WiseCleaner Think Tank

Encounter difficult computer problems?
All about maintenance and optimization of your Windows System.

Home > Think Tank > How to Recover the PC from a USB Recovery Drive

How to Recover the PC from a USB Recovery Drive

Nov 17, 2023

A USB recovery drive is akin to a digital phoenix, capable of breathing life back into your PC when it does not boot normally. If you have created a recovery drive earlier, you can use that drive to recover it to a normal working state. But how can you use this tiny gadget to restore your precious machine to its former glory? Let's plunge into the process that could potentially save your day, your data, and your money.

What will happen after recovering the PC from a recovery drive

First of all, the Windows system will be reinstalled from the USB recovery drive. Then, it is important to note that the recovery process will erase all of your personal files and installed apps that did not come with the system. Apart from this, if your have created any other partitions, they will be restored to the original state, too. You might be required to enter the recovery key during the process if you have encrypted the drive with BitLocker. Make sure to back up all your important files before starting the recovery process.

How to use the recovery drive to recover the PC

To recover your PC using a recovery drive, follow these steps:

Step 1. Connect the recovery drive to the PC

Make sure the PC is turning on, and connect the USB recovery drive to the PC by inserting it to one of the USB ports.

Step 2. Select the USB drive in the Boot Menu

  • Restart the computer, and on the startup screen, press the appropriate key continually(usually F12, F10, or Esc) to open the Boot Menu. The key may vary depending on the computer's manufacturer.
  • Use the arrow keys and the Enter key to select the USB where the recovery drive is in. This will allow your computer to boot from the recovery drive.

Step 3. Recover from the USB flash drive

After selecting the language, select the Troubleshoot option on the main menu of the Choose an option screen, and then select the Recover from a drive option from it.

Step 4. Select the option to remove files

Once the recovery environment loads, you will be presented with two different removing options:

  • Just remove my files: if you want to keep using the device and just want to restore it, choose this option.
  • Fully clean the drive: if you plan to sold or recycle the device, you can select this option.

Step 5. Reboot the PC

After clicking the Recover button, the recovery process begins and the computer will restart and sign-in with a brand new Windows OS. Once done, you can remove the recovery drive.

In summary

The USB recovery drive is the key to unlock a paralyzed PC and the beacon of hope when the digital night is darkest. In just a few steps, you may just turn what seemed like the end into a brand-new beginning. Speaking of the hero, professional WiseCleaner family will always offer you the ultimate solutions to optimize Windows PCs and make them at best performance as well.

50