Backing up Windows 8

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How do you back up Windows 8 OS without it taking all night? I’ve tried a 16 GB USB, that’s what it said to do, and it cancelled that. Tried using DVD’s and backing it up that way, and it was going to take all night.

What else could I do?

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Using which program or command? The backup under Windows 7 File Recovery in Control Panel?

(Just clarifying, as there’s also File History, Recovery Image and Restore Points etc.)

16GB doesn’t sound like nearly enough space for a typical Windows backup.

Microsoft recommend minimum 200GB of external hard drive space:

How much storage space do I need to back up files?

But perhaps you’re creating a Recovery Drive?

Bruce

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Many of us use 3rd party Imaging apps to back up our whole HD. For example I use Acronis True Image 2013. You can check in the maintenance forum for discussions on several well known 3rd party Imaging apps. These apps back up everything.

In addition to a monthly Image I also use Win 8 File History. This built in app backs up your data. Generally, data should be backed up more often than an entire system.

I just do not think the built in Windows Imaging (Backup and Restore) has the feature set I want. In my case my trials with this built in Imaging app did not give me a warm and fuzzy feeling, hence I switched to a 3rd party app and have never looked back.

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How to Create a System Image in Windows 8

Things you’ll need:
External Hard Drive
Image Restore/Boot and or rescue CD/DVD

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On how to create a system image in Windows 8 (http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials…ndows-8-a.html) the author says in his introduction “•You can only include drives formatted with the NTFS file system in a system image.” (See pink panel)

But what if the image was created under UEFI? Then the file system is formatted in GPT.

Perhaps I’m missing something here?

Johannes.

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On how to create a system image in Windows 8 (http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials…ndows-8-a.html) the author says in his introduction “•You can only include drives formatted with the NTFS file system in a system image.” (See pink panel)

But what if the image was created under UEFI? Then the file system is formatted in GPT.

Perhaps I’m missing something here?

Johannes.

NTFS is still a valid (and Windows default) file system in GPT. That won’t be a problem. My laptop is UEFI enabled and the drive is GPT, but only the boot partition (120MB) is not NTFS (it’s FAT32). My other partitions (including the Windows installation partition) are all formatted NTFS.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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NTFS is still a valid (and Windows default) file system in GPT. That won’t be a problem. My laptop is UEFI enabled and the drive is GPT, but only the boot partition (120MB) is not NTFS (it’s FAT32). My other partitions (including the Windows installation partition) are all formatted NTFS.

That brings up an interesting question: are there in fact ANY internal differences within partitions between MBR-style partitions and GPT-style partitions, or is it only the organization of the disk container itself (MBR-style vs. GPT-style) that differs? It would not surprise me if one could make an image of an installed system from an MBR-style disk and restore it to a GPT-style disk without loss of function (at least as long as the latter had its own boot – which Microsoft calls ‘system’ – partition to invoke it and any drive-letter scrambling was cleaned up), but I don’t know that this is in fact the case.

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That brings up an interesting question: are there in fact ANY internal differences within partitions between MBR-style partitions and GPT-style partitions, or is it only the organization of the disk container itself (MBR-style vs. GPT-style) that differs? It would not surprise me if one could make an image of an installed system from an MBR-style disk and restore it to a GPT-style disk without loss of function (at least as long as the latter had its own boot – which Microsoft calls ‘system’ – partition to invoke it and any drive-letter scrambling was cleaned up), but I don’t know that this is in fact the case.

Yes, an image file from an NTFS data partition on a disk partitioned MBR can be restored to an NTFS data partition on a disk partitioned GPT, and vice-versa. The only real difference is in the partition table. MBR allocates 32 bits for Logical Block Addresses, and GPT allocates 64 bits. The naming conventions are quite different, so unscrambling drive letters would be no simple matter.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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Using which program or command? The backup under Windows 7 File Recovery in Control Panel?

(Just clarifying, as there’s also File History, Recovery Image and Restore Points etc.)

16GB doesn’t sound like nearly enough space for a typical Windows backup.

Microsoft recommend minimum 200GB of external hard drive space:

How much storage space do I need to back up files?

But perhaps you’re creating a Recovery Drive?

Bruce

That’s what I’m trying to do, make a recovery drive.

Many of us use 3rd party Imaging apps to back up our whole HD. For example I use Acronis True Image 2013. You can check in the maintenance forum for discussions on several well known 3rd party Imaging apps. These apps back up everything.

