Backup and make image

For imaging, use Macrium reflect (free) or one of the other 3rd party tools.

File History is useful for maintaining backups of changed files, constantly updated (if the storage location is available) so is quite different in purpose.

Windows 7 Backup and Restore can be problematic and I wouldn't recommend it compared to Macrium etc.

If you want sthg that looks simpler try Veeam Endpoint. Then after that Aomei Backupper.

Actually to start Macrium Reflect on Windows first time is about 3 clicks.
(Click Backup, Backup Windows, - check all 4 partitions for EFI are selected- then select the backup destination first time, then click Next).

It's very non-intuitive to start a differential image:
Click Backup definition files, rt click the one you want, down to Run now, then click Differential

The only other thing you need to do is to use Other Tasks, Create Rescue Media to make a boot disk.

That's absolute basics.

What are the weaknesses of the Win 7 facility behind your recommendation to avoid it?
a. No report of problems with that have been resolved to my knowledge. (See threads in this forum)
b. It lacks features.
c. It can be problematical- not seeing external disks.

It's a legacy feature, not maintained.

Terrypin said:

Thanks for that fast reply.

I have Macrium Free but to me it seems dauntingly complicated. Brief attempts with a couple of tutorials have been abandoned until the unlikely day that I have a day or three to spare.

It's significantly more complex than the 'couple-of-clicks' no brainer of the Windows 7 tool. That's the sort of thing I'm looking for. I'm guessing that's true of many 'non-techie' users with no previous imaging experience, despite being veteran end-users like me.

But only if it works, of course! What are the weaknesses of the Win 7 facility behind your recommendation to avoid it?

Read the best Macrium tutorial around by our resident expert @Kari on this site. It goes through it step by step.

It really is quite easy to use.

1) MS are deprecating the system image backup tool (i.e. going to drop it) and recommend use of 3rd party tool

2) Macrium is faster, more reliable, flexible, and gives better file compression.

3) It has lots of other great features - the 'fix windows boot problem" sorts out all sorts of issues with corrupted boot files, without complicated command line commands.

4) You can create a boot option, so it will boot to it even without a recovery drive in many cases (still need recovery drive in case drive fails, or C drive gets badly corrupted).

5) If you decide you like the Free version, then you might consider paying for Home version which adds a lot of other great features.

In the end, you are comparing a Ford with a Rolls Royce.

You can opt to verify your image when you create it.

After that, there is of course the question of the image remaining valid- and bear in mind you also will be likely dependent when you restore an image on two separate image files- the base image (1st, biggest, slowest) and a differential image file. The base image file could be months old when you finally need to restore it.

Further, when creating the image, you get a 'free' check on the state of your disk- if Macrium can't read it you'll probably get a CRC error.

Image files are compressed, so there will be an inherent check on that when you come to read it- which includes each time you create a differential image.

Terrypin said:

Thanks all, much appreciate those informative replies.

OK, I'm sold. I will set aside time to try my first Macrium image within the next few days.

One key question that's always troubled me (about any imaging program): how can I be sure it will work? Especially with that first attempt when I'm at my least confident. I have a 256 GB SSD ( C ), plus an internal, well-used, 4 TB HD, and external USB drives of 3, 2, and 1 TB respectively. But from the research I did a year or so ago, after upgrading to this Win 10 PC after 15 years with XP, I cannot make an image of C and restore it to anywhere but C in order to reassure myself it works. This 'hope for the best' aspect seems a major issue to me.

After you have created your image, you can, thru Macrium, "mount" it. It will look just like a separate disk drive, with all of the partitions you backed up. You can explore the folders and files, just like any other drive. This may give you some confidence that it has worked correctly. Just look around in the "mounted" image and assure yourself all looks ok. You can even copy files from the "mounted" image to verify them. When done, go to My PC and eject the "drive" with Macrium. This may give you a more warm and fuzzy feel!

TC