Saving System Image and Personal Files on Windows 10

[RonH]

Presently I use the 'old' W7 Backup & Restore facility to save a copy of the System Image and for my personal files I simply copy them across to an ext hd. It appears that Microsoft may not include the System Image facility in future releases so now with a new pc it might be appropriate to consider specialised free software such as Macrium Reflect. I used this particular software but many years ago and doubtless it has been updated/changed many times since.

There are users of Macrium in our forum and I would appreciate any updated comment and/or recommendations of alternatives that are tried and trusted. I am looking for an 'easy to create and restore' software. Nothing fancy.
Many thanks Ron

Edit. I should have added that for personal file saving the built-in File History may be a good solution but I would not need to backup daily ... which seems to be the 'longest' setting. What happens when the ext hd is disconnected (for some weeks) and then reconnected? Does the File History start up from where it was disconnected.

[Rebel]

Hi Ron,
I recently switched from StorageCraft's ShadowProtect to the version of Macrium. It is simple and straightforward, and I have successfully restored backup images a few times. The full version (which includes a few more bells and whistles - including restoring to different hardware) is reasonably priced if you feel the need for the extra features.

Something that you might also want to investigate for simply syncing your current data files with backup data files is a really neat utility from Microsoft called SyncToy. I believe it was last updated for Window 7 but it works beautifully with Windows 10. Once you set up your initial pairings (i.e. synced backup folders on your computer and whatever external drive you are using), keeping the backups synced with your current files is a simple mouse click. For maintaining an up to date copy of your data files, this is a gem!

Hope this helps a bit.

[StuartR]

I found synctoy problematic, it mostly worked, but sometimes it thought both files had changed when only one had. Also it needs manual synchronisation. I am now using Allway Sync which is free if you only have a few files synch'd and very low cost for the unlimited Professional version.

[Rebel]

I've not run into that problem Stuart, although in my case (ensuring that I have a relatively current backup of my data files), SyncToy only looks at changes (revisions, additions, deletions) to any files on my computer, and then replicates those changes (if any) to the external drive.

As for the manual synchronisation, that works well for me as I only connect the external drive when I create a manual disk image with Macrium or when I backup my data files (usually once or twice a week) with SyncToy. I realize that an automatic system using a scheduled backup routine would be optimum, but my current regimen seems to be sufficient for my needs

Alway Sync looks very interesting however, as I see from your screenshot that one of the conditions for initiating an automatic sync is connecting the removable drive where the synced files are stored.

[RonH]

Thanks for your interesting posts.
I will start with Macrium and then consider the other file options. I don't really need to synch personal files with history ... as a retiree of many years standing I do not have a lot of such files so a once-a-month copy of the latest to ext hd is sufficient and it does not take up a lot of time. Usually I also keep the prior two months personal files which is sufficient.

[stuck]

Another backup program to look into is SyncbackFree:
https://www.2brightsparks.com/freeware/ ... e-hub.html
Several of us here in The Lounge use it and rate it highly, as a search of The Lounge shows.

Ken

[John Gray]

+1 for SyncBack.
I gave up on SyncToy many years ago when a network glitch caused it to think that the source folders were empty, so it happily deleted all the target folders and files...

[Peter Kinross]

I need to keep 2 computers synched, plus another 2 partially synched. I have found that 'GoodSync' is an excellent piece of software. Very reliable and easy to use.
I asked this forum some years ago for advice on Imaging software. The majority recommendation was Macrium Reflect. Darn good recommendation.

[RonH]

Thanks for the extra info ... first I'm off to learn Macrium again.
Cheers Ron

[Jay Freedman]

As for the manual synchronisation, that works well for me as I only connect the external drive when I create a manual disk image with Macrium or when I backup my data files (usually once or twice a week) with SyncToy.

There's a little-discussed advantage to keeping the external drive disconnected except when it's actually in use: If a ransomware virus gets past your defenses and encrypts everything on all your drives, you can simply wipe the system drive clean (or throw it in the trash and install a new one!) and restore from the still-uninfected external drive. Of course, this requires a bootable removable drive with either a Windows ISO or the backup program's recovery software.

I don't bother doing separate system and data backups; I just do a full image backup once a week, and copy rapidly changing files each day to a USB stick. Macrium Reflect (like most other backup programs) can mount an image backup as a virtual drive, so you can copy individual files or folders from it if needed.

