I like Windows Backup & Restore

kado897 · 01 Feb 2020

SIW2 said:

Good gag.

Their integrity has to be maintained.

pbug56 · 02 Feb 2020

One advantage, of course, is that Macrium Reflect is NOT dependent on any decisions by MS in regards to, perhaps, blocking use of WBR at some point. And I'm guessing it's less temperamental than WBR.

I've been using Seagate Replica (with too small a HD) for years, still connected. Is it safe to TEMPORARILY keep that still running while trying out MR?

One thing I don't like about MR - their home / personal licensing is quite expensive at $69 per year.

Separately, any thoughts for a 4GB or so backup device? I was thinking of one of the WD Desktop external drives. I use one already, a few years old, with WBR on another PC.

kado897 · 02 Feb 2020

pbug56 said:

One advantage, of course, is that Macrium Reflect is NOT dependent on any decisions by MS in regards to, perhaps, blocking use of WBR at some point. And I'm guessing it's less temperamental than WBR.

I've been using Seagate Replica (with too small a HD) for years, still connected. Is it safe to TEMPORARILY keep that still running while trying out MR?

One thing I don't like about MR - their home / personal licensing is quite expensive at $69 per year.

Separately, any thoughts for a 4GB or so backup device? I was thinking of one of the WD Desktop external drives. I use one already, a few years old, with WBR on another PC.

You should not have any trouble running MR alongside another backup solution. I run mine alongside AOMEI Backupper. MR is not $69 per year, the licence is for the life of the major version. In any case for your needs, at least to begin with, the free version should suffice. I currently use 3TB USB3 attached WD Elements for my backups.

Try3 · 03 Feb 2020

Bree said:

A Macrium image can be booted as a VM to test it.

I have now discovered that booting MR images is only available for Windows 10 Pro. I have Windows 10 Home. I'm going to stick with Acronis TI after all.

This might not bother other people but, during my brief Macrium Reflect testing, I discovered that it cannot create images of USB drives. I have at least one bootable USB with a special setup that cannot be rebuilt [because I no longer have access to the software needed to set it up]. I was able to use Acronis TI to make an image of it.

Denis

Bree · 03 Feb 2020

Try3 said:

I have now discovered that booting MR images is only available for Windows 10 Pro. I have Windows 10 Home. I'm going to stick with Acronis TI after all.

Yes, viBoot requires Hyper-V. Rumour has it that VMWare may be added, but no signs of that yet...

I have at least one bootable USB with a special setup that cannot be rebuilt...

For USBs I use alex's coding playground >> USB Image Tool

SIW2 · 03 Feb 2020

That macrium limitation could be due to its reliance on vss, or the geometry of removables.

Other imaging programs work fine.

Jaguwaar20 · 22 Feb 2020

The Microsoft article titled "Windows 10 features we're no longer developing" is dated Jan. 30, 2020. It says it was announced back in 2018 or whatever (ver. 1709) . . . The mitigation is merely a recommendation: "We recommend users use for full disc backup solutions from other vendors" That can't mean the same by definition as the word "deprecated". So I think there's a difference on that . Creating a system image is still available for millions of users. If Microsoft broke system imaging back in 1803, why hasn't it been removed ? Yes, they stopped developing it any further, but it couldn't be broken or there would be mass outcry by millions. Wouldn't you think? I'm just saying

f14tomcat · 22 Feb 2020

Jaguwaar20 said:

The Microsoft article titled "Windows 10 features we're no longer developing" is dated Jan. 30, 2020. It says it was announced back in 2018 or whatever (ver. 1709) . . . The mitigation is merely a recommendation: "We recommend users use for full disc backup solutions from other vendors" That can't mean the same by definition as the word "deprecated". So I think there's a difference on that . Creating a system image is still available for millions of users. If Microsoft broke system imaging back in 1803, why hasn't it been removed ? Yes, they stopped developing it any further, but it couldn't be broken or there would be mass outcry by millions. Wouldn't you think? I'm just saying

You are, in essence, correct. The issues come up with it's flexibility and ease of use. It's relatively easy to do a backup, a single one. Maintaining a library of backups is horrendously difficult and error prone. That's the main reason lots have and will switch to another solution which is maintained and developed, with ease of use and reliability a priority.

That said, Windows Backup is still there, still functions, but is not the best or even better solution.

It's choice. If users, particularly Win 7 and recent Win 10 converts are comfortable with it, continue. If users want to explore a more modern approach that is not static, do so.

Choice. There is no absolute right or wrong answer. Choice.

Bree · 22 Feb 2020

Jaguwaar20 said:

... "We recommend users use for full disc backup solutions from other vendors" That can't mean the same by definition as the word "deprecated". So I think there's a difference on that...

No, Microsoft were very clear that 'not in active development' means 'deprecated'. From the 2017 announcement...

Microsoft said:

The following features and functionalities in the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update are either removed from the product in the current release (“Removed”) or are not in active development and might be removed in future releases (“Deprecated”)....

Removed and deprecated features

Feature	Removed	Deprecated
System Image Backup (SIB) Solution We recommend that users use full-disk backup solutions from other vendors.		X

Features removed or Deprecated in Windows 10 Fall Creators Update

If Microsoft broke system imaging back in 1803, why hasn't it been removed ? Yes, they stopped developing it any further, but it couldn't be broken or there would be mass outcry by millions. Wouldn't you think?

This bug was NEVER acknowledged by Microsoft, which shows you how much they care about fixing their system imaging. They only broke it for 32-bit 1803, it still worked in the 64-bit version, and how many of those users of x86 1803 employed (or even knew about) system imaging, do you think? So no, it was probably 'thousands' that were affected, not 'millions'. That is no excuse for MS not fixing it until 1809 replaced 1803 though.

The few that did rely on system imaging in x86 1803 were very angry though....

FifiTheWoderDog said:

. I found this thread and have been totally bemused by the efforts people have been putting in trying to resolve an issue created by Microsoft, and by the length of time the bug has been left unresolved. There must be literally millions of Microsoft customers affected by this. What happens if their systems need restoring and the process recommended by Microsoft cannot be followed because of this known bug? I tried getting help from Microsoft and was simply referred to a link to a paid Microsoft help site. Unbelievable.

DuggeeJ said:

OK - just spent 45 minutes wasted time on a MS Chat with a friendly lady about 'RPC Server Unavailable' and failed BackUp after 1803 version - but I was staggered that First Line Support don't even have any worthwhile info in their database about this fault/bug.

I tend to agree with FifiThe WonderDog that it is unbelievable a 32 bit user on 1803 has no Back up and no viable solution from Microsoft -yet …..

The attempt to back up since my last 1709 successful session is now screwed up with the failed 1803 version.

Any other innovative ideas how we can back up what we have on our machines?. Bit for Bit Drive copy ??. I've never used one...….

Blood pressure now quite high so better chill

FifiTheWonderDog said:

A response through Tech Suport Guy was this: “Try these others they work better. I prefer Macrium or EaseUs and they are free. Macrium Software | Macrium Reflect Free, EaseUS Todo. I haven’t looked at them yet, but in the absence of the most basic customer support from Microsoft, I intend to.

https://social.technet.microsoft.com...=windowsbackup

T J · 24 Feb 2020

I've used Windows Backup and Restore AND Norton Ghost 15 for years; and currently use both. I have more than one WBR image on a USB3 1TB My Passport; I've never had any problems/errors and the procedure is super simple. If Microsoft ever did remove WBR from Windows 10, the Repair Disk would still work to restore any images.

Plus I have multiple Ghost 15 images also. (Cold Imaging)

Ghost15 by T J, on Flickr