Use Windows Backup or Macrum Reflect?

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  1. Posts : 99
    W10 pro 22H2
       #1

    Use Windows Backup or Macrum Reflect?


    I have not been doing a steady job of backup and want to get it right now.

    One issue I have, particular to me, is that I want the process to not be obscure. To that end I started just making a new folder on my backup drive and copying the Desktop folder from C: (because moving that to the D: drive where I want to keep my data seems challenging), and then copying from D: the contents of the directories that I have changed to the backup drive. My bookmarks change most often so I export those pretty often to the Desktop and export and copy them onto a USB drive to take when we travel (not very often lately...).

    I want my recovery files to be easy to find and easy to use. I want to be able to copy a file or set of files out of the backup onto the D: drive without that overwriting what may be newer versions. The program I was using before (Acronis) I never could get files out of. That kinda turned me off of backup programs.

    So, first, I see that Macrum is a tenforums fave but that the tutorials on backup and restore are for Windows B&R. What should I read up on? Plus what other advice do you have for me?
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  2. Posts : 4,511
    several
       #2
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  3. Posts : 21,421
    19044.1586 - 21H2 Pro x64
       #3

    Judy in Texas said:
    I have not been doing a steady job of backup and want to get it right now.

    One issue I have, particular to me, is that I want the process to not be obscure. To that end I started just making a new folder on my backup drive and copying the Desktop folder from C: (because moving that to the D: drive where I want to keep my data seems challenging), and then copying from D: the contents of the directories that I have changed to the backup drive. My bookmarks change most often so I export those pretty often to the Desktop and export and copy them onto a USB drive to take when we travel (not very often lately...).

    I want my recovery files to be easy to find and easy to use. I want to be able to copy a file or set of files out of the backup onto the D: drive without that overwriting what may be newer versions. The program I was using before (Acronis) I never could get files out of. That kinda turned me off of backup programs.

    So, first, I see that Macrum is a tenforums fave but that the tutorials on backup and restore are for Windows B&R. What should I read up on? Plus what other advice do you have for me?
    MR tutorial here: Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect

    and some good tutorials on YouTube and Macrium website too.

    Ask if you need help.

    We recommend doing periodic full backups of your boot drive and important data drives.
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  4. Posts : 99
    W10 pro 22H2
    Thread Starter
       #4

    SIW2, I'm sure the program you recommended is wonderful, but I really need a mainstream program that I can get plenty of help with if I need it.
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  5. Posts : 16,781
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       #5

    Judy in Texas said:
    So, first, I see that Macrum is a tenforums fave but that the tutorials on backup and restore are for Windows B&R. What should I read up on? Plus what other advice do you have for me?
    These are useful guides
    Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect - TenForumsTutorials - the one Steve linked to above
    Macrium USB - TenForums
    Adding a Boot Menu option for system Image recovery - Macrium KB
    Macrium Reflect KnowledgeBase - user guide [version-independent link]


    Judy in Texas said:
    The program I was using before (Acronis) I never could get files out of.
    I don't know what stopped you. You should have been able to double-click on an Acronis True Image file [.tibx file]] then browse around to your heart's content copying or draggin n droppin folders & files to wherever you want them. I can.

    Having said that, the greatest power of an image is to be able to restore entire disk & partition contents in the event of severe OS corruption or disk failure. Your current concern seems to be limited to folder & file backups rather than whole disks & partitions.


    The built-in utility [Windows B&R] is no longer recommended, even by MS.
    MS said not to in their announcement of Windows 10 Version 1709 and have never withdrawn that warning

    imaging deprecated in Ver 1709 - TenForums


    All the best,
    Denis
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  6. Posts : 23,012
    Win 10 Home ♦♦♦19045.4239 (x64) [22H2]
       #6

    Judy in Texas said:
    SIW2, I'm sure the program you recommended is wonderful, but I really need a mainstream program that I can get plenty of help with if I need it.


    Here's the wonderful quickie guide to Macrium Reflect. Courtesy of yours truly...


    Use Windows Backup or Macrum Reflect?-000000-macrium-2.jpg




    And here's the link to the Macrium Reflect v8 User Guide...

    https://updates.macrium.com/reflect/...user_guide.pdf
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  7. Posts : 99
    W10 pro 22H2
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Denis:
    "I don't know what stopped you. You should have been able to double-click on an Acronis True Image file [.tibx file]] then browse around to your heart's content copying or draggin n droppin folders & files to wherever you want them. I can.

    Having said that, the greatest power of an image is to be able to restore entire disk & partition contents in the event of severe OS corruption or disk failure. Your current concern seems to be limited to folder & file backups rather than whole disks & partitions."

    Me:
    I do want to back up the whole disk. But I may not want all of it back in the same place..

    I, of course, have no idea why Acronis did not work. It just didn't.

    Denis:
    "The built-in utility [Windows B&R] is no longer recommended, even by MS.
    MS said not to in their announcement of Windows 10 Version 1709 and have never withdrawn that warning"

    Me:
    It would be helpful if there was a note to that effect on the tutorials.
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  8. Posts : 4,511
    several
       #8

    Judy in Texas said:
    SIW2, I'm sure the program you recommended is wonderful, but I really need a mainstream program that I can get plenty of help with if I need it.
    It has been very popular for over 20 years. Karen sadly passed away in 2011, however the program has been updated since.

    It is by far the best thing for file/folder backup. It will either do a direct backup, or pack them in zip files. Easily accessed by windows explorer. There is no need to mount or use any third party program to see or retrieve your files.

    Many people might do an occasional image of their system using some other program, but want to back up their files more frequently perhaps every week or every day or even every few minutes. It is ideal for that.

    One scenario might be to use some program to make an image of the system say once a month.

    Then Replicator will back up any changed files from your selected user folders e.g. pictures, documents, whatever, once a week or once a day if you prefer.

    However, I am writing a novel so I also get replicator to back up any changed files from my writing folder every half hour.
    Last edited by SIW2; 04 Jan 2022 at 18:24.
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  9. Posts : 16,781
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       #9

    Judy in Texas said:
    "The built-in utility [Windows B&R] is no longer recommended, even by MS.
    MS said not to in their announcement of Windows 10 Version 1709 and have never withdrawn that warning"

    Me:
    It would be helpful if there was a note to that effect on the tutorials.
    Judy,

    I'd never checked. I've now suggested it as an addition to that tutorial. Thanks.

    Denis
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 16,781
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       #10

    Judy in Texas said:
    I do want to back up the whole disk. But I may not want all of it back in the same place..
    Judy,

    It's worth thinking of making two types of backup:-
    1 Backup of the entire OS drive [system imaging]
    2 Backup of user folders & files [imaging can be used but so can many, many other utilities].
    You need both of these. Your own files are going to change a lot more frequently than the OS itself.

    There is a discussion & some suggestions in
    my ditty - File backup vs imaging, imaging utilities, backing up drivers [post #3] - TenForums

    Just by way of example:-
    1 I make a new system image every month so I can restore my OS disk entirely in the event of serious corruption or disk failure
    2 I make backups of my own files using other utilities. These backups can be as simple as straightforward copies of files made on external disks. I backup some key files hourly using Task scheduler. I backup the whole set at least weekly.

    All the best,
    Denis
      My Computer


 

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