Can I restore only one of two drives from a Windows 10 System - Microsoft Community

i have been faithfully making system images of desktop computer has ssd c drive , older hard disk data drive, running windows 10 pro. have been putting both drives in system images. don't have other backups of data drive. computer died, think due power supply failure, bought new 1 since old 1 9 years old. installed data drive new computer (windows 10 home), doesn't see it. have put both old drives external usb enclosures, , new computer sees ssd drive, not data drive. don't hear data drive spinning, may dead.

here questions:

1) there trick getting windows 10 recognize old data drive, either installed internally or externally?

2) can restore data drive image, or have recreate whole computer , restore of both drives?

3) if can restore data drive image, can install new, blank drive in new computer it? wouldn't want boot drive in new computer while try reclaim old data drive.

i can see need doing separate data backups in addition images. hope can recover old data, includes many years of photos , other irreplaceable data.

thanks help!

windows system backups

            there number of things cause computer become unusable it’s idea make full system backups.  some of things can cause happen are:

• your hard drive can fail.

• your system becomes infected virus.

• you accidently install faulty program.

• your computer gets powered off without going through normal shutdown.

there numerous others, idea.

            depending on how of c: drive being used , kind of device c: drive resides on, time takes can vary greatly.  to give idea, here actual timings:

• 50 gb ssd desktop usb 3 hard drive took 8 minutes.

• 88 gb laptop (5400 rpm) usb 3 hard drive took 21 min., 11 seconds.

• 205 gb desktop (7200 rpm) usb 3 took 77 minutes.

as can see, there’s wide degree of variation depending on kind of c: drive have , how many gb of data you’re backing up. 

            so need have accomplishing this?  first need backup/restore program.  there many free ones, 2 recommended here are:

1. macrium reflect (download http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx)

2. easeus todo backup (download http://www.easeus.com/download/tbf-download.html).

both of above free non-commercial use , can downloaded , installed.  they both can create recovery cd or flash drive can boot restore c: drive in case computer becomes inoperative.  both of these programs can set automatically @ time when you’re not using computer. 

 the other thing need external hard drive put backups on.  you can buy 1 tb usb 3 external drives around $50 $60.  these should fine people.  if have more 250 gb of used space on c: drive, should consider larger capacity drive, great majority of people can 1 tb models.

doing can save lot of grief , expense when inevitable problems occur.

if use either of 2 backup programs mentioned here, won't have problems (unlike backup program included in windows), , can selectively recover files and/or folders.

Windows / Windows 10 / Windows update, recovery, & backup / PC