How to backup windows 10 laptop?

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  1. Posts : 1,035
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #31

    Hi there. Im going to do this soon. So you recommend me use macrium reflect or Aomei?


    Also i can use the free version for either right? So Aoemi is easier to use? Helmut says the macrium reflect is much more complicated.


    Okay so whichever program i use, i do the backup image and basically i wait and let it do its things when my external hard drive is connected to it right? So if i do that one process... i no longer need to copy and paste files and documents manually like i would when i drag them from my computer to the external hard drive?


    Now has anyone had issues with it like an error or something in the process? For example if you do encryption or bios update, i know bios update can go very wrong if something bad happens. But what about when you are copying the image etc?


    I have a 1tb external hard drive and that has about 950gb. I think i used up 50gb already. My ssd used up about 210gb at the moment. So when i do this, my entire hard drive so to speak will be on the external hard drive right? Example let say i use a brand new computer and its windows 10. I set it up as is. Or its my same dell xps laptop where i did a complete reinstallation of windows 10 and wiped everything. I set it up. When it goes to desktop, obviously i have no programs there. But when i connect the external hard drive to my computer... then copy the images to it... then... its going to look exactly like how it did not only my desktop screen... but every single program is going to be there such as when i go to start menu and look for all the programs i have there?


    Now here is the other thing. My laptop at the moment is encrypted with bitlocker with TPM unlock. It has no bitlocker pin but im planning to put this soon. It does have windows 10 password as well. So there will be no issues at all right now doing this as copying the images to my external hard drive right? And when i connect it to either a new laptop or my same laptop that i wipe and reinstall, there is no issues since the computer is no longer encrypted since well i did a clean reinstall?


    The other thing is this. How often do you guys do these backups? Example say you do it today and do the entire process. Now its on your external hard drive. Say a few weeks from now your laptop screws up and you have to reinstall it... well you can only restore it to how it was a few weeks before. So that mean anything you added to your laptop between this period is not added to it. So you should do these backups how often? Once every 2 weeks or month? Now let say it uses up 210gb. Then you do it again in a few weeks. Do you erase the old backup? Since your external hard drive only has 950gb or so, you cant keep putting a few 210gb and 220gb into it right?
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  2. Posts : 1,871
    W10 pro x64 20H2 Build 19042.610
       #32

    As I mentioned earlier, I use AOMEI.

    One important point. If you install AOMEI then make sure you do a restart before you use the program for real for the first time. This isn't mentioned anywhere but I've found that an error message comes up unless you do this first. It may be down to my unusual configuration of backing up initially to a partition on the main drive rather than a separate drive.

    Just do the restart (which is good practice anyway after installing software) and you're good to go.

    Once you have made your first backup (which is classed as a full backup) you can then add to that at any time by running the process again and choosing either Incremental' or 'Differential'. The difference between the two has been explained a million times on the forum. Differentials are safer, Incrementals use less space. Differentials need only the full image and the appropriate differential to do a restore. Incrementals need the whole chain to be intact. There is a full pdf user manual installed along with AOMEI that is available from the 'menu' tab of the program. Macrium Free does not allow Incrementals. Fwiw I used to use incrementals all the tile with AOMEI and never once had any issues.

    This shows what a set of Differentials look like. The top image is the big full image and all the others are just daily changes. Incrementals would be very similar. You can see the choices available here, you simply select which you want.

    I have no experience of using Bitlocker with any backup software.

    How to backup windows 10 laptop?-annotation-2019-04-22-123153.jpg

    How to backup windows 10 laptop?-untitled3.png
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  3. Posts : 4,201
    Windows 10 Pro x64 Latest RP
       #33

    I also use AOMEI Backupper, but the Pro version, I do not bother with Either Differential or Incremental, but just use full backups, one for the System and one for the Data. I run the backups overnight, once a week for each type, and use the built in Aomei Backup manager to retain three System Backups and two Data Backups which fits in well enough with the Windows "Patch Tuesday system".

    I also run a remote Media Server [NAS] through my Main Router so also retain a secondary Store of Music and Video

    The way that I understand that Bitlocker works is that as part of the log on the data is set to be Un-encrypted as accessed, so as the backup is made by accessing the files by a standard windows Process, they should backup correctly - I'm not sure if they will remain encrypted or left in the open which could be an issue.

    Edit

    I've check a few options, both Home user up to Enterprise level, and it appears that all have their own way of dealing with encryption some just backup the encrypted data as a singe "Black Box", often the same size as the maximum disk space used so the data is secured but not compressed, or quickly accessed.

    Two Options ...

    Clone Bitlocker Encrypted Disk Drive in Windows 10/8/7

    Configuration for seamless backup from drives protected by BitLocker - Druva Documentation

    So I think it's best to check your exact requirements and budget, and need for security and look to purchase specifically

    The security system That I prefer is very old school, but still viable - you keep all your critical data drives in Hot swap caddies (in either a desktop or Server), which are transferred to a locked fire proof safe in an external location at the end of each day
    Last edited by Barman58; 22 Apr 2019 at 07:30.
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 1,035
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #34

    Hi there. Okay so seems like AOEMI is the way to go since people here to seem to like it and Macrium is more complicated to use right?


