Motherboard and SSD Replacement: Need Backup Advice

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  1. Not Myself
    Posts : 651
    Windows 10 Pro (21H2)
       New #1

    Motherboard and SSD Replacement: Need Backup Advice (Solved)


    Dell cannot tell if the motherboard or the SSD is defective, so they are going to replace both under warranty. I have until now never had a two-drive computer, so I need advice on what to backup before the remove/replace is done. The replacement mother board will have Windows 10 Pro installed, as I read the Dell Service Request; I have sent an email to the agent handling this to ascertain if that is so.

    If, and only if, I am correct, this will have no effect on the D:\ drive, which is not a SSD device. If my information about the board/ssd is correct, then would the simplest way to use Macrium Reflect would be to do a File and Folder backup of C:\, which I have never done. This would simplify matters, as Windows would not be backed up nor replaced. I started the process of creating such a backup, and that showed that everything on the existing C:\ drive would be included. I would then use the Macrium Rescue DVD to use the File and Folder backup to populate the new SSD.

    Am I even close or totally wrong, it which case what is the correct way to handle this?
    Last edited by Not Myself; 06 Mar 2021 at 10:30.
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  3. dalchina
    Posts : 43,114
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #2

    Create a full disk image of all the partitions of your SSD to an external drive. If you've noticed, that's what is so, so, so often recommended here regularly and routinely anyway so you can protect yourself and recover from many bad situations.

    Or you could even clone it if you wish.

    Without knowing what is on each disk in terms of your O/S and programs it's not possible to comment much further.

    For example, I assume your O/S is on your SSD, and data on your HDD.

    Possible complications:
    Have you ever relocated default libaries or desktop to your HDD for example? (Documents, Videos, Photos...)?
    Have you ever specified program install paths to use your HDD?

    Given you have a full disk image of all the SSD partitions on an external drive, then you would boot your PC from a Macrium Reflect bootable medium with the new SSD in your PC and the external drive connected, and restore those partitions to the new SSD.

    Or, you could just ask Dell to clone the old SSD to the new one and check your PC boots before returning it.

    would the simplest way to use Macrium Reflect would be to do a File and Folder backup of C:\, which I have never done.
    You can't back up your O/S like that- that would only be meaningful for personal data. And in any case, a disk image means you have a copy of EVERYTHING whereas if you were to select files, you could well forget something.
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  4. Not Myself
    Posts : 651
    Windows 10 Pro (21H2)
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    Gee, what took you so long to reply? (Do NOT reply to that!.) This is the type of information that I simply don't know about.

    Thank you, this really takes care of the problem for me. The answers to some of your questions, such as changing the default locations of such folders as Documents from C:\ to D:\ make it clear to me that I need to create a full backup of C:\; in fact, I have a new one as of 0822 Local this date, part of my scheduled Macrium Reflect weekly backup, stored along with all incremental backups on K:\Reflect.

    This is the type of information that I simply don't know about

    I've only used the Reflect Rescue Disc once, when Dell supplied a blank hard disc. (I won't go into the sordid details of what led then to replace the drive.) Seems easy enough to bypass my scheduled full backup, and as you suggest, create a single-use, as it were, full backup of the C:\ SSD, and use that to restore the SSD. That this will, as I understand it, replace the copy of Windows that will come with the replacement; pondering that tells me that this might be a good thing, as there might be Windows settings in my backup that will not be in the Dell-supplied Windows.
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  6. dalchina
    Posts : 43,114
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #4

    Great you're already using disk imaging. Just make sure it's current before shipping anything off. And create a current MR bootable disk unless you already have one.

    You should be imaging all partitions of your O/S - 4 if UEFI, not just C: of course.

    Easiest option, as I suggested, is to ask Dell to clone the SSD for you before returning the PC. Saves you the trouble.
    It would seem unreasonable for Dell to simply clean install Win 10.
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  7. Not Myself
    Posts : 651
    Windows 10 Pro (21H2)
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    dalchina said:
    Great you're already using disk imaging. Just make sure it's current before shipping anything off. And create a current MR bootable disk unless you already have one.

