Windows 10: I want to create a System Image Backup of by windows 10 drive but in the drive selection...

As i mentioned in the question, while creating image backup my E drive was made un-deselectable and it would take a lot of space to backup up as E drive just contails my documents,games and files. How do I remove E drive from this mandatory selection?Thank You for assisting me in advance.

:)

 

Cannot create a single system image on a flash drive

Hi,

I've tried both:

• Create a system image: Windows looks for the drive and finds the flash drive but under it is an exclamation sign with "The drive is not a valid backup location." And "Next" is shaded, I cannot press it.
• Windows backup: Setup backup:
  • The drive is in view, I select it then get the exclamation below "A system image cannot be saved on this location."
  • I can press "Next" (it will probably backup my folders...)
  • I press "more information" next to the exclamation: "Scheduled backup is not allowed on removable devices. You can try to save a single system image on this device by clicking "create system image" in the Windows 7 file recovery control panel." Of course,
    I cannot create a single system image on it.

Thank you.

Update: I just found the same option I'd used the first time I created recovery media in Windows 8.1 - it was sort of 'hidden' in the control panel. Is this the option you were referring to?
I am now creating a "Recovery Drive" on this same flash drive. I think when it's used, it restores the computer back to factory default (Windows 8). I would've preferred to be able to restore the system as is now. Anyway, thank you for this support.

 

Restoring Windows 10 system image to an insignificantly smaller drive

Thanks for reaching out! I'm an Independent Advisor and a Microsoft user like you.

Restoring a Windows 10 system image to a slightly smaller drive can indeed be frustrating, especially when the size difference is minimal. Here are some steps and tools you can use to resolve this issue:

1. EaseUS Todo Backup:

EaseUS Todo Backup is a reliable tool that can help you restore a system image to a smaller drive by compressing the backup. Here’s how you can use it:

Creating a System Image:

1. Launch EaseUS Todo Backup and select "OS" under "Select backup contents."
   
2. Choose the backup destination (Local Drive or NAS).
   
3. Complete the backup process.
   

Restoring the Image:

1. Boot your computer using the EaseUS Todo Backup emergency disk.
   
2. Select "Browse to Recover" and navigate to your backup file.
   
3. Choose the recovery disk and ensure the partition style matches.
   
4. Customize the disk layout if needed and click "Proceed" to start the recovery.
   

2. AOMEI Partition Assistant:

AOMEI Partition Assistant can clone only the used space of your drive, making it possible to clone a larger drive to a smaller one. Here’s how:

Cloning the Drive:

1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant.
   
2. Click "Clone" and select "Clone Disk."
   
3. Choose the source disk and the destination disk.
   
4. Adjust the partition size on the destination disk and enable "4k alignment" if the target is an SSD.
   
5. Click "Apply" and "Proceed" to start cloning.
   

3. DiskGenius Free Edition:

DiskGenius Free Edition is another tool that can help you clone a larger HDD to a smaller SSD. Here’s the process:

Cloning the Drive:

1. Open DiskGenius Free Edition and select "Clone Disk" from the "Tools" menu.
   
2. Choose the source and destination disks.
   
3. Click "Start" to begin the cloning process.
   

1. Prepare the New Drive:
   
   • Ensure the new drive is properly connected and recognized by your system.
     
   • Use DiskPart or any disk management tool to clean and initialize the new drive if necessary.
     
2. Create a Bootable Media:
   
   • Use EaseUS Todo Backup or AOMEI Partition Assistant to create a bootable USB drive.
     
3. Boot from the Bootable Media:
   
   • Restart your computer and boot from the USB drive.
     
4. Clone or Restore the System Image:
   
   • Follow the steps provided by the chosen tool to clone the old drive or restore the system image to the new drive.
     
5. Adjust BIOS Settings:
   
   • After cloning or restoring, enter the BIOS setup and set the new drive as the primary boot device.
     

Additional Tips

• Backup Important Data: Before starting the process, ensure you have backed up any important data from the old drive.
  
• Use a Reliable Power Source: Ensure your computer is connected to a reliable power source to avoid interruptions during the process.
  

Please do let me know if the method I suggested works for you or if you need further assistance.

 

Where do I find to select the drive to create a backup

Hi,

Let’s try simple steps and check if this helps. Try the below steps.

• 
  Press Windows key + X and select Control Panel.
  
• Click on File history, now you can see the option to Select Drive
  on the left pane.

Note: Also, you can perform System Image backup.


Hope this helps. Let us know the result for further assistance.