I have been trying to prepare for a (long overdue) Backup of Windows 10, using a system image. Unfortunately I have become somewhat confused. I had hoped to use AOMEI Backupper Standard which to me looks clear and easy to follow but for some reason no one has explained it cannot read my (C) drive, which it reports to be unallocated space. So I have started to look for other options. I wish to use a USB Flash Drive.
I have some questions I would appreciate help with:
1. What is the difference between a Backup with a disc image, and a bootable USB drive? For a while I though they were different versons of the same thing but now realise they are not.
2. What clear and simple tools could I consider - I downloaded and looked at much recommended Macrium Reflect but I do not like it, for me it is over-complicated and confusing. What else?
3. I have examined Windows 10 native tools. Control Panel refers to Backup for Windows 7. Why? I find it thoroughly misleading if I am correct in thinking it is a tool for use in Windows 10.
4. It also refered to File History but that does not provide a Backup for the OS system, drivers,etc. does it? Strangely it reported that File History was turned off / never on, which was news to me as I have a great may File History files on my system, some of which I have used. Why is that, if it has been off? Anyway, I have now turned it on.
5. If I click my Memory Card (F) in the list of potential storage devices which can be used for backup it says it cannot be used because it is not formatted for NTFS. Fair enough as it is formatted for FAT, yet my main Memory Card (D) is not rejected in this way even though it too is not formatted for NTFS but for FAT. Why? It says the USB Drive I had intended for the Backup cannot be used for the same reason.I tought it a simple matter to re-format it for NTFS but found that after a long format it was still shown as FAT. Can my USB Flash Drive be formatted for NTFS?
As you can tell, there are some issues I am far from clear about.
1. What exactly do you mean with 'a backup with a disk image'?
2. I'm using Macrium, it is pretty simple but you need to invest a small amount of time to learn a few things.
3. That functionality is implemented so users could easily restore Windows 7, but it can also be used to create a backup.
4. File history doesn't backup the file system, drivers and stuff no. I can't answer your other question, I've never used file history.
5. I can't answer the first question. I believe you can, I can format 1 of my USBs to NTFS.
I hope that answers at least a few of your questions
clayto, in reference to item #3, Backup and Restore (Windows 7) in Control Panel. It's kind of a confusing description of that function, but I can assure you it works fine in W10. I have mine set to do a backup/image every Sunday at 7:00pm to an internal drive specifically for backups.
It works fine for W10, in fact when I upgraded to W10 I didn't have to do anything to it. Everything remained from previous (Win7) settings and it continued to perform the backup/image just like it did in Win7. There have been a couple times I've needed it in both Win7 and W10, within 20 minutes or so I was up and working using the backup/image to restore the computer.
Item #1, the main difference between the two is the "Backup with a disk image" drive, sounds to me like a drive that contains a Backup/Image file on it, a bootable USB drive would be a USB external or flash drive with an iso on it. Such as install media, ex: a W10 iso on a USB, this is what I've used in that past to repair windows using the backup/image file on my backup drive. Press F8 or whatever key allows for one time boot drive choice when restarting to boot from the bootable USB.
Item #2, haven't used any 3rd party backup tools, there are several mentioned on the forum that seem to work and we use what works best for us.
Item #4, I don't use it and have no knowledge about it
Item #5, I think any storage media could be formatted how it was needed, I do use a 64G SSD that I connect to USB ports on my laptop for backup/image, I formatted that NTFS.
"...2. What clear and simple tools could I consider - I downloaded and looked at much recommended Macrium Reflect but I do not like it, for me it is over-complicated and confusing. What else?..."
Making restorable backups, full images of OS partition and data partition, for me has never been a one-button, one-click operation. Long-range, long-term, one has to read some, practice some, make some mistakes, all that together works to give one confidence and ability to weekly or bi-monthly make backups onto external media which are restorable.
Most but not all restorable backup programs and utilities involve several steps, numerous steps. I can't remember any such software being one-step/one-click for every possible configuration.
I didn't super-enjoy Macrium Reflect or Acronis True Image at first. After practicing some, I now make reliable backups of my OS and data partitions, which are indeed restorable. Now, ATI and MR are my friends!
Or, I could have joined the ranks of many who did not make backups, and have been and/or are now working a few days and nights attempting to fix OS; and some have been and/or are now working feverishly frantically attempting to quick-learn and quick-apply various data recovery programs and utilities in attempts to recover treasured data material.
Clayto, my new found friend, your call, choose wisely
