7 replies to this topic

[fblittle]

It finally happened . My Main desktop system was corrupted last night while doing a defrag. My PC rebooted and started doing the defrag at the DOS level and never recovered. When I rebooted it started, but never got to the Starting Windows 7 screen. This system is fairly new, but not new enough that I want to rebuild it from scratch.

I have the new Book "Microsoft Windows Home Server 2011, Unleashed". I read in it that I need a pre-configured USB key to restore from the server? There was no mention of using a CD for restore.

My question is what can I do if I never made a USB restore key? The book does not mention anything about restoring without the key or making a key if you don't have one or if yours is misplaced.

[texasPI]

You can still create the usb key. Just plug in a removable usb key to your WHS and RDP and create it from the dashboard.

EDIT: From the WHS Dashboard, click on the Computers and Backup tab. Then on the right hand side click on additional client computer backup tasks and then tools tab. Then click on create key.

Edited by texasPI, 20 September 2011 - 08:48 AM.

[fblittle]

I guess I misunderstood the Key Idea. I thought the key was specific to each machine? Doesn't the key Identify which machine it is restoring? Or is the key genaric to each PC? Do I need a different key for each PC on my system, or one key for all?

By the way, Thanks for the info.

Edited by fblittle, 20 September 2011 - 09:17 AM.

[texasPI]

No, its generic. Once you boot from the key, the machine will search for the server then ask you for the server password. Once entered, you can choose from a drop down list which machine backup you want to restore from. It is easily the only feature that keeps me on WHS. It is fantastic.

[ikon]

Except that v1 normally used CD's, it's basically the same process as WHSv1: boot up the machine from the restore media (CD/USB) and follow the onscreen directions.

[fblittle]

Thanks.

That clears up the questions that I have. The Book did not mention those things. You would think such a simple thing would be discussed. Maybe they are relying on us having experience with V1.

[fblittle]

It Worked!! Thanks for your help. I restored My PC successfully.

[ikon]

Congrats!!