    You should be imaging all partitions of your O/S - 4 if UEFI, not just C: of course.

    Easiest option, as I suggested, is to ask Dell to clone the SSD for you before returning the PC. Saves you the trouble.
    It would seem unreasonable for Dell to simply clean install Win 10.
    The replacement is being done at our house, as called for and paid for by the warranty.

    How do I determine if the ssd is UEFI (whatever that is)? I don't recall being asked about that when setting up my backups. I did a quick look up about UEFI, which basically meant nothing to me
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  8. dalchina
    Posts : 43,114
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #6

    Good that you will be able to see what's done and that your data remains secure. Suggest you agree beforehand that the agent clones your disk for you, assuming your problems are not related to what's on the disk. However, the company may take the view they want to leave you with a working system, problem free, and clean install Windows. That may be your dilemma.

    If your PC is new, it's likely it only supports UEFI (replaces the old BIOS).


    It's not just what's on the SSD that determines whether it's a UEFI or MBR installation- the low level firmware on your mother board and the Windows installation must match. This is automatic when the O/S is installed.

    Old PCs have BIOS - MBR disk configuration. Older, smaller, disk size restrictions.
    Later PCs supported both. New PCs normally only support UEFI.
    It's a change that has taken years.

    Differences Between UEFI and BIOS, and Which One You Should Use?

    What Is UEFI, and How Is It Different from BIOS?

    Bigger, brighter, better.

    If your O/S is installed as a UEFI configuration, there are normally 4 partitions.
    Old MBR systems had 2 or 3 partitions.

    https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/configure-uefigpt-based-hard-drive-partitions
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  9. Not Myself
    Posts : 651
    Windows 10 Pro (21H2)
    Thread Starter
       New #7

    I was informed that I need to do the backup. My few experiences with Dell field technicians is that they only take care of physical problems, such as my pending motherboard/ssd replacement. Thus, the tech will not do anything about restoring my programs.

    This computer was new as of last May, and I vaguely recall, the one or two times I needed to restore a file, that the backup showed several partitions; I had no idea why.

    It has occurred to me that I really need to make a mole hill out of a mountain, as I have been totally over- complicating this. Given that I have a Macrium Reflect Full Backup that runs every Monday morning, it seems to me that I should manually run that just before the technician arrives, and just use that new file to restore the computer. If that is so, then the only other thing I need to do is check my Rescue Disc: I know that a few patches have been installed since I last created the disc; I don't think any of them was large enough to affect the disc, but a check is in order. Am I not correct about doing the restore this way?
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  10. dalchina
    Posts : 43,114
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #8

    It depends what your backup is specified to do.

    Again, are you in fact imaging all partitions on your system drive, or just C: ?
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  12. Not Myself
    Posts : 651
    Windows 10 Pro (21H2)
    Thread Starter
       New #9

    dalchina said:
    It depends what your backup is specified to do.

    Again, are you in fact imaging all partitions on your system drive, or just C: ?
    I cannot really say: All I remember is that I used the Reflect software to create both the full and partial backups for both the C:\ and D:\ drives, C;\ being the ssd. I have no memory whatsoever of being asked if I wanted to only backup C:\ or all partitions on the drive.

    When I open Macrium, it shows that the SSD has six partitions. Is there any reason why my scheduled backups would not cover all six? Should I open a backup file to see what is shown?
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  13. SIW2
    Posts : 4,610
    several
       New #10

    dalchina said:
    Easiest option, as I suggested, is to ask Dell to clone the SSD for you before returning the PC. Saves you the trouble.
    If the op has any sense, they will securely wipe the disk before sending it to dell.

    My few experiences with Dell field technicians
    Does that mean there is to be a technician visit. Is that common?
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