In addition to a monthly Image I also use Win 8 File History. This built in app backs up your data. Generally, data should be backed up more often than an entire system.

I just do not think the built in Windows Imaging (Backup and Restore) has the feature set I want. In my case my trials with this built in Imaging app did not give me a warm and fuzzy feeling, hence I switched to a 3rd party app and have never looked back.

Is that better than trying to make a recovery drive? Would I get the same result?

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That’s what I’m trying to do, make a recovery drive.
Is that better than trying to make a recovery drive? Would I get the same result?

An image captures your systems state at the time you created it. You can restore that image and be back to the state you were at the time you took it. This means you can always go back to a time where you know your system was working. This is really the best assurance regarding your data and will also require the least effort to get back to a working system.
Take images periodically (I do it once a week) and you know you are always relatively safe.

A restore disk won’t protect you against data loss, for example, from a disk malfunction. An image will. An image based backup strategy provides all a restore disk does (you will also get a boot disc) and much more than that.

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I believe that Imaging a system is the “Gold Standard” of backups. As Rui has stated the Image will save an exact duplicate of your system with all apps installed and all customizations intact from the moment you created it.

I go further and create a new Image each month after patch Tuesday. In this way my Image is always up to date so that restoration takes about 10 minutes.

If you choose to go back to the manufacturer recovery, then NONE of you changes will be present.

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An image captures your systems state at the time you created it. You can restore that image and be back to the state you were at the time you took it. This means you can always go back to a time where you know your system was working. This is really the best assurance regarding your data and will also require the least effort to get back to a working system.
Take images periodically (I do it once a week) and you know you are always relatively safe.

A restore disk won’t protect you against data loss, for example, from a disk malfunction. An image will. An image based backup strategy provides all a restore disk does (you will also get a boot disc) and much more than that.

Does that take a long time to do? Sorry if I sound stuped, but I just got Windows 8. Went from XP to 8 so I have a lot to learn.:blush::unsure:

I believe that Imaging a system is the “Gold Standard” of backups. As Rui has stated the Image will save an exact duplicate of your system with all apps installed and all customizations intact from the moment you created it.

I go further and create a new Image each month after patch Tuesday. In this way my Image is always up to date so that restoration takes about 10 minutes.

If you choose to go back to the manufacturer recovery, then NONE of you changes will be present.

Sounds like a back up Image is the way to go.

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Does that take a long time to do? Sorry if I sound stuped, but I just got Windows 8. Went from XP to 8 so I have a lot to learn.:blush::unsure:

Sounds like a back up Image is the way to go.

As Medico wrote, imaging is very advantageous and if you pick a single backup strategy, imaging is definitely the way to go.
Backup time depends on the the amount of data to backup and where you will backing up to. If you plan to buy a new external drive (and that will be the safest and fastest option in terms of time to complete a backup), getting a USB 3.0 drive (if your computer supports USB 3.0) can assure reasonably fast backup.
To give you an idea, my 280 GB backup takes around 1 1/2 hours when done to my e-SATA external USB – and this is slower than USB 3.0. I do this once a week.

Contrary to Medico, I do my backups from within Windows. There is no reason to stop working or using the computer just because your backup is running.

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As Medico wrote, imaging is very advantageous and if you pick a single backup strategy, imaging is definitely the way to go.
Backup time depends on the the amount of data to backup and where you will backing up to. If you plan to buy a new external drive (and that will be the safest and fastest option in terms of time to complete a backup), getting a USB 3.0 drive (if your computer supports USB 3.0) can assure reasonably fast backup.
To give you an idea, my 280 GB backup takes around 1 1/2 hours when done to my e-SATA external USB – and this is slower than USB 3.0. I do this once a week.

Contrary to Medico, I do my backups from within Windows. There is no reason to stop working or using the computer just because your backup is running.

How do I know if I can do a USB 3.0 and can I chose what to back up and what not to? I just don’t want to be all day or night doing this.

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How do I know if I can do a USB 3.0 and can I chose what to back up and what not to? I just don’t want to be all day or night doing this.

I am not sure how much disk space you are using now, but my 280 GB on a USB 2.0 take around 3 hours to backup. My laptop (70 GB) takes about an hour with a USB 2.0 drive.
With True Image, you can do it when you are ready to shutdown the computer. There is an option that will shutdown the computer when the backup ends, so you can check that option, leave the computer, TI will backup all it has and will shut down the computer for you. It’s hassle free, even with a slower external drive.

