Back up Settings etc

alyraver · 30 Oct 2017

Hi I have just upgraded to Win 10 from Win 7 Pro

Its taken me a while to get everything exactly how I want it - start menu, layout, etc etc

Is there a way to back up my entire settings, so that in the event that I need to do a fresh install I can just load up my saved settings and Apps/Files which would save me time?

I've done a backup under the 'Backup and Restore (Windows 7)' feature under System and Security - but it says I will need the Win 10 disc to restore them? I upgraded via the download so I don't have a disc? I'm confused

Also under the Settings menu in the 'Update & Security' section, there is an option to back up files there too? I tried this by clicking the 'Add a drive' button, it then gave me a choice from my hard drives to choose one - I clicked on the one I wanted to use - then nothing happens? It just closes the drive selection page and that's it? Does this feature not work? Do I have to use the 'Backup and Restore (Windows 7)' option?

dalchina · 31 Oct 2017

Hi, Welcome to Win 10. Yes, a learning curve.

Please don't bother with 'Backup and Restore (Windows 7)' - this is going to be deprecated- MS recommends (as we do) using more robust, reliable, feature rich disk image tools such as Macrium Reflect (free) + its boot disk + external medium for image sets. Option Backup Windows automatically selects all partitions used for the Windows OS (more than you're used to).

Disk imaging applies to all partitions and disks of course.

You can enable System Restore (off by default on each major build of Win 10). However, it's not so reliable, and can let you down when you need it.

Win 10 iso's are freely available: useful for certain repairs, including an in-place upgrade repair.
Download Windows 10 ISO File Installation Upgrade Tutorials

Note the huge Tutorial section here which you're free to browse and search.
Windows 10 Tutorial Index Tutorials

Also under the Settings menu in the 'Update & Security' section, there is an option to back up files there too?

File history is a more 'on the fly' backup tool. Best to research that on the internet; Tutorials:

Settings backup: Not completely as far as I know- I expect others may know more.
Example:
How to backup the Start menu settings on Windows 10 | Windows Central

You can use 3rd party tools from Easeus and Laplink to move programs and settings from 1 PC or OS build to another. A useful way to do this is to use your previously created disk image as source for that program.

Suggestion: coming from Win 7, you will probably find win 10's start menu very frustrating and limited. If you have a deeply nested (large) start menu, then you will find shortcuts stripped out of there folders and listed in alpha order so you may see
Help
Help
Help

readme
readme
readme

etc - all from different programs. The folders are still intact- it's a design flaw in Win 10's menu that doesn't allow for this legacy issue.

But there's a great start menu for free that is the best of XP and Win 7's design, and then some. Also much more configurable, including the search options.

Many here use it- Classic Shell start menu (free). Hugely convenient, support drag 'n drop (Win 10's doesn't) and can launch apps.

Speaking of those- Win 10s universal apps don't use exe's, dlls or the registry and don't take parameters. But you can still install programs exactly as before.

Cortana's search field is limited - essentially to indexed items and no executables.

Customisation is a lot more limited than in Win 7: the Advanced Display dialogue has long gone: see a tool called SMACC by Superfly which exposes some of those settings.

That said, you can still do things like this:

Note the Win 7 orb, my chosen start button for Classic Shell.

ThrashZone · 31 Oct 2017

Hi,
Much easier to use free macrium reflect just create the winpe recovery cd/ flash media and you should be done once you create a system image.
Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect Backup Restore Tutorials

RolandJS · 31 Oct 2017

+1 ThrashZone! I've used created USB and DVD boots to quickly restore my OS partition (which saved all my preferences, all my settings, etc.) from a recent backup. Macrium Reflect, EaseUS ToDo, Image for Windows, and so many other free and pay-for backup / restore programs exist. Certainly others have used Windows' built-in backup / restore function as a 2nd backup, I elected not to -- I use a couple of 3rd party programs to make my full images.

alyraver · 01 Nov 2017

Many thanks for the tip on Macrium! I've downloaded it and have saved and Image of Win 10 on my USB.

Hopefully its worked!

Runnerbean · 05 Nov 2017

What's wrong with using the perfectly adequate built-in Windows 10 Recovery and System Image tools?

dalchina · 05 Nov 2017

I have to admit I've never definitively tried to look at its features, but my impression is that it may not provide the range of features 3rd party tools do... so I'll ask.. (e.g.)

Can that do differential or incremental imaging? Does it maintain image sets (number, date limits with automatic deletion)? Does it offer forensic imaging?

Can it be used to only image data disks? Does it support verification of images? Mounting of images so you can extract files and folders?

Bree · 05 Nov 2017

Runnerbean said:

What's wrong with using the perfectly adequate built-in Windows 10 Recovery and System Image tools?

I use it regularly, so perhaps I'm best placed to answer that. Yes, it works well... but....

... it can be temperamental. You have to be very careful not to move or rename the images else they won't be seen as available to restore. And sometimes an image is not recognisable for no apparent reason.

...it is a deprecated feature in Fall Creators Update. This means it may well be removed in the next version (or the one after that).

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

Bust most of all, it is feature-poor. Macrium (and others) allow you to mount an image and retrieve individual files, for example.

Bree · 05 Nov 2017

dalchina said:

I have to admit I've never definitively tried to look at its features, but my impression is that it may not provide the range of features 3rd party tools do... so I'll ask.. (e.g.)

Can that do differential or incremental imaging?

With sufficient space on the backup drive, making a new image will not delete the earlier one, both are available to restore. There is nothing to say how it does this, though. Like all MS utilities, it's very basic and doesn't tell you much about what it's doing (or give you any control over it).

Does it maintain image sets (number, date limits with automatic deletion)?

Making a second image to the same backup drive will add it to the existing image. Previous images will be deleted 'as required'. There is no control over this and the only way to find out how many (if any) previous images are available is to attempt a restore.

Does it offer forensic imaging?

No.

Can it be used to only image data disks?

No. Data drives can optionally be included, but the system drives are always included.

Does it support verification of images?

Don't know - it may well be doing some sort of verification, but MS doesn't like to bother you with confusing details.

Mounting of images so you can extract files and folders?

It says not, and that's true for Backup & Restore itself, but File Explorer/Disk Manager can mount the .vhdx it creates. Mind you, if you have to mount it, then copy it first and mount the copy. That's because you have to mount it as read/write - which may well break it as an image that can be restored later.

It is good and reliable for a basic one-off image of a system. I use it for all the images on my test machine (System Two below). On average I restore an image two or three times a week. On Patch Tuesday I restore all the more recent versions, check for updates, then save a new image. The reason I use the MS imaging is that for test/support purposes I want to keep this as a pure MS-only system - no third party apps allowed.

When used within its limits it's reliable, try and get it to do anything more sophisticated and it breaks.

dalchina · 05 Nov 2017

Pretty convincing answer.. let's hope @Runnerbean thinks so...