Backing up Windows 10

huffman said:

I was under the impression that Microsoft had put the backup back into Windows 10.

It never left, but it was very well hidden in Win8.....

Darned if I can find it. Someone may know how to backup Windows 10 with the built-in program.

Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > Back up and Restore (Windows 7) > Create a system image.


But you really shouldn't use it, even Microsoft has been saying for years that you should use something else.

Microsoft said:

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

Features removed or Deprecated in Windows 10 Fall Creators Update

There are many very good choices of 3rd party backup/restore programs, just to name a few: MR7 or MR8, Aomei BackUpper, EaseUS Todo Backup/Restore, Image for Windows. The list almost seems endless. What many of us agree on: usage of Windows built-in backup/restore is very much discouraged. Only a few use it.

Hello @huffman,

Here is a list that you might find useful in the future if you want to experiment for example . . .

Imaging & Backup Software:

This Software is listed in alphabetical order as opposed to relevance order.

> Acronis True Image - PAID
> AOMEI Backupper Standard Edition - Free Backup Software for Windows - FREE
> Drive SnapShot - Disk Image Backup for Windows and PE. - TRIAL
> EaseUS ToDo Backup - FREE
> FreeFileSync: Open Source File Synchronization & Backup Software - FREE
> Hasleo Backup Suite - FREE [ Newly Released Software - NOT a lot known ]
> Karen's Replicator - Backup Utility - FREE
> Macrium Reflect - FREE Edition - FREE
> NovaBackup - PAID
> O&O DiskImage 15 Professional Edition - PAID - See NOTE: Below
> Paragon Backup & Recovery - FREE
> Second Copy Automatic Backup Software - PAID
> SyncBackFree: Backup and Synchronization Software - FREE
> SyncToy - MS Download Centre - FREE

NOTE: Sometimes FREE > Register FREE full version O&O DiskImage Professional Edition!

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NOTE: Personally, I would stay clear of the Windows Built-In Imaging & Backup option.

It is common knowledge that most of the time you can NOT trust ANY of the MS built-in Backup or Image facilities because they just do NOT work. The System Imaging facility is a deprecated feature which is NO longer being developed or updated [ it used the same executables in every version of W10 ]. Even MS say that the built-in System Imaging facility should NOT be used . . .

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

SOURCE: > Features Removed or Deprecated in Windows 10

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I personally use AOMEI Backupper Standard Edition because it has an easy to follow and use UI. I have used it for years . . .

> AOMEI Backupper Standard Edition - Free Backup Software for Windows

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I hope this helps.

@huffman

I like to do the restore from the Macrium Reflect bootable Rescue Media.

Just right click the image you want, and choose Restore.
Click Next a few times, then a small windows will pop up asking if you're sure you want to "overwrite".
Put a checkmark in the box and click OK.

That's pretty much all there is to it.

huffman said:

Paul Black that is a heck of a list. I made a copy of it and will keep it. I remember using some of those years ago but I have been using Macrium Reflect for the last few years and I hope I never have to us it. The reason I say that is when trying to restore an image, you reach a point where it just seems to end for making decisions. At that point you don't know what to do. Macrium was supposed to fix this a couple years ago, but I do NOT see that they have.

Ghot, I had just comment that I was NOT sure how to restore an image using Macrium Reflect.

Just right click the image you want, and choose Restore.Click Next a few times, then a small windows will pop up asking if you're sure you want to "overwrite".Put a checkmark in the box and click OK.

This still leaves me confused. Are you using a rescue disc for restoring the image? A step by step method to restore would be great.

Thanks both of you.

If you have used option to crrate a boot menu option, if you click to restore when running from Windows, it tells you and then boots into Reflect Recovery Winpe mode.