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When I create an Image, I choose to boot to the Imaging app Rescue disk (Acronis True Image 2013 in my case) and create my Images from there. This takes Windows totally out of the equation because you never boot to Windows. The Image creation is dependent on the size of your HD, how many partitions you include in the Image, etc. My Images take less than 30 minutes to create. I do this once per month.

Acronis allow you to boot into Windows, then start the app and create you Image. I choose not to do this for myself. This is personal preference on my part. I believe others do boot into Windows and create their Images while continuing to work.

This does bring up another point. ALWAYS create a Rescue Boot Disk (will fit on a CD). This is the disk you will boot to in order to allow you to restore your Image, especially important when your PC will not boot.

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When I create an Image, I choose to boot to the Imaging app Rescue disk (Acronis True Image 2013 in my case) and create my Images from there. This takes Windows totally out of the equation because you never boot to Windows. The Image creation is dependent on the size of your HD, how many partitions you include in the Image, etc. My Images take less than 30 minutes to create. I do this once per month.

Acronis allow you to boot into Windows, then start the app and create you Image. I choose not to do this for myself. This is personal preference on my part. I believe others do boot into Windows and create their Images while continuing to work.

This does bring up another point. ALWAYS create a Rescue Boot Disk (will fit on a CD). This is the disk you will boot to in order to allow you to restore your Image, especially important when your PC will not boot.

How do I get to that? It was going to take 12 DVD’s. I don’t have time for that.

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Do not use DVD’s. Get yourself an Ext. USB HD for this chore. In Acronis there is a section to create bootable media.

I give some basic instructions for Acronis in post #125 here. In the first screen shot you will see the link for creating bootable media.

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Do not use DVD’s. Get yourself an Ext. USB HD for this chore. In Acronis there is a section to create bootable media.

I give some basic instructions for Acronis in post #125 here. In the first screen shot you will see the link for creating bootable media.

That might make it easier.:) Is Acronis safe and free to use?:( The last thing I want is a virus.

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That might make it easier.:) Is Acronis safe and free to use?:( The last thing I want is a virus.

Acronis is safe, but not free.
If you want a free app, try Macrium Reflect free. It’s not as full featured as Acronis, but will do the job.

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Acronis does have a free trial period, but is not free. You can find it by doing a Google search for about 1/2 price. Acronis gets $49.99 but I just found it for about half off with a very quick search.

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$49.99 aaahhh yes, you are located in USA. Here in Australia even though our dollar is worth slightly more than the US dollar, we pay roughly double for all our software than you folks in the States…… [don’t] know why.

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Ya think it might be something to do with good ol’ GREED?

Really all you need is a friend in the US who can send things to you. Eh Mate?

As for backing up Win-8, it’s no different than any other version of windows. If you have a backup program that worked for Vista or Win-7, it will most likely work as well for Windows 8.

The program I use, “Ghost 11.5” that I used on XP, works equally well for Win-8 and all previous OS’s.

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Well, I finally got a 1TB portable hard drive and backed up my entire OS. I think it was about 30 minutes, including the installation of the software. Got a lot of space left on it, if I keep backing up, will it overwrite what I just did?

Like say if I wanted to back up my MS word files onto it, will it overwrite that?:confused:

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Well, I finally got a 1TB portable hard drive and backed up my entire OS. I think it was about 30 minutes, including the installation of the software. Got a lot of space left on it, if I keep backing up, will it overwrite what I just did?

Like say if I wanted to back up my MS word files onto it, will it overwrite that?:confused:

What app are you using? I don’t use Windows native backup, but if you use that, you may need to rename the backup folders to have more than one backup. Windows backup just replaces its own backups(or it used to be with Windows 7), so if you backup your documents to a different folder, those won’t be touched by the backup program.

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What app are you using? I don’t use Windows native backup, but if you use that, you may need to rename the backup folders to have more than one backup. Windows backup just replaces its own backups(or it used to be with Windows 7), so if you backup your documents to a different folder, those won’t be touched by the backup program.

It’s a Toshiba portable hard drive so I just used what came with it. I didn’t want to try the Windows 8 file history.

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Check the specs of your PC to see if it has any USB 3 ports. You can sometimes identify them because the plastic tab in them are blue colored rather than dark gray or black.

What PC do you have? Look at the manufacturer’s web site to see whether it has USB 3 or not. If not it almost assuredly has USB 2.

33392-pRS1-12824732w345

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Check the specs of your PC to see if it has any USB 3 ports. You can sometimes identify them because the plastic tab in them are blue colored rather than dark gray or black.

