Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect  

Kari said:

You know that you can use Macrium Reflect as portable app, too?

That is what I do - I don't install it - just run backups when booted from the USB key.

Kari said:

The point is, if storage space used by Macrium is an issue, you do not need to have it installed. You can manage backup and restore using Macrium Rescue media.

Ok, thanks again.

Kari said:

No, that's not in the tutorial because I do not recommend it due lack of scheduled backups. It's just a tip about how to not need to have Macrium installed yet being able to use it.

I use that method on my W10 tablet with just 64 GB storage space. I do regular backups but Macrium is not installed; I installed it, created rescue media with device specific drivers, then uninstalled it. As tablet is only used for web surfing and streaming TV from my native Finland casted wireless to my TV, it does not need scheduled daily / weekly backups. Maybe two or three times a month, usually after build upgrades (it's an Insider device) I just boot it from Macrium Rescue USB and make a backup to a network share. That's it.

The point is, if storage space used by Macrium is an issue, you do not need to have it installed. You can manage backup and restore using Macrium Rescue media.

I actually create a small partition of 250 MB, copy the winpe files from a boot drive, and create a boot entry eg using easybcd.

This takes a lot less space than the windows version but is limited as you say. However, avoids having to boot from a usb drive.

You still need a boot drive just in case boot files on mmc drive get screwed up (nothing can save you if mmc drive fails though).

MS may wish to make backup and restore less obvious in the next release but I can imagine an outcry if it is removed simply because there will be users/organisations that rely on being able to restore previously created images/data.

I get somewhat annoyed at all the bashing of the MS utility. It is as quick to run as Macrium in my experience, and that includes restoring images. About 3 minutes for each operation for me, less for the following differential backups that MS makes.

I think the utility will still be present come Octobers new release.

Thanks for that :) It has been a long time coming.