How can I reset my hard drive to it's default layout?

Question

Basically, let's say I start with a hard drive with a single partition running Windows 10. Then I create some other partitions, format them, install some other OSes or whatever else I want to do. Then, if I did something on accident I didn't want to/messed up the hard drive, I could restore a backup that would return the hard drive to the single partition with Windows 10. This was I can experiment installing OSes/partitioning, etc. I thought of making a backup with Acronis True Image 2020, but will that only backup windows, not my whole hard drive's layout, etc? I know about virtualbox, but I want to specifically experiment with partitioning and formatiing, which that doesn't let me do.

? · Answer

you would need an identical hard drive to clone the original to, BEFORE it got corrupted.
then just clone the other way later, though this will wipe all newer files.
always vital to backup important files...

keerok · Answer

Experiment? Get another hard drive then play with that instead. Too risky to mess with your regular drive.

Robert J · Answer

You would need a full-drive image copy, rather than a data copy of a partition.

True Image can copy the whole drive. Use it to make a bootable disc and boot the machine from that - the stand-alone version can then make an image copy of any format of drive.

Whatever you do in making a copy, you need another drive the same size to store the image to.

Why not just use the second drive to experiment with, rather than risk messing up the machine system drive?

Sad · Answer

Take it out of the casing gently then place a large magnet over it to check for loose metallic debris. If nothing is on there put it back in and you should be good to go

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How can I reset my hard drive to it's default layout?

4 Answers