XPS8700 Cannot Access Advanced Recovery Options

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Once you get it sorted out "backup".  Backups are not for IF they are ever needed but for WHEN they are needed, and this is an example of "when".

Use a disc imaging (backup) program such as the free and popular Macrium Reflect (what I and most techies I know use).   You will need a separate hard drive for the disc imaging.  Most use external USB drives for this.   Make a full, all partitions, disc image of your operational drive (and make periodic disc images).   You might even want to do this before fixing the current problem in case a tried fix totally corrupts it.

HI

Thanks for your reply.

I carried out the task to see if windows RE was enabled or disabled. The status was Disabled. So I tried to enable it and reported back " The windows RE image was not found"

About 6 months ago I unstalled a new SSD and transferred the OS using Samsung Magician and all was fine doing backup and system image. But it looks like the back up only backed up the data drives and not C: drive. However the system image of the working OS on the new drive is available but I don't think I can access it other than through the Advanced recovery options ?

I still have the old C: drive and not formatted for storage uses yet, so I may have the old Win Re image

What do you think ?

Thanks

Ray

You will lose any current user data but it will get you working and then redo the SSD but do not use the Samsung clone program as we see a lot of clone problems.  Do a Macrium Reflect disc image of the original drive (all partitions) and then do a "restore" of the newly created disc image (backup) to the SSD.  This is a much better way than the iffy clone.  Its the way I do it for my own use and for my computer clients.  I have a couple of Samsung SSD's in use.

You will have to create a Macrium Reflect "bootable rescue disc" (or flash drive) to do the restore.  The Macrium rescue disc uses Win PE and has some fix boot problems utility.

Hi

Thanks very much for the advice, I initially used Macrium Reflect and I had massive problems with the disk structure on the new SSD. So I had to re format the new SSD (Samsung) and use their own utility to transfer the OS. There have been so many changes and additional software installed creating a lot of user data on C since then that I would not be able to recover. It looks like Win Re is pointing to the old drive for the win re partition.

Do you think that there is another option ?

Thanks

Ray

@Ray8700 

Is this Win 10 or..?

Does PC ever actually boot to desktop?

If you can get to the desktop in Win 10, try disabling Fast Startup:

1. Boot to desktop
2. Open: Power & Sleep screen
3. Click: Additional power settings
4. Click: Change what power buttons do
5. Click: Change settings that are currently unavailable
6. UNcheck: Turn on fast startup
7. Click: Save changes
8. Do a full shutdown, not just a restart. Then power on and boot. Windows should complete the update installation

If you have a Windows installation media, it uses Win PE to install, but also has an option to "Repair".  Maybe one of the Repair options will fix it.  If not, the other option of reimaging the SSD using a Macrium image from the old disk is the best (maybe painful) option.  I've had to fall back like that when all else fails.

Hi

Thanks very much to all for the help and advice.

When you mentioned trying the repair option with a USB, it jogged my memory - I created a recovery USB when I installed the new SSD drive. I booted from that and it gave me the option to reinstall windows and aked if I wanted to retain my settings and MY APPLICATIONS, so with some worry I said yes and let it go. It re installed Win 10 and kept all my applications.

I have looked at the advanced recovery and its all back where it should be and have created a restore point before doing anything. So it looks like its all working properly now - although I have noticed some win updates that are asking to be installed ! I will see what happens.

I do need to have a better back up solution - there are a lot available - which one would you recommend - I am happy to pay for the app ?

Thanks

Ray

@Ray8700  - Glad you got it sorted and were able to save your apps and files.

To add to what @fireberd said, Macrium Reflect will also let you "mount" an image it created as a drive so you can open the image and read/copy files back onto your regular storage drive. That comes in handy if you just need to retrieve one or more files without wanting to completely revert to that image. And be sure to have Macrium create a bootable USB stick, and set it aside, because you'll need if you ever need to completely revert to a previous image.

And I'd disable Fast Startup in Win 10 (see above) before you try installing any of those updates again, in case that was what caused the problems in the first place. And you can always re-enable Fast Startup again, if you prefer...

Thanks very much to both of you.

I will take your advice re the backups

Thanks

Ray