What PC do you have? Look at the manufacturer’s web site to see whether it has USB 3 or not. If not it almost assuredly has USB 2.

33392-pRS1-12824732w345

It’s a laptop: http://us.gateway.com/gw/en/US/content/model/NX.Y1UAA.035 I think it can do a 3.0.

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It’s a laptop: http://us.gateway.com/gw/en/US/content/model/NX.Y1UAA.035 I think it can do a 3.0.

Seems the USB ports are 2.0. They are a tad slower, but they are up to the job, too.

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Seems the USB ports are 2.0. They are a tad slower, but they are up to the job, too.

I am not sure how much disk space you are using now, but my 280 GB on a USB 2.0 take around 3 hours to backup. My laptop (70 GB) takes about an hour with a USB 2.0 drive.
With True Image, you can do it when you are ready to shutdown the computer. There is an option that will shutdown the computer when the backup ends, so you can check that option, leave the computer, TI will backup all it has and will shut down the computer for you. It’s hassle free, even with a slower external drive.

So I won’t be all day or night doing this. It looks like if I go about with what you’re saying I won’t be. Am I right?

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No, this will take no more than a couple hours, less than that, in most cases. I gave my own worst times and it will only be worse than that if you use more disk space than I do.

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No, this will take no more than a couple hours, less than that, in most cases. I gave my own worst times and it will only be worse than that if you use more disk space than I do.

Okay, I’ll try that.

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My used space is around 35 Gb and like I said it takes less than 1/2 hour to do a complete Image. The more apps and data you have the longer it will take.

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My used space is around 35 Gb and like I said it takes less than 1/2 hour to do a complete Image. The more apps and data you have the longer it will take.

Can you tell it to just back up what you want?

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Yes. I have 2 partitions on both our laptops. One is set up for the OS and apps, the other partition holds ALL our data. I can tell Acronis to Image just the C Drive, just the D Drive or both. I can then tell Acronis to restore either drive or both drives. Generally I have to Image just my C Drive because I back up my data more often in another manner. In my case, since I have Win 8, I use a new built in app called File History to back up just the data. This can be set up to backup data on a select schedule.

The nice thing about Images is that you can store as many as the space in your storage media will allow. I keep my last several Images in addition to my first which included both partitions. Generally all my subsequent Images include just the C Drive.

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Yes. I have 2 partitions on both our laptops. One is set up for the OS and apps, the other partition holds ALL our data. I can tell Acronis to Image just the C Drive, just the D Drive or both. I can then tell Acronis to restore either drive or both drives. Generally I have to Image just my C Drive because I back up my data more often in another manner. In my case, since I have Win 8, I use a new built in app called File History to back up just the data. This can be set up to backup data on a select schedule.

The nice thing about Images is that you can store as many as the space in your storage media will allow. I keep my last several Images in addition to my first which included both partitions. Generally all my subsequent Images include just the C Drive.

Okay, Windows didn’t make this easy, did they?:rolleyes:

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Actually I believe Acronis is quite easy to use. The creation and restoration of an Image is easy. You simply tell acronis what to Image (C Drive) where to save it (Ext HD) and what to name the Image, then start the Image creation. You do just the reverse to restore.

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Acronis also supports a file backup mode, where you pick the folders you want to backup. This doesn’t replace the need to perform full image backups, if you want the convenience of easily restoring your whole system, but you can define different types of backups and schedule them to your liking and have everything done automatically for you.

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Acronis also supports a file backup mode, where you pick the folders you want to backup. This doesn’t replace the need to perform full image backups, if you want the convenience of easily restoring your whole system, but you can define different types of backups and schedule them to your liking and have everything done automatically for you.

It’s not free, though.:(

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Yeah, but $40 to keep your system and data safe, is a very good deal. I have used it for years and it’s been worth all the money I have paid.

There are free options, as I said before.

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Yeah, but $40 to keep your system and data safe, is a very good deal. I have used it for years and it’s been worth all the money I have paid.

There are free options, as I said before.

Okay, I’ll try them.

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Okay, I’ll try them.

Check out http://www.seagate.com/support/downloads/discwizard/ – this is a limited free version of the Acronis software which you can use on any computer that has a Seagate drive (even just connected via USB). Western Digital has a similar free, possibly more limited version – see http://support.wdc.com/product/downloaddetail.asp?swid=119 – but a quick glance didn’t indicate that it supports Windows 8 yet.

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A Google searchgives many options for Acronis True Image 2013. Some quite inexpensive. Just check reviews of the sources. Both Newegg and Tiger Direct have it priced at $39.99. There is one eBay listing for $27.88. If you get the download edition there will be no shipping as well. Another on eBay for $25.99

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I use Terabyte unlimited’s Image for Windows. it runs nightly, to my hybrid ssd 750g external drive, and shuts down or sleeps the system when it’s done.
individual folders/files can be restored from any backup anytime – when you need access to a backup, it is set up as a virtual drive with one click.
price is under $40.

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I’ve never used anything other than TeraByte Unlimited’s IFD and IFW.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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Always remember that you have to create a Repair Disc boot disc that allows you to restore a system image when you use Backup and restore in Windows 7, now called Windows 7 File Recovery in Windows 8, which is run from the Control Panel. If you use Acronis or Macrium Reflect, you must create its boot disc that allows you to perform the restoration of a backup or system image. The best way to create backups and system images is to use an external hard disk drive. 500GB and 1TB (1024GB) models are relatively inexpensive. I prefer Seagate external drives. After you have created a backup and/or system image, disconnect the drive from the computer so that any electrical spike or lightning strike that takes the computer out doesn’t also take the drive out.

Here is a good long article on Windows 8 on a single page: http://www.pcbuyerbeware.co.uk/Essential-information-on-upgrading-to-windows-8.htm

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How do you back up Windows 8 OS without it taking all night? I’ve tried a 16 GB USB, that’s what it said to do, and it cancelled that. Tried using DVD’s and backing it up that way, and it was going to take all night.

What else could I do?

Kala

You have two distinct requirements for backup:

1. Recovery from a crashed or unstable system
2. Recover lost or damaged data

For both you will need an external or network hard disk drive. Consider at least Seagate Expansion 1TB Black Portable Hard Drive STBX1000101 or perhaps think of the future and go to Seagate Expansion 2TB Black Desktop Hard Drive STBV2000100

For the first you need to backup at minimum the Windows 8 operating system preferably with all its installed applications. For this you need a recovery disk to be able to boot up and an image of the boot disk. For the bootable recovery device a 16GB USB flash drive is ideal. Then an image of the boot partition or the whole disk, this will go onto your external hard disk drive. I use Macrium Reflect Free edition this includes GPT support if you need it. You could use just this and create one image of your whole drive while it is new to keep forever and perhaps one image a week that you keep only the most recent three or four depending on how paranoid you are. Use Macrium to create your recovery disk/usb flash drive. If you are only going to use image backups then I think a better strategy is to do one daily and keep one that is a month old, one that is a week old and the most recent two dailies. Daily backups on your 750GB drive when it is about half full is likely to take about an hour (I do mine when I am about to stop for dinner)

For the second you can use the Windows 8 File History that you can set up from Control Panel to backup changed and new files hourly or daily or weekly or even monthly. My recommendation for most home users is daily. Serious home workers or business users I would say hourly. This backup will also go to your external hard disk drive.

My personal strategy is to do a weekly image and a daily File History. They both go to a network drive. Monthly I do another image to an external drive that then goes into a safe place.

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I use the free Windows create an image program. Here is the deal. You can only restore an image to the computer it was made from whether using Macrium reflect free, the Windows free system, or the paid for programs like Acronis and the old Ghost. You see even when they say they can do a restore of the image to different hardware there is usually problems with that. To Google different people describing how to do it use the search term creating a system image in Windows 8.

I have five Acronis licenses for TI 10 which will not work past Vista, which is fine with me because with Windows 7 they included imaging free. I have done literally hundreds of images using the Windows program and never had a failure restoring the 50 or so I restored. I have had Acronis fail and have to be validated and it can be very temperamental. I did many Acronis images and restores in the old days. Then I switched to EaseUS Todo backup, and then to Windows. I also tried Macrium Reflect with good results in the free version.

I just did a restore for one of my customers yesterday. Last year, May 5, 2012, I sold him an external drive after I cleaned up an infection for him for the third time. I showed him how to do an image using Windows 7 backup and restore page. I explained that if he created a system image every week on the same day, then if his hard drive failed, or he got another infection, he could restore it all back to exactly the way it was the day he created the last system image. All he had to do was put the CD in and power off then turn it on and it would automatically boot from the CD ( Since I redid his “setup” or CMOS to boot from the optical drive first.) Not a backup, a system image that will restore everything-Windows, all applications, programs and settings, and all your data and contacts . . . EVERYTHING! Thankfully that drive was still there, albeit dirty and dusty from being under the counter at his biz. He also still had the repair/boot disk we made from the Backup and restore page on a CD too! He had gotten an email telling him that he had been caught looking at child porn and to click on the attachment to learn more. IT was “ransomware” (malware that says they will fix what they broke if you pay, like I would send a crook a lot of money in trust??) and locked up his computer and told him he was in violation and could unlock his computer only after paying 300 bucks. On boot an official; looki98ng page claiming to be FBI told him all kinds of scary things if he did not pay, and gave directions how to pay. This was my first time seeing ransomware live as it is rare folks fall for that anymore. See they do not want to admit they did porn or be thought to have gone to child porn when they never did anyway. Many folks will pay up that get infected.

Anyway I loaded the repair disk we made and hooked up the external drive that had the free windows create a system image from backup and restore on it. So with the external drive connected via USB and turned on, and with the boot CD in the CD drive I shut it down and waited a few seconds for RAM to bleed off, then powered it on.

It booted from the CD like I had set it up to do last year, and started loading the Windows environment from CD which takes forever, or about five minutes by a clock, which seems like forever today. Now if anybody has never restored from the windows program it is simple but what happens may confuse the folks here who said they had trouble using it, and stick to Acronis which they know. The first screen to come up has English selected by default. Click next. The next screen has repair at the top selected by default. Do not click next!!!! Look at the other option, it Says “Restore from a previously made image” Click to select that and then click next. It will search for windows 7 backups and find the latest one for that computer. That is why I know the date was May 5th last year. It shows the date. Since I do one for my main systems at home in the office weekly, I can make sure it is the latest by checking it against the last Saturday date. Never had a problem not caused by me rushing. Then always select to format and restore that image. It warns you one last time that all your data will be erased and the one selected and approved by you will take its place. You can go back one screen and double check. Then click next and in a half hour to an hour it is done and you are back up and running. His took a half hour. But since that image was year old, yesterday I had to do all the monthly Windows updates since then. It ended up being 500 or so MBs in almost 100 updates.

So when done following directions, it takes longer to do the updates when you don’t do the image weekly, than it does to restore the image! Folks it is routine for me.

You do not need to pay. Now if someone says they are expert and that they could not use the Windows Create a System image and make the CD, and restore it, perhaps they aren’t an expert, only experienced with Acronis.

I have used Acronis and all its accessories, I used Ghost years ago. I used EaseUS Todo for swapping my XP3 image and the Windows 8 images back and forth on my netbook as well as my old copy of Acronis TI-10. TI-10 would not work for Windows 7 or 8, so I used EaseUS for the Windows 8 image, and TI-10 for the XP3 image, and the boot disk for each to restore monthly. On that little 160GB hard drive it only took 20-30 minutes each. See I did not want to get “bit” with a bunch of windows updates for either Windows XP3, or the Windows 8 image, both of which were used on the same drive just not at the same time. So I updated the Developer’s 8 Preview, then made an image of it using EaseUS Todo back in 2011, then popped in the Acronis TI-10 boot disk and restored the XP3 image to it wiping off the Win 8 DP from it so I could update the XP image with the current Windows updates. Then since I was testing Windows 8, I would pop in the EaseUS Todo boot disk and restore the Win 8 DP to it until the next month. All through the year or so of the three previews of 8 I was doing the image swaps monthly. And the whole time making images for free of my Windows 7 computers and now my Windows 8 ones.

The long post was for the newbies so the ease may become clearer. You do not have to pay! Before you Acronis fans say how the Windows program created problems with second hand info, please start with whether you were able to create a system image and CD, and restore it or not, because I have folks who could not spell system image before showing them how online and off, doing it. Hope it helps.

I also loaded MSE on his computer, as most folks don’t renew the paid for A/V subscriptions that are always getting infected from opening attachments threatening them or enticing them from strangers. I do not make fun of them as they keep me busy. I also do not look down on them I try to train them but usually to no avail. See it is a win-win. They pay me if they do not listen, and we both have a good result when they do!

I see lots of arguments pro and con MSE as better or worse than third party paid for programs. The paid for programs are totally ineffective when expired, No?

BTW, many have made backups and never restored one, or had trouble. Unless the external drive dies at the same time as the one I need to restore I do not think there will be a problem for anybody with the very good free programs available today for creating system images. Just like folks can tell when someone hasn’t used a program they know when another claims it does not work when in fact it does. GPT drives aren’t a problem using the image from the computer regardless of the way the external drive is formatted. The only time that is not true is with partitions/drives over 2TB which require GPT to be reliable or work at all. As well the old 512 drive system for sectors was changed in 2010 September if I remember correctly, and some Acers that had the old pre-September drives would not restore from the factory restore disks to the newer 4k sector drives.

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Best practices.
System images are great for restoring an infected computer or to quickly be able to be where you were with a new hard drive when one fails. Images are no good regardless of claims to the contrary for taking the image from one computer to a new one, unless they have identical hardware too much can go wrong. So think this way, system images only for the computer they were made from.

Data backups are good for any computer as long as the programs to use the data are loaded on the new computer. Data backups do not include the programs. For example a backup of all my documents will include a lot of Word Docs and PDF files. If I saved all my documents which are data, they will not be usable until I load Word and a PDF file reader like FoxIt or Adobe Reader on the computer. So when a n ewe computer comes along, data files are easiest to copy over after setting the new one up clean with Windows and the programs/apps.

MY HP Envy Hybrid full windows 8 computer can refresh Windows and keep my programs and data. Neat for just corruption issues. I believe that there was something similar for 7 but it comes into its own in 8. I did a destructive restore just fine of the Surface RT Tablet, and also one keeping my data on my Envy because I had to replace the dock and it had to be redone for matching the versions the screen tablet had.

So to have all your bases covered you need data and images to make life easier when trouble strikes. And I even use external drive docks so I can load up my old drives to transfer data eliminating all that time masking data backups and keeping only images. See if the hard drive failed on my computer I had to replace it and restore the image to sell it. But in that case I would want to use the factory restore disks I made when new so none of my info was on it. See if the hard drive fails, the drive restore partition went too! So I could restore the image to a new drive and then remake the factory restore disks right? Yep as long as I never made them before, as many only let you make one set.

So to be covered you need to make and save in good condition and not lose a factory restore set from your computer when you first get it.

Full coverage.
1. Factory restore disk set.
2. Images made as often as you are willing to lose data. A week a month or annual images? Your choice.
3. A Back up of data or a drive dock at the least to copy data off from the old drive.

Optional bennies: A spare clone disk not used for data backups, or movies, pics, music etc. Then if the hard drive fails you just replace it and restore the image from last week.

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Images are no good regardless of claims to the contrary for taking the image from one computer to a new one, unless they have identical hardware too much can go wrong.

I’m sorry, but that information is simply incorrect.

That is the method I’ve used on every new system I’ve ever built, using the imaging software from TeraByte Unlimited. The only requirements are that the OS is a retail version of Windows (moving on OEM installation violates the EULA), and having the required drivers available for the new hardware.

It works quite well. I never saw the need to do all that installation of OS and programs, when a simple image transplant is all that is needed. A call to Microsoft may be necessary to get activated, but it’s a toll free call, and Microsoft is quite accommodating in such matters.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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I’m sorry, but that information is simply incorrect.

That is the method I’ve used on every new system I’ve ever built, using the imaging software from TeraByte Unlimited. The only requirements are that the OS is a retail version of Windows (moving on OEM installation violates the EULA), and having the required drivers available for the new hardware.

It works quite well. I never saw the need to do all that installation of OS and programs, when a simple image transplant is all that is needed. A call to Microsoft may be necessary to get activated, but it’s a toll free call, and Microsoft is quite accommodating in such matters.

Depends on the hardware in the new computer. It does work in many cases, but some systems won’t boot at all for lack of the proper key driver unless there is something special about Trabyte’s imaging software. I’m not really familiar with it.

Jerry

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Depends on the hardware in the new computer. It does work in many cases, but some systems won’t boot at all for lack of the proper key driver unless there is something special about Trabyte’s imaging software. I’m not really familiar with it.

Jerry

I have yet to meet a PC that would not boot from Windows installation media or a DOS boot disk. If it has that capability, it will boot an image configured for a transplant. The only other necessity is a CD or USB stick with the correct drivers for the hardware.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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I have yet to meet a PC that would not boot from Windows installation media or a DOS boot disk. If it has that capability, it will boot an image configured for a transplant. The only other necessity is a CD or USB stick with the correct drivers for the hardware.

With new hardware, I always do a clean install now. its been a long time since I tried a transplant, but you seem to have a procedure down pat.

