Windows 10: Partition layout

There a few update to get then as you are on AU 0 and it is now version 105

Check that Image as 10GB is small even for a Fresh install , make sure every partition on the SSD was selected , the size is usually about 2/3 of the total of whatever the "Used size" for C:\ is in My PC. Eg my 43GB Surface3 Disk I just Imaged this morning had an image of 33GB. All 4 partitons