Moving beyond built-in "Win7" sys backup - questions...

tunnel99 said:

I have a Dell laptop.

1. When creating the WinPE bootable recovery media on the popular free versions (Macrium, EaseUS. AOEMEI. etc), do they typically capture the needed drivers for laptop keyboard and touchpad to work when booted? If this is tenuous, can someone point me to instructions for capturing those drivers for use while booted into the recovery media (USB flash for example)? If any of these programs do that better than others, would be nice to know!

2. My OS and data are all on one C: partition. When setting up incremental/differential partial backups, is that only for data file changes, or does it also pick up OS changes, similar to restore points?

3. Any recommended programs out there that can create system image while booted into the recovery media (so that Windows is down while creating the image)? (The way the old Norton Ghost used to be able to do) Or is my skepticism unwarranted, about programs using a "shadow copy" while Windows is still running?

Thanks,

Windows 10 Home
Version 20H2
OS build 19042.746

Macrium Reflect will do all that.
Most everyone on here uses it.

Macrium Software | Macrium Reflect Free


Go here and type: Macrium Reflect in the search box.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/




Modern backup software, takes "snapshots" before it starts to make the backup.
That way you can use your computer, while it's being backed up.

I too used Norton Ghost 2003, for years. Awesome program.
Macrium Reflect is what I use now.


FYI... you can backup, restore and fix boot problems with Macrium's bootable media. It also gives you a command prompt, the internet, and you can take screenshots.




And... welcome to Ten Forums.






/edit

Here's a screen shot of the bootable media...

tunnel99 said:

Good to know Macrium does these things, that's where I'll start

Btw... here is the Macrium Reflect user guide. Aka... manual.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...k036dxmurQJW-H



Here is a real quickie guide for making a full OS image backup...

1. Choose this option, so your full OS image backup is bootable.
2. Select destination drive/folder for your backup.
3. I usually just put the date here.
4. I don't mess with differential or incremental backups.
5. I also don't mess with scheduled backups.

Generally, I just make a full OS image backup, when I or Microsoft is about to make some serious changes.
Like Windows Update Tuesday, or when I will be doing some dangerous tweaking, etc.

tunnel99 said:

Thank you ever so much GHOT, you earned big Karma points in my book! Very helpful, exactly what I needed.

Glad to have helped.