    Okay so you don't use bitlocker or encryption software. Can someone here tell me when i do this, do i have to do anything to bitlocker such as suspend it or anything like that before i do this with AOEMI?



    Well I wanted to use a free version. I don't need a paid version right? I dont think im doing anythign that is that complicated that requires additional things?
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  5. Posts : 1,871
    W10 pro x64 20H2 Build 19042.610
       #35

    As I say, I've never used Bitlocker and so you are going to have to research this yourself in detail. A quick web search seems to show that AOMEI creates large file sizes for the Incremental/Differential's when using bitlocker, something that doesn't occur with a standard system.

    Do you really need encryption?

    AOMEI vs Macrium Reflect with BitLocker Encrypted drives
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  6. Posts : 1,035
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #36

    Hi there. Well i want encryption because


    1. If a thief comes into my apartment and takes my laptop and then view it.


    2. Bigger issue is a thief has access to my laptop, then put a usb stick on my laptop and install trojan/malware/keylogger... then leaves my computer as is... then next time i use my laptop and type in my keepass, email and everything else on my laptop... i was told that if your computer is not encrypted, everything you type is viewable by that hacker. Now i do not have these type of security threats... but theft does happen where im located. Even the good areas theft happens. So because of that, i want to have encryption on it. My 2nd concern is the main concern. The laptop being stolen and being wiped out for resell... that sucks but that isn't like the other situations i just named here.



    So yes i want to have it encrypted.


    Well could i suspend bitlocker. Then do this as if it was not encrypted? Then enable bitlocker? I want to have bitlocker enabled on my computer.
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  7. Posts : 1,871
    W10 pro x64 20H2 Build 19042.610
       #37

    I think you are going to have to try all of this for real and see what results you get.

    First of all I would recommend disabling bitlocker and doing a normal backup. That gives you a safety net if anything should go wrong. Then see what happens when you make a disk image with bitlocker enabled. Also look at the file sizes both produce.

    You then have to take the plunge and do a restore from those images.

    Make sure you create 'Bootable Media' from whichever program you go with. Bootable media allows you to run the backup program outside of Windows from either a CDR or USB drive and allows you to restore an image even if the PC won't boot to Windows.
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  8. Posts : 63
    Win 10 10 Pro
       #38

    I agree with Mooly, but would go a bit further and recommend building a small system on a spare HDD for practice.

    You say very clearly you want to use Bitlocker and image backup software.

    I too have no experience of BitLocker, and I would need to read up on it before I'd deploy it on my own system.
    But I read both the Macrium Reflect guide and the AOMEI guide by searching for BitLocker in both guides (not that easy with AOMEI as I couldn't find a current PDF guide).

    I'm more familiar with Reflect and its PDF User Guide is readily searchable for the word BitLocker.
    There are evidently issues to be understood with encrypted drives; mainly around avoiding backing up empty space, for reasons of both extra time taken and extra space needed for backup in certain circumstances.

    I'd recommend a careful read before you jump in.


    On the backup side, I'd build a test Win 10 system and play around with that.
    You can practice backing this up and restoring it under several conditions, both encrypted and unencrypted, while your live data stays safe in your desk drawer. When you're fully confident, then you can risk both backup AND RESTORE too on your live system, as a proper confidence builder.

    The crunch issue with all backup systems is the quality of their restore process, even more than the efficiency of the backup process. The more practice Restores you do on a test system, the better prepared you will be if ever you need Restore for Real.

    Curiously I messed my system up clearing too much Google cache only last week, and a 10 minute restore of C:\ was all I needed to recover. (I keep all my personal data separated in a D:\ drive, so it was easy.)
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  9. Posts : 15,426
    Windows10
       #39

    paulyjustin said:
    Hi there. Okay so seems like AOEMI is the way to go since people here to seem to like it and Macrium is more complicated to use right?


    Okay so you don't use bitlocker or encryption software. Can someone here tell me when i do this, do i have to do anything to bitlocker such as suspend it or anything like that before i do this with AOEMI?



    Well I wanted to use a free version. I don't need a paid version right? I dont think im doing anythign that is that complicated that requires additional things?
    The reason Macrium Reflect is the forums favourite is it has proved to be exceptionally reliable over an enormous range of softwaee installations / hardware setups.

    AOMEI is ok but does not have the long term track record, and whilst it's interface is a little simpler for beginners, it does not have the wide range of flexibility and features of Macrium Reflect.

    It is really quite easy to use - see tutorial section for great guides.

    As Tina T sang "Simply the best, better than all the rest".

    It has never once let me down. Ok I have not had any issues with basic AOMEI either but in the end you have to trust the software and Macrium Reflect Free deservedly has that accolade.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 15,621
    19043.1237
       #40

    ...what he said...
      My Computer


 

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