System Image in Windows 10 usefulness now

Will Macrium overwrite an existing image file? I have an old Windows image file on the drive I want to use and wonder if I would need to delete it before doing an image file backup with Macrium.

Also, if I were to do a full image file backup on some regular basis with Macrium, would the program overwrite the older backup?

I am contemplating doing a full image backup once a week. Does this seem reasonable?

Lynnea1941 said:

Will Macrium overwrite an existing image file? I have an old Windows image file on the drive I want to use and wonder if I would need to delete it before doing an image file backup with Macrium.

Also, if I were to do a full image file backup on some regular basis with Macrium, would the program overwrite the older backup?

I am contemplating doing a full image backup once a week. Does this seem reasonable?

Yes, weekly is reasonable. I use monthly, but it really depends on how much your system changes week to week. Mine doesn't change much.

An image file might take up 20 to 100 or more GB, depending on your individual case. That might affect how often you make an image if you have drive space issues. Normally, you would keep 2 or more images, but most people wouldn't keep 14 images dating back to 2016. You might be an exception, depending on circumstances. I keep 3: one made a day or two after Windows is installed; one made this month, and one made last month. Each month, I delete the latter after making a new one (in May, I will delete my March image, keeping the April, the new May, and the one made right after installing Windows).

Here's some clarification that may help you:

Macrium has 2 basic processes:

1: making an image file.

2: restoring that image file.

Making an image file doesn't overwrite anything. It just creates a new huge file with an mrimg extension. The older image file you made last week isn't overwritten because it has a different name, just like 2 pictures of your cat have different names.

Macrium will give the file a default name during the process. It's a unique name, different from any earlier image file name. It's OK to accept that name, although you could rename it. You can tell when each image file was made by looking at its properties. Or you can file the images in a folder that might be named 042819 for today's date.

When you restore, you choose which image file to restore. Last week's image or one from 3 weeks ago. Your choice entirely.

If one setup an incremental backup plan, then the purging would take place, right?

I'm thinking that performing an image backup once a month might be the best plan for my image backup strategy. I would plan on having two image backups on an external hard drive. I would delete the older backup before performing the new image backup.

Am I able to add information to the Macrium file name for the backup? I have figured out what to add so I can easily see which backup needs to be deleted.

I would need to make the WinPe rescue media which I can store on a USB drive.

Does this rescue media need to be updated should there be a major Windows update?

I can also see that an optional way to restore an image would be to add Marcrium to the Windows boot menu.

Is this commonly done?

Is my understanding correct for this plan:

By having an image backup which would be no more that 30 days out of sync with the latest Windows software, I could restore the image from my external hard drive to a new Windows 10 Pro PC. I would need to use the rescue media to do the restoration.

After that, I could update the Windows software on the new PC via the normal update process.

I apologize if all this seems to elementary to Marcium users, but I'm trying to figure out the big picture.

BTW, I have see on the internet that some people advocate installing software fresh with new computers. Any opinions on this point?

I have gone through the very laborious process of installing software on a new PC and so I would like to avoid this if it is practicable. That is why I am interested in an image backup.

I always accept the default name for the image file. You can tell what date it was made by right clicking and looking at properties. You can also put it in a folder whose name contains additional info. By default, Macrium recommends that you use the image ID as the name, and I've never varied from that out of caution.

However, if you look at "advanced options" in the steps leading up to making an image, there is an option that shows you a box in which you can make comments. It says "We recommend creating terse comments". Type in what you need.

You will need to re-make the USB recovery media occasionally due to Macrium changes, assuming you update Macrium at times. I think the build log on the Macrium site indicates when this should be done. You don't have to do it with every update, but on occasion it is recommended.

Make sure your USB drive will actually boot the PC.

I do have Macrium on the boot menu, but I've yet to use it from there. No reason not to use it assuming your hard drive is working.

I always install software anew on a new PC, but I can certainly understand the reluctance. When I rebuild in maybe 2020, I may want to do that myself. You might consider just installing your most often used software immediately and not bothering with lesser stuff until they are actually needed. That might make the idea easier to swallow.

Lynnea1941 said:

I'm thinking that performing an image backup once a month might be the best plan for my image backup strategy. I would plan on having two image backups on an external hard drive. I would delete the older backup before performing the new image backup.

That's more or less what I do for my machines. If you have a large enough external drive, I'd suggest keeping more than just two full backups.

Am I able to add information to the Macrium file name for the backup? I have figured out what to add so I can easily see which backup needs to be deleted.

Yes. When setting up a backup click Advanced Options to find a Comments section.

I would need to make the WinPe rescue media which I can store on a USB drive. Does this rescue media need to be updated should there be a major Windows update?

No, not necessarily. The WinPE (or WinRE) part of the media is just needed to boot and support running Macrium. It's always a good idea to make new media, particularly after a major Macrium update, but older media will still work.

I can also see that an optional way to restore an image would be to add Marcrium to the Windows boot menu. Is this commonly done?

I do, it's useful as a second option, but do make a USB as well. The boot menu option is only available if you can actually boot from your hard drive.

Is my understanding correct for this plan:
By having an image backup which would be no more that 30 days out of sync with the latest Windows software, I could restore the image from my external hard drive to a new Windows 10 Pro PC. I would need to use the rescue media to do the restoration.
After that, I could update the Windows software on the new PC via the normal update process..

Not sure why you think you'd necessarily need a new PC. The more likely scenario is that it's the hard drive that dies, then you could just replace the drive and restore your image to the same PC.

Well, my current PC was custom built in 2013. It was set up for Photoshop. Much has changed since then, so I'm just thinking ahead that I will need to replace this PC. Everything works fine now. I have a RAID system, I have data backups, I have real-time backup, I have tried to have backups for everything except software.