Question on Disk Partitions

I really know very little about disks and partitions, but I think I have a problem with them when I try to backup my system. My pc is: Acer Aspire TC-885-ACCFLi5O Desktop, 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8400, 8GB DDR4 + 16GB Optane Memory, 1TB HDD. OS is: Windows 10 (X64) Version 1909 (OS Build 18363.449). I seem to have different disk partitions in Disk Management on my pc and partitions shown on backup programs, which seems to keep me from creating backups, restoring them and creating recovery usb media. I think this may be due to the Optane memory, but I don't know that for sure, or how to overcome it. I anyone can give me advice about this, I will really appreciate it. Attached screenshots of Disk Management and of Backup Drives which show available)

Hi, just considering your system disk:
Disk Man. shows 100Mb, C: and unallocated

Your backup program shows 100Mb, 16Mb, C:

Why the difference? Disk Man by design does not show the 16Mb partition.
The backup prog excludes the unallocated space as there's nothing there to back up.

If you were to use Macrium Reflect and choose its Windows backup option (button - the partitions required to backup and restore Windows) all the required partitions should be selected automatically.

I believe you found Macrium R worked with Optane in your previous thread on this.

Hope that helps.

I think the 16mb partition is Optane Memory and some way it gets in the way of most backup programs.

JohnBurns said:

I think the 16mb partition is Optane Memory and some way it gets in the way of most backup programs.

Optane memory acts in a Raid formation with a second Hard drive or ssd.
Which means it is joined 16 gig optane + 1 Terabyte hdd as an example.
the 16 mb partition is not the optane memory.

With the optane engaged They show as 1 drive not a single partition.

Thanks, for the answers - maybe someday (if I live long enough) I'll be a little less ignorant about dealing with Windows10.

JohnBurns said:

Thanks, for the answers - maybe someday (if I live long enough) I'll be a little less ignorant about dealing with Windows10.

The best way to learn is by doing

Browse the tutorials here , I have always found something new.

I have made win10 boot media. It should support optane - you can check it out. The iso needs extracting to usb using usb7ice or rufus, etc.
183x64.iso

Usb7ice.zip

After extracting to usb stick:



Most of the programs are in a folder called Uprograms which sits on the usb stick and are not in the wim.



You can add your own programs into the Uprograms folder and create a link ( shortcut ) by adding a line to UProgs.ini ( it is just a text file)

1. E.G. Create folder Uprograms\macrium

2. Copy your macrium files into it

3. (IF you are not using free version) Export your macrium license from your current registry and put the exported reg file into Uprograms\regfiles folder

4. Add this line to UProgs.ini
LINK %Desktop%\Macrium,%PECMN%\macrium\reflect.exe

Several programs are already included in the Uprograms folder.

It includes Aomei Backupper ( free version).
If you have Aomei Backupper Pro version:

you can copy your "C:\Program Files (x86)\AOMEI Backupper\AmCore.dll" file into the usb stick Uprograms\Aomeibackupper folder to replace the one that is in there.

It includes Aomei Partition Assistant ( free version).
If you have Aomei Partition Assistant Pro version:

you can copy your "C:\Program Files (x86)\AOMEI Partition Assistant\cfg.ini" file into the usb stick Uprograms\AomeiPartAssist to replace the one that is in there.