Winwise 1.6

The backup page now starts from the question you're likely asking: back up my files, or get Windows working again. Winwise 1.6 adds a table of what each recovery option does to your personal files, gives Fix problems using Windows Update and Reset this PC their own sections, and adds a guide to the Windows 11 installation USB.

Open it at https://heliakon.github.io/winwise/ or download winwise.html below. It works offline.

What's new in 1.6

Two ways in

How to back up your OS now covers Windows 11 only and opens with two choices. Back up my files leads to File History and Windows Backup with OneDrive. Recover Windows leads to the recovery options, starting with the one that changes the least.

Which options keep your personal files?

A new table lists every option side by side: what happens to your personal files, what happens to your apps and settings, and whether Windows has to start first. It also explains why Point-in-time restore and a system image roll your files back, while Reset this PC and the reinstall options keep them.

Fix problems using Windows Update and Reset this PC

Both now have their own sections instead of sitting in a collapsed list.

• Fix problems using Windows Update reinstalls the current version of Windows and keeps your files, apps and settings. It's a good first step when Windows still starts.
• Reset this PC explains Keep my files versus Remove everything, how to start it from Settings or from Windows Recovery Environment, and that Cloud download downloads Windows, not a backup of your files.

The Windows 11 installation USB

A new section shows how to make the USB with Microsoft's Media Creation Tool (8 GB or larger; it erases the drive) and three ways to use it:

• Repair my PC opens the recovery tools without reinstalling.
• Reinstall from inside Windows with Keep personal files and apps.
• Clean install for a fresh start, with the removal warning right beside it.

The Recovery Drive becomes a shorter optional note.

Shorter, clearer recovery sections

• System Restore and Point-in-time restore now include their Windows RE restore steps.
• Full system images are shorter. The Backup and Restore (Windows 7) steps move into a collapsed legacy section, which explains that deprecated doesn't mean removed.
• The OneDrive warning mentions its Recycle bin and Version history.
• The BitLocker note also covers Device Encryption on Windows 11 Home.

Upgrading from 1.5

• Your scripts and backups keep working. The script template only changes its version label to v1.6; the preview, apply and restore code is identical. Restore with -RestoreFrom using the script that created the backup, as before.
• Script choices are unchanged: 28 choices in 12 groups, and the conservative preset still contains Remote Registry, Fax and Retail Demo.
• Links to #backup keep working. The in-page links now point to the new sections.

Download and verify

1. Download winwise.html below and open it in your browser. No install, server or internet connection needed.
2. To check the download, run this in PowerShell in the folder where you saved it. It prints True when the file matches this release:

(Get-FileHash .\winwise.html -Algorithm SHA256).Hash -eq '9d3856c12bc81cb88f5a03dc1cb405be4b99a79984f96a08788e34f946884d56'

The same checksum is attached as winwise.html.sha256.

Under the hood

• Sources: the new sections link Microsoft's pages on Reset this PC, installation media, reinstalling with installation media, the Recovery Drive and Device Encryption.
• Directory: still 157 entries. Service entries were not changed in this release.
• Checks: GitHub Actions passed the build check, the service data checks, and the 12 mocked dependency scenarios under PowerShell 7 and Windows PowerShell 5.1.
• Windows: the new sections were written from Microsoft's support documentation. They were not tested on a Windows PC for this release.
• Site: the footer shows v1.6, and the guide's update date is October 28, 2026.

Full changelog: v1.5.0...v1.6.0