Now THAT'S pretty darned cool! Toshiba Encore II Windows 8.1 Device Restore

As my luck has it, I had only owned my Toshiba Encore II tablet for 30 days before something inexplicable happened and it shut off never to boot again. Was it a Windows update that had just completed? Did I damage something installing the screen protector? I don't know. What isn't typical of my luck, is I had purchased it from hhgregg and they offer a solid 45 day return, no reason required, policy. I now have a new Toshiba Encore II and a brand spanking new 2 year extended warrantee. I don't mind using certain items for a year then replacing them if they fail when the price is right, but 30 days left me feeling a bit concerned. I'm sure it was a fluke...but, why tempt fate.

Now, the COOLEST DARN THING today, is Windows 8.1's device restore. No effort is required. However, as this isn't expected, people like myself, not clued in to this neat feature, immediately begin searching the web for information on 'HOW' to start the restore process. And, once again, the Microsoft forum moderator gets the answer wrong. But, no harm done. Update 7/14/2015: Good news. The previous link to the foum moderator answer has been removed by Microsoft. Kudos for a very responsive change. The correct answer from Microsoft is currently here. However, I think a few people find the 'answer' a bit confusing, because they have a problem and want to find a 'fix'. Mircosoft is promoting the 'fix' as a feature. Microsoft has taken the fix out of the problem! The answer is, just wait. With a tablet or PC, and Windows 8.1; if the following setting was previously enabled - from the Start Menu where all your lovely tiles are, within the tile "PC settings - OneDrive - Sync settings - Back up settings - ON"....the way you last viewed your tablet or PC will eventually be restored.

Please note, I said,"viewed". Your Start Menu, desktop background, language, app tiles and a few other niceties are automatically reinstalled, making the stress of reinstalling whatever else is missing less stressful. Anything not stored on OneDrive will be gone.

If you are curious where your restore file is located, as I said in my blog Toshiba Encore 2 Advanced User Review 8" 32 GB Model WT8-B32CN, it's stored on OneDrive. You must use an internet browser. On the MSN site, once you have signed in, click OneDrive. Once in OneDrive beside your profile picture click the 'cog' shape. Then on the drop down menu click 'Settings'. To the left side of the screen you will see 'Device backups' All this does, is show you there is a backup. The only option is to delete one or more. Of course, you don't want to do that if you need to use it.

Another interesting item to note about my new Encore II, ....it didn't come with the Send to OneNote 2013 printer pre-installed. Hmmm....Toshiba, live and learn? See Send to OneNote 2013 printer does not work.