[RonH]

Tackled my first Macrium Image ... very simple to execute. However doing a restore might be a little more difficult but I now have a spare W10 pc which would be an ideal test system.

Good to know that we have many experts in our forum

[Argus]

Good to see that you got several good advices, and got started (or returned to using), Ron.

Since this is a rather broad topic:
It's possible that some are using Home or Workstation versions of Macrium Reflect, but I assume that most use the free version. I used Macrium Reflect some years ago. As with most similar software there usually are some limitations with free versions; type of backup and sources, restoring options and management.

The free version of Macrium Reflect doesn't do incremental backups, nor "files and folders", but full and differential. This thread's topic is about system backup (of different kinds), although some may have their data files included; what is your opinion about running differential backups? (There is one clear advantage compared to incremental in that you don't need all files/backups, on the other hand they tend to be much larger, growing in size since the full backup.)

[RonH]

Hei Argus,

Thanks for your comments. Yes, I am sticking with the free Macrium Reflect. I realise that it has limitations but this does not impact my needs. I am planning to Image pc ssd on a monthly basis only, saving only 3 full images at any time on a USB 3 ext hd. It took less than 45 min yesterday to Image ... though I forgot to 'Auto Verify Image' which I have since found under Advanced Settings! Seems that this is a definite recommendation ? though obviously increasing the imaging time. I made a bootable rescue media but I guess that this is only needed if W10 becomes totally corrupt/can't load. Even though the basics of Macrium Reflect appear to be quite straight forward, when one sees that the manual covers 550 pages ...

My personal docs/images I simply copy to an ext hd, again monthly. Docs take around 10 mins (ssd) for the complete set and the images less because I just update for current month. Easy ha
Every 6 months I copy all 'Libraries' (which includes videos/sound whatever) on another ext hd which I keep off-site.

[Rebel]

Ron,
The Auto-Verify option is simply another safeguard. I think it is well worth the small amount of extra time involved.

As for the bootable rescue media, I assume that you also modified your system BIOS to place the boot order of the rescue media (either CD or bootable memory stick) ahead of the hard disk/SSD? If neither a CD or memory stick is present, the PC will boot normally.

[RonH]

Ron,
The Auto-Verify option is simply another safeguard. I think it is well worth the small amount of extra time involved.

As for the bootable rescue media, I assume that you also modified your system BIOS to place the boot order of the rescue media (either CD or bootable memory stick) ahead of the hard disk/SSD? If neither a CD or memory stick is present, the PC will boot normally.

Oops. Thanks for that tip John to set the boot media. Didn't realise that you could set it permanently but from what you say its OK providing no CD/Mem Stick is present. What happens if you open the pc in normal working condition and something is plugged into say a usb port eg mouse stick? My guess is that Windows 10 simply ignores what it does not recognise as a bootable device?

[Jay Freedman]

Oops. Thanks for that tip John to set the boot media. Didn't realise that you could set it permanently but from what you say its OK providing no CD/Mem Stick is present. What happens if you open the pc in normal working condition and something is plugged into say a usb port eg mouse stick? My guess is that Windows 10 simply ignores what it does not recognise as a bootable device?

I haven't yet tried booting with a non-bootable USB drive in place with Windows 10, but I recall doing it with Windows 7 and getting a black screen with the message that the operating system wasn't available.

That reminds me of the image of a message box that said "Operating system not found; do you want me to fake it?"

[Rebel]

What happens if you open the pc in normal working condition and something is plugged into say a usb port eg mouse stick? My guess is that Windows 10 simply ignores what it does not recognise as a bootable device?

Good question Ron. I don't know the answer. I hadn't thought about that possibility (mouse stick). Might be worth experimenting. If you give it a try, let us know what happens.

[RonH]

That reminds me of the image of a message box that said "Operating system not found; do you want me to fake it?"

[RonH]

What happens if you open the pc in normal working condition and something is plugged into say a usb port eg mouse stick? My guess is that Windows 10 simply ignores what it does not recognise as a bootable device?

Good question Ron. I don't know the answer. I hadn't thought about that possibility (mouse stick). Might be worth experimenting. If you give it a try, let us know what happens.

I always use a USB mouse ... can't control the laptop pads. Don't think I am game to 'experiment a usb boot. Might loose my mouse

[HansV]

If you let the mouse loose, your cat will catch it...