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- HP Community
- Notebooks
- Notebook Operating System and Recovery
- Brief follow up question to my earlier one.

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06-19-2016 09:06 PM
Re; the back up disk you helped me create; Turns out that about 40 gigs were the O.S. back up while 16-20 gigs were a back up boot drive. My question is this: Since both are on the same 64 gig flashdrive and the O.S. was imaged 1st, If I ever have to use the back up for just the boot drive do I have to reinstall both drives, or can I skip over the O.S back up and just reinstall the boot drive? Thank you again in advance.
BruceWilliamJ
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06-20-2016 11:22 AM
The boot "drive" contains only the boot loader files. The OS "drive" contains the Windows OS files.
When you do a restore to the same drive, and it already has the boot loader files on it, you only need to restore the OS "drive".
But, if you're restoring to a new physical disk drive, you need both.
Good Luck
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06-20-2016 08:10 AM
Depends on why you're doing the restore ...
If you're only trying to recover some files from the OS drive, you only need that.
But if your PC won't boot, then you need to restore the boot drive as well.
Good Luck
========================================================================
I am a volunteer and I do not work for, nor do I represent, HP.
---------------------------------------------------------------
If my posts helped you, please click the Thumbs-Up symbol on my post to say thanks.
If my posts solved your problem please click "Accept As Solution".
========================================================================
I am a volunteer and I do not work for, nor represent, HP
06-20-2016 09:40 AM
were downloaded to same flashdrive as part of one operation, and O.S. was imaged first, will I have io reinstall O.S. to reinstall boot drive? Or can I do boot drive separately? This is for future reference, as I just got the laptop and have NO plans to reinstall anything, anytime soon.
Thank you again for your helpfulness, it is greatly appreciated.
BruceWilliamJ
06-20-2016 11:22 AM
The boot "drive" contains only the boot loader files. The OS "drive" contains the Windows OS files.
When you do a restore to the same drive, and it already has the boot loader files on it, you only need to restore the OS "drive".
But, if you're restoring to a new physical disk drive, you need both.
Good Luck
========================================================================
I am a volunteer and I do not work for, nor do I represent, HP.
---------------------------------------------------------------
If my posts helped you, please click the Thumbs-Up symbol on my post to say thanks.
If my posts solved your problem please click "Accept As Solution".
========================================================================
I am a volunteer and I do not work for, nor represent, HP