Macrium: When do I need to re-create bootable rescue media?

I see there is a Macrium 7.3 update available (5672).

1. I read here that some Macrium changes require rebuilding the bootable rescue media environment. How do I know what Macrium changes require rebuilding the rescue media? I assume that I don't need to do this after installing the 5672 update, but you know what they say about "assume".

2. If I DO have to rebuild the rescue media after some Macrium change, do I need to keep the previous rescue media too, if I want to be able to restore from an older system image made before the Macrium changes? (example, say I want to restore to nearly-pristine earlier image)

3. Off-subject a little bit, but while I'm here... I read here about making a Macrium system image on a USB stick drive as opposed to external platter or SSD drive. But I saw many responses saying you should not back up to a stick drive. That it's much better to use an external hard drive. But no one explained why a stick drive is bad. Seems like a great idea, for throwing in a bank box for offsite. And no concerns about all those I/O heads flying around at light speed just 4 nanometers above my precious platter data, just waiting to crash my hard drive, especially if I'm jostling back and forth to offsite. So why USB stick bad, USB external HD good? Is stick unreliable? Is it a write/read speed thing?

4. Lastly just want to shout out thanks to Ghot and SIW2 for their great guidance in my earlier (and first) post here. Based on their great help, I installed Macrium, built my rescue media, made my system backup, gulped and did a test system restore (gotta know it works). It was flawless! Many thanks!

Windows 10 Home
Version 20H2
OS build 19042.746

Stick drives are flimsy, slow, easily lost, and not as reliable as disk drives. I would not rely on them as my ONLY source of the image file. Images are highly valuable files. I always keep at least 2 copies of each image....on 2 different hard drives. But a copy on a stick is certainly better than having no second copy at all.

You can make your own portable SSD of 250 or 500 gb capacity for 40 to 60 bucks or so. A lot faster than a flash drive and cheap considering the capacity. Connect it by cable when needed. Keep it in a closet otherwise.

Macrium's web site used to have info on which builds require new boot media. I haven't looked, but assume it's still found in the build logs available there. I don't update frequently and don't pay a lot of attention to it.

As far as I know, you DON'T have to keep the old boot media. New media can restore old images.

If you open MR > Other Tasks > Create Rescue Media and look at the top next to 'Status' it will say either 'Ok' or something like 'Click Build to update'. See below

Adding a Boot Menu option for system Image recovery - KnowledgeBase v7.2 - Macrium Reflect Knowledgebase - KnowledgeBase v7.2 - Macrium Reflect Knowledgebase

tunnel99 said:

1. I read here that some Macrium changes require rebuilding the bootable rescue media environment. How do I know what Macrium changes require rebuilding the rescue media? I assume that I don't need to do this after installing the 5672 update, but you know what they say about "assume".

Most people seem to rebuild the rescue media after each new update. It's good practice, but it's not strictly necessary. In the few cases where it is essential, then Macrium will tell you so in the release notes.

2. If I DO have to rebuild the rescue media after some Macrium change, do I need to keep the previous rescue media too, if I want to be able to restore from an older system image made before the Macrium changes? (example, say I want to restore to nearly-pristine earlier image)

No, the image format doesn't change between versions. The v7 recovery media can restore images made by v6, and the soon to be released v8 will be able to restore images made by v7.

3. Off-subject a little bit, but while I'm here... I read here about making a Macrium system image on a USB stick drive as opposed to external platter or SSD drive. But I saw many responses saying you should not back up to a stick drive....

USB sticks are less durable than an external HDD or SSD and when they do die it can be without any warning. A stick that worked yesterday may be dead the next time you plug it in. A hard drive tends to be longer lived and more reliable.

4. Lastly just want to shout out thanks to Ghot and SIW2 for their great guidance in my earlier (and first) post here. Based on their great help, I installed Macrium, built my rescue media, made my system backup, gulped and did a test system restore (gotta know it works). It was flawless! Many thanks!

The first time takes great courage. After a while it becomes routine, I've never yet had a restore that failed.

" I've never yet had a restore that failed.".................thats why Macrium IS THE BEST !

To the respondents ..... you - are - awesome. All this info really helped me out.
ignatzastonic - good advice, very helpful info! Will go with external SSD
Ghot - Agreed!!
jeddie - That worked! Status "OK", thanks!
Bree - great info, thanks so much! Will keep my precious backups off those stick drives.
pietcorus2 - I'm sold!

RE: no flash drive backup... that's good to know, thanks F14. I wish for you an endless supply of jet fuel !

f14tomcat said:

Macrium V7 does not support USB thumb drives as a destination device....

tunnel99 said:

RE: no flash drive backup... that's good to know,...

No, not true. V7 can use a Fat32 USB Flash stick as a destination for the image.....

Macrium V8, when released, will support them....

The support that will be added in V8 is to allow a Flash drive to be selected as the source to be imaged or cloned. With v8 you will be able to make and restore images of your important USB sticks.

Macrum said:

v8.0 includes support for imaging and cloning USB Flash drives. Flash drives can be imaged and cloned using the same functionality, and UI, as regular internal disk drives.

Removable Media Imaging and Cloning Support - Knowledgebase 8.0 - Macrium Reflect Knowledgebase