announcement, so definitely hold onto them. ya never know.
Something I found out about some years back when I got into saving in bullion. Figured why not. Not much, but at least its a useful metal for many thing other than money. And, just a keep-sake too. Eventually, they gonna be gone and my 8 or 9 might be all that’s left.
I've never done it, but computers used to allow you to create boot media by which you could reformat and reload operating system. Is that not a thing? I don't mean, that disks come with the machine, but that there is a system by which you can create disks or a bootable flash drive.
Am I lost in the past?
If that option were available, I wasn't aware of it and never got any blank media to use in making my own version of the old "system restore" disks.
I did have an option to boot up from an external drive, but this was useless to me. I now wonder if I can create this kind of backup media from this new laptop. Hmmm . . .
> Am I lost in the past?
You, sir, are living in the future! We simply have to get . . . back to the future! Great Scott! 🤯 😅
Great Scott, Tom! 1.21 gigawatts?! What was I thinking?!
Grok sez it's always been a thing. You just gotta provide your own media and have the new laptop create you a new boot-up thumbdrive (or whatever):
"Yes, a new computer in 2025 will almost certainly have the capacity to create boot media for reinstalling the operating system in case of a fatal crash. This capability has been standard for decades and remains a core feature of modern systems.
Most computers come with built-in tools or support for creating recovery media, such as USB drives or DVDs, using utilities like Windows Media Creation Tool, macOS Recovery, or Linux distribution-specific tools (e.g., Ubuntu's Startup Disk Creator). These tools allow you to create bootable media that can repair or reinstall the OS. Additionally, many systems include a dedicated recovery partition on the internal drive, which can be accessed during boot to restore the system without external media.
Hardware-wise, 2025 computers will continue to support booting from external devices (USB, external SSDs, etc.), and BIOS/UEFI settings will allow configuring boot priorities. Even in cases where manufacturers lock down systems (e.g., some ARM-based devices or locked-down enterprise machines), recovery options are typically provided via cloud-based tools or proprietary recovery media.
If you're concerned about a specific brand or model, let me know, and I can dig into its recovery options for you."
This is helpful! I will have to pick up a spare thumb drive to use as my own system restore. Thanks 😎
I would assume this pertains to versions other than 10 as well (I would assume you have 11 on the new one, likely the same exact or similar steps)
Any other questions, I'm your 'nerd' and if Im not nerdy enough, I can find one ;)
https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/windows-10-usb-install-drive
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/recovery-drive-abb4691b-5324-6d4a-8766-73fab304c246
Thanks, Joel! Yes, my new Asus laptop runs Windows 11. If I can figure out how to fix the audio problems, I'll get to the system-restore deep dive.
No problemo. And good luck. Windows systems aint like they used to be. Hot mess these days.
I still use em (except pre-1982 I save as they still contain copper), and will even still pick one up if I see one. And apparently, some Wheat Pennies are selling for insane amounts ever since the announcement, so definitely hold onto them. ya never know.
Smart move regarding the copper!
Something I found out about some years back when I got into saving in bullion. Figured why not. Not much, but at least its a useful metal for many thing other than money. And, just a keep-sake too. Eventually, they gonna be gone and my 8 or 9 might be all that’s left.