Formatting Ext Hard Drive for System Image

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

  1. Gregory Douglas
    Posts : 6
    Windows 10 pro 64-bit
       New #1

    Formatting Ext Hard Drive for System Image


    I'm using Windows 10 version 1909. If I want to make a system image, can I format the external drive using NTFS, FAT32 or exFAT? Do all three formats work?
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  3. ignatzatsonic
    Posts : 2,487
    Windows 10 Home, 64-bit
       New #2

    FAT32 isn't likely to accept a file the size of a typical image file.

    I think Exfat would work, but the simplest thing is to just use NTFS as you probably do for your Windows drive.

    What are you going to use to make the image? I hope something other than the Windows tool.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  4. f14tomcat
    Posts : 56,926
    Multi-boot Windows 10/11 - RTM, RP, Beta, and Insider
       New #3

    I hope it's Macrium, or equivalent. Not the Windows Native old Win 7 backup.

    Macrium Software | Macrium Reflect Free

    NTFS for sure with images of this size, multi gig. (Mine is 28GB compressed to 16GB)
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  6. Samuria
    Posts : 8,314
    windows 10
       New #4

    You know your version is out of support soon
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  7. f14tomcat
    Posts : 56,926
    Multi-boot Windows 10/11 - RTM, RP, Beta, and Insider
       New #5

    Might be why he wants to get a good backup, prior to any upgrade. Smart move.
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  8. NavyLCDR
    Posts : 18,467
    Windows 11 Pro
       New #6

    If you really want to get fancy, make about a 2 GB FAT32 partition at the front and put your recovery software there, followed by an NTFS partition for the rest of the drive. Then you can just boot the computer from the same external hard drive and recover the image, all from the same drive.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  9. Gregory Douglas
    Posts : 6
    Windows 10 pro 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       New #7

    f14tomcat said:
    I hope it's Macrium, or equivalent. Not the Windows Native old Win 7 backup.

    Macrium Software | Macrium Reflect Free

    NTFS for sure with images of this size, multi gig. (Mine is 28GB compressed to 16GB)
    I see Macrium Reflect 7 Free Edition comes in two flavors: Home Use & Business Use. What's the difference?
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  10. f14tomcat
    Posts : 56,926
    Multi-boot Windows 10/11 - RTM, RP, Beta, and Insider
       New #8

    Gregory Douglas said:
    I see Macrium Reflect 7 Free Edition comes in two flavors: Home Use & Business Use. What's the difference?
    Home use is FREE, business use is a subscription. You would want the plain vanilla Home Free. The page the link goes to is kinda crammed with offers you can ignore, just download the Free edition, more than adequate for a starter. It can be upgraded later, if desired.
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  12. AndreTen
    Posts : 30,883
    Windows 10 (Pro and Insider Pro)
       New #9

    f14tomcat said:
    Home use is FREE, business use is a subscription. You would want the plain vanilla Home Free. The page the link goes to is kinda crammed with offers you can ignore, just download the Free edition, more than adequate for a starter. It can be upgraded later, if desired.
    Actually, Macrium free is free for both, home and business use. For home use, email is optional, for business mandatory.. Don't know of any other difference..

    Formatting Ext Hard Drive for System Image-image.png

    ... and you can skip that email option by downloading home, and selecting business use at install process
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  13. f14tomcat
    Posts : 56,926
    Multi-boot Windows 10/11 - RTM, RP, Beta, and Insider
       New #10

    ok..............................


    I was only trying to quickly let the OP know he does NOT need anything commercial, busnoess, techninician or any other than ordinary FREE. None of this stuff............................................................

    Formatting Ext Hard Drive for System Image-2021-03-08_17h04_22.png

    we're going OT
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

 

  Related Discussions
Greetings, I have a new rig. I want to make a backup system image to another drive (3Gb SATA). It works well (gaming drive). And is "seen" by Win 10 in File Explorer and otherwise works. But the system backup windows cannot find it. I hit the...
If I make a system image of version 1803 on an external hard drive (using the built in software of Windows 10) and in the future want to make an image of an updated version of Windows 10, can it be made on the same external drive or is there a way...
Could some one give me step by step instructions on how to use either a system repair disc or a system image on a external hard drive. My computer has been acting up, losing files, documents, music and pictures, right clicking on start button...
When trying to create a System Image in the "Backup and Restore" facility built into Windows 10, my External 2TB Hard Drive wasn't displayed as a viable location. After doing some digging, it was found in the same utility that the Hard Drive in...
Hard Drive Image Software
in Installation and Upgrade

Being the Belt & Suspenders type of guy, I thought I would burn an image of my "C" Drive before I plunge into this upgrade. Can anyone recommend a good Image Burner Software that won't cost a fortune ? Does anything exist in Windows 8.1...
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

 © Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:24.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums