Using Windows to create a System Image / System Repair Disc / Recovery Drive

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Finding some confusion in whether or not Create a System Image and how often.  Also what is the difference between a System Repair Disc (which can only be created on a CD/DVD) and/or a Recovery Drive (which can be created on a USB).

In addition – some information says not to create a system image if you are diligent in the backup of your data files.

After the System Image is created on the external USB drive, Windows then asks if you want to create a system image repair disc.   Some sites say you can skip this option since you can use the Windows 10 bootable media to access the recovery environment.  But how can you use that if you are unable to access your computer system?

 

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For each backup software you use, make sure you have two associated rescue drives that will allow you to boot independently of your computer system.

Here is information for building Microsoft’s recovery drive:
https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/microsoft-bootable-recovery-drive-operating-system/

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ECWS

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Thanks for the reminder to test (and have a backup for ) the recovery drive

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ECWS wrote:

In addition – some information says not to create a system image if you are diligent in the backup of your data files.

Make system images consistently and often. Period.

On permanent hiatus {with backup and coffee}
offline▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.572 x64 i3-3220 RAM8GB HDD Firefox83.0b3 WindowsDefender
offline▸ Acer TravelMate P215-52 RAM8GB Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1265 x64 i5-10210U SSD Firefox106.0 MicrosoftDefender
online▸ Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1992 x64 i5-9400 RAM16GB HDD Firefox116.0b3 MicrosoftDefender

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Do you have one or multiple Terabyte drives for your image backups?

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I use three 1-TB external hard disk drives for backup and swap them out.

Safe practice for backups at minimum is three separate external hard drives:

Day 1 — HDD 1
Day 2 — HDD 2
Day 3 — HDD 3
Day 4 — HDD 1

And so on and so forth.

The approach doesn’t have to be fancy.

The backup program in use is Macrium Reflect 8, but I occasionally build a legacy Backup and Restore (Windows 7) backup  in addition to Macrium Reflect 8 backup. These are separate programs and I have rescue drives for both types of backups.

On permanent hiatus {with backup and coffee}
offline▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.572 x64 i3-3220 RAM8GB HDD Firefox83.0b3 WindowsDefender
offline▸ Acer TravelMate P215-52 RAM8GB Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1265 x64 i5-10210U SSD Firefox106.0 MicrosoftDefender
online▸ Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1992 x64 i5-9400 RAM16GB HDD Firefox116.0b3 MicrosoftDefender

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ECWS

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ECWS wrote:

Finding some confusion in whether or not Create a System Image and how often.

I create a FULL PC (all partitions, all internal drives) image backup twice every month, on the first of the month and on the 16th. In-between I create incremental backups.
Image backups are done to an external HDD.
I keep 1 copy on the internal HDD drive D in case I am mobile with my laptop and need restoring.
I use Acronis.

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ECWS

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Helpful knowing about the process you go through for your System Imaging backups.  Do you have one or multiple external drives for the backups?  Is Acronis the paid or free version?

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Try searching the forums using advanced search.
Keywords: Backup Image
User: RetiredGeek

Lots of info from me and others if you read Entire threads.

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

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[b]

Looks like one of my previous post in this thread got lost?

Try this procedure:

1. Create a new Recovery USB.
2. Boot from the Recovery USB.
3. Image your ENTIRE drive and be sure to select the option to Verify the Image.
4. Shutdown the computer.
5. Remove your drive and replace it with your new drive. Making sure the new drive has absoulutely nothing on it not even Directories.
6. Boot from the Recovery USB.
7. Restore the Image to the New Drive.
8. Reboot.
9. You should boot into Windows.
10. Shutdown the computer.
11. Now you can resize the C: drive to make the unused space available.

HTH

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

• This reply was modified 2 years, 2 months ago by b. Reason: Removed li tags in first line

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ECWS

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I have a laptop with SSD for C: drive and a 1TB spinner for D: drive. Windows 10 is on the C: and I try to keep personal stuff on the D: . What scheme do you suggest for this situation? BTW, I have 2 external HDD’s, 1 for Acronis backup and 1 for Windows backup. TIA for any advice.

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ECWS wrote:

Helpful knowing about the process you go through for your System Imaging backups.  Do you have one or multiple external drives for the backups?  Is Acronis the paid or free version?

I have 2 external HDDs. One is always connected as Acronis incremental backups are automatic and run every night. Full image backups are done manually.
The second HDD is disconnected and is connected just to copy image backups.

I use paid Acronis 2019 (there was a free version that came with WD/Seagate drives).
I don’t like the new Acronis versions with A/V.. build-in.

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ECWS

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Alex, I was just looking at Acronis as a replacement for Carbonite (expiring 8/2023).  I am going to get a Mac Mini in May.  I can migrate the Carbonite subscription to Apple, but I had thought Acronis was a good alternative.  I currently use Macrium Reflect for local backup to HDD. I plan to backup the Mac using Time Machine.

Why do you not like current version of Acronis?  Donna

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dhunter wrote:

What scheme do you suggest for this situation?

I image the whole PC (C & D ) to external drive with daily incremental backups

https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/using-windows-to-create-a-system-image-system-repair-disc-recovery-drive/#post-2541694

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Appreciate the very detailed and helpful comments.  Looks like the consensus is to use a third party backup (like Acronis – paid?) and a Windows backup.   It also looks like you would have at least a 1TB drive for each backup.  For safety you would use the Grandfather/Father/Son method using three 1TB drives.

Questions:

• Do you need a System Repair Disc for Acronis and Windows?
• How often (if ever) does the System Repair Disc need to be updated?
• Can you put backups for multiple computers on the same external drive?

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Alex5723 wrote:

I use paid Acronis 2019 (there was a free version that came with WD/Seagate drives). I don’t like the new Acronis versions with A/V.. build-in.

Make note: Alex uses the 2019 version of Acronis, not the current version which he doesn’t like.

If you cannot get that version of Acronis, I would suggest Macrium Reflect Free v8. They are going to discontinue the Free version as of Jan 2024, but you can still use it after that. Or you can get the paid version next year.

And, yes, you need a bootable Restore Disk/USB for the backup software you choose. You cannot restore a disk image from within the running system on the same drive. You have to boot from the Restore Disk/USB and restore from there.
I like to redo the Restore media each time I move to the next whole version (not for updates) of the backup software.

Yes, you can put backups from multiple PC’s on the same USB external disk. Just use separate folders (like DellPC230308) so you know what’s what.

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geekdom, Alex5723, ECWS

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dmt_3904 wrote:

Why do you not like current version of Acronis?  Donna

The new Acronis since 2020 has changed the way incremental backups are done.
Currently with version 2019 each incremental backup has its own file.
Since version 2020 incremental backups are added to the full backup file and I can’t know the size of each daily backup.

Acronis has change backup file type from to tibx which isn’t compatible with older .tib file type.

Acronis has added anti-malware, anti-rensomeware… which I don’t need and have no place in a backup software. I use my own A/V…

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dmt_3904

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