So were Ok and the problems resolved? Then we can move on to
getting the Windows10 key as soon as the
D VD-R's arrive. On that topic,. should we consider also adding Linux,
Ubuntu/Unix or another OS? One that you consider better
or more secure than Win 10?
Now that we have everything 'clean' and
working again should I make a Mrimg and do a System Restore point?

I would say yes. (See Paul below.)
[]
A good time to backup, is any time a meritorious result
has been achieved.

And before doing something you think has a good chance of screwing the
system.

Now that the XPS8500 USB3 port is all fixed up, you'll be
able to see if the backup goes faster or not.

Presumably that's (a) assuming he's using a USB-based external drive to
store images on and (b) that he's making the .mrimg from within a
running Windows.

Do later Macrium CDs have universal USB3 drivers like Windows 10 does?
(Or does that to some extent depend on the version of Windows that's on
the machine where you make the Macrium CD?)
[]

Well, actually, the Macrium approach is interesting.

They've made a change to how the emergency CDs are made.

The CD preparation used to use a WADK kit, downloaded
from Microsoft. There were four different versions.
The versions correspond to OS versions, as Microsoft
has different (better) built-in drivers in the
newer versions. (The reason four versions exist, is
WinXP users of Macrium, can only use the oldest version
of kit as the others would not work for them. That's
why there are four versions. Microsoft has ruined the
download set for the WinXP users, such that a WinXP
user *today* cannot make emergency boot media via
Macrium.)

You can still use those four versions. Those options still exist.
(Even if one option now is damaged by Microsoft.
Only some of the necessary files went missing!)

However, a fifth option is for the preparation scheme
to extract a WinPE off the drive with C: on it. They
have a search algorithm for locating a .wim they can
make a CD from. When I tested it, *it grabbed the wrong file*
and the results were hilarious. It mixed 64 bit materials
with 32 bit materials, and when the CD was booted,
the software would not run (because there would be
subsystems missing). In effect, it was running
64-bit macrium.exe on a 32-bit WinPE OS.

When preparing your emergency CD under those particular
conditions, you want *only* the Win10 drive to be connected
while the emergency disc is being made. Alternately,
there is a preferences screen, where you can review the
potential sources of a .wim and disable certain disks
as sources. But, you only figure that part out, after
it's too late, and you've ruined a CD making a bad one.

The best approach, is to make sure you've selected
the WinPE version (Win8 or Win10) that have the built-in
USB3 driver, as that's a better choice when you want
the performance benefits of full USB3 operation. Stick
with the old method, select WinPE10 (as long as your
operating system will allow the WADK kit to run from
that version selection).

It's getting to the point, it's hard for me to write
a tutorial with all these details covered off properly :-/

Paul

When we start doing the procedure I will be sure to
disconnect the HD so that only the Win 10 drive is
connected.

64bit on 32bit OS sounds weird.....
no wonder it didn't work.

Robert