Jerry

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With new hardware, I always do a clean install now. its been a long time since I tried a transplant, but you seem to have a procedure down pat.

Jerry

The only time I’ve ever done a clean install was when there was no upgrade path. I’ve always done a transplant to a new build. About 10 years ago I prepped a drive that had been running Windows 2000 Professional on a Socket 7 board with an AMD K6 III 450Mhz processor (a laptop processor, by the way) and transplanted it to an Intel D875 board with a Hyperthreading P4-E. I didn’t use an image that time because the drive was only a couple of months old, and I wanted to use it in the new build, but the prep is basically the same, since I prep the drive to take the image, anyway.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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Images are no good regardless of claims to the contrary for taking the image from one computer to a new one, unless they have identical hardware too much can go wrong.

Not only (as others have noted) is the above incorrect today, but it has been mostly incorrect for well over a decade. I have successfully migrated both Win98SE and Win2K system images to new (completely different) hardware when this was the only way to retain applications whose installers were no longer available, though when disk controllers differ sufficiently it may be necessary to revert to the generic (Windows installation) controllers before taking the image (so that it can run initially on the new hardware until the appropriate new controller drivers have been installed) and of course other appropriate drivers need to be available for the new hardware in order to use it fully. To be fair, though, in one case I never really got a Win98SE migration working 100% on one new platform, so while it’s usually possible there’s no guarantee and even when successful the process usually requires significant manual shepherding.

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Acronis Plus Pack adds the ability to restore an Image to a completely new PC as well. It worked for me a while ago (pre Win 8).

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Originally Posted by Derek Jr
Images are no good regardless of claims to the contrary for taking the image from one computer to a new one, unless they have identical hardware too much can go wrong.

Sorry, I go big time incorrect on that as well. I have one master Windows 7 SP1(XP has been easy for me to do this for years) image that I am using to completely replace/transplant/oust the native OS for in favor of the same master image from just one system. I’m using EaseUS ToDo workstation. This has been a capability of more expensive/proprietary software for some time, but now its come down to, and is widely available to the masses. It’s still not a trivial undertaking and I bet I wouldn’t be having as much success with Win 8, probably just because its so new and there might be hidden caveats. With Windows 7 however, I’m almost to the point of guarantee that if the hardware is compatible (please, no PCs from 1999!), I can blast my master image in and within 20-30 minutes of starting it up, I’ll have all the necessary drivers installed and it’ll be as though it were a native install.

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The only other necessity is a CD or USB stick with the correct drivers for the hardware.

Or just for one in particular…the network adapter of course.

Also where the same version of Windows is being transplanted, I’ve been using Double Driver to first back up any drivers not provided by microsoft and then running DD from the USB stick and return most, if not all the correct drivers in one fell swoop.

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Or just for one in particular…the network adapter of course.

With the image prep procedure I used, it was much more convenient to have a CD with all requisite drivers available. If I ever get enough time to do a new build, I’ll transplant the retail 7 Ultimate from this Dell to the new build, and revert the Dell to Home Premium.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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Indeed, a clone or an actual physical disk transplant would do quite nicely most times before SATA though I didn’t know that at the time and was rather haphazard in my approach until well after SATA became the preferred I/O bus. I do remember now a problem with one program in the most recent bare metal restore, wasted some time with the program itself telling me it had the problem but a system file check put everything right as rain.

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If by backing up you mean Imaged your system, Then you can store as many separate Images as will fit on the storage media (Ext. HD). A 1 Tb Ext. HD will store many separate Images as long as the Image file name is different. This difference could be a little as a new date added to the file name.

I do not use the native Win 7 Imaging tool (I believe this is what Win 8 uses). I find it too limited for my use. I use a third party Imaging app (Acronis True Image 2013) and find it easy to use and very reliable.

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Hmmm. Windows 8 includes File History, plus the possibility of imaging. I fear that we cannot provide advice on what the Toshiba software does, out of lack of knowledge about it.

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Hmmm. Windows 8 includes File History, plus the possibility of imaging. I fear that we cannot provide advice on what the Toshiba software does, out of lack of knowledge about it.

Okay, I’ll see what else I can find. Thanks.:)

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its all about the nomenclature kala. some say recovery disk; some say recovery drive; some use repair, some say toe-ma-toe. oddly, ms is a regular purveyor of mis-used words. Not a good thing regarding a technological issue. its about understanding what one says; or understanding what one means… it looks like your ‘means’ are not being addressed.

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