Windows 10: Creating System Image Backup Issues

@tazmo8448

You are welcome and glad we could help.
FYI, Windows built in backup software is not really good. If you make a backup using it. Make sure you'd never move the backup to another drive, due to security permission otherwise, you'll be surprised when time to restore, it won't find it.

With Macrium, it's more compact since it only creates 1 single file and you can mount it to selectively restore folders/files from the backup if needed.

In addition, It can also be used to resize/swap/extend partitions without having to use third party partition manager.

 

Another thing that is good is you can make an image of any partition you want, by itself. Windows backup insists on doing the System Reserved and the C drive together along with any other drive you want to image. Macrium will allow you to image them separately if you want to. That comes in handy if, as you said, you mess up the MBR. If you have imaged it separately, you can restore just the MBR and nothing else.

 

Is there a tutorial on how to use Macrium and winPE together? I'm still fuzzy on this thing. winPE is used to create a recovery whereas Macrium is used to create partitions or sys img is that right? I hate to keep bothering you guys but ole plodding me won't move til I have a plan ya know?

 

• Macrium is used to create a backup image of your disk or partition(s).
• Use Macrium Recue to boot up your PC to restore the backup image back to your HD/Partitions since you cannot restore while Windows is running on that disk or partition(s)

 

okay clearer on Macrium now the winPE deal again what is its purpose in relation to Macrium?

 

Macrium Rescue disk is using Windows PE (Pre-Environment) from Microsoft to add their own application. In this case is used to backup/restore images. It is small and loaded in to RAM then run from it leaving all HD's available for you to perform backup/restore/fix boot problem etc...

NOTE: While Windows is running, you can also create backup/restore image on any disk/partition(s) from the program. Restore image is allowed only if the disk/partition(s) is/are not being used by Windows

 

gotcha run winPE then Macrium so they can 'harmonize' thanks.

 

I did make a video a while back using free Macrium version 5 on how to backup Windows 10. Free Macrium is now version 6. Basically, they are the same, except the GUI looks different and more features added:

[youtube]IhhDU66HGyk[/youtube]

 

And here's I use Macrium version 6 to resize a partition without using any other third party partition manager:
[youtube]LTVimxeiewE[/youtube]

 

winPe has me confused on its purpose and if I even have the right version of it. googling winPE it talks about Vista versions, googling winPE W10 it discusses using DISM to interface with it (which I know is a W8-8.1-10 thing). Do I mount winPE (if I have the correct version) and while it is mounted run Macrium. I'm trying to figure how winPE & Macrium work together. I'm probably wrong in that thinking and think winPE is used to boot to an unbootable OS and Macrium is used to create a backup/image that winPE can boot to and recreate the OS again.
can you clarify me on the version of winPE I have 'Rescue 5.3.7299' is this suitable for W10 or do I need to incorporate the DISM?

On top of that going to the winPE W10 version it has a VSToolsForWin thing that wants to do a C++ download that somehow incorporates MDK that supposedly includes WinPE for W10. Needless to say am more confused than when I started. It also shows putting it on a USB after all the 8 gb downloads are done. Here's the link I'm talking about:
WinPE: Create USB Bootable drive - Windows 10 hardware dev

is all this necessary?

 

WinPE is a mini version of Windows that Macrium Reflect uses as the operating system when it is booted from the rescue disc. It's easiest just to let Macrium Reflect manage everything relating to WinPE when creating a Macrium Reflect Free Rescue disk. I believe your rescue version 5.3.7299 is suitable for use with Windows 10 - but if you are going to be dealing with Windows 10 exclusively, I would update Macrium Reflect to the latest version - then create a new rescue disk or USB and specify the newest WinPE Macrium offers which is WinPE 10.0. You don't have to do anything manually (unless you want to add drivers) - Macrium Reflect handles it all when creating the rescue disc.

 

Thanks NavyLCDR. One thing I've been trying to get straight in my head is WinPE. Clicking on it it asks to be mounted or whatever. Not sure even now if it has to be mounted in order to run Macrium that hasn't been made clear to me yet. I went online and googled making a USB for WinPE W10 and it had me downloading 8GB of Visual C++ Tools that seem more geared to doing development work that anything else but thats what was listed for the WinPE Bootable USB. See no reason for downloading all that mess when I have no intention of using it. Was directed to download wdksetup.exe for drivers too when all I wanted was the adksetup in order to use the WinPE USB. Still can't understand why M$ directed me to the Microsoft Visual Studio Community 2015 deal.
BTW I do have the version 6 Macrium Reflect.

To tell you the truth this whole thing has turned into a long drawn out deal just to make a sys img of an existing OS. The amount of time I have spent on this would equal to just doing a reformat and starting from scratch again. I can't believe all the hoops I've jumped through just to make an image. My whole thrust on this was to be able to save all my info on the OS so as to not loose the registry files and have to download several TB's of data, games and that sort of thing.
You don't know how much I wish we could actually converse rather than going through this typing marathon wouldn't it be great if there was a TeamSpeak for forums? Sometimes discussing things gets more across than anything else.
The question in my mind is still how does Macrium "see" winPE does it know its there? without my mounting it? even though it is in another drive and not in my OS drive? I've got so many questions and I know I'm frustrating the people that were helping me and to tell the truth I am too.
This is what I am watching now to create a bootable USB tool:- Demo 2: Installing Windows PE on a USB Drive - YouTube
they refer to a 'reference computer' after making a USB. At this point I am more confused than a football bat. I know it is frustrating trying to explain something to someone who doesn't get it; it would be like me explaining golf in three easy steps or typing instructions on how to run a surveying instrument, when it is much more complicated than that. It's always easy when you know yourself what you are doing and explaining it to someone who doesn't have a clue. Good example is telling someone how to put a shirt on that has never done it. Right now I am going to figure out if I really need the 6gb Visual Tool still can't figure out why they thought I need that.

 

I don't know, takes me about four mouse clicks to make a Macrium Reflect Rescue disk and Macrium Reflect does it all. You do understand that Macrium Reflect will create the WinPE that it needs and that a rescue disk is not required to make an image?

 

Click on Other Tasks, Create Rescue Media, Click on Windows PE 10, OK, Next, Next, then it is something like what type of media do you want to make, let it download the files, and it's done.

 

tazmo, I think you don't understand about the program. That video is doing everything the hard way. You can make an image of any partition with just the Macrium program. The winPE is just a recovery tool. After you have made the images, suppose your OS would not boot or your hard drive had to be replaced. You would have no OS and need a way to restore those images. That is what the winPE USB drive is for. You can boot into the USB drive and restore the images to your hard drive.

You don't have top go through all the stuff that video showed. Just do what NavyLCDR said in the post above this one. Macrium will crate the USB drive and download what you need for you. The winPE is what seems to be confusing you. It is nothing but a recovery tool used to restore the images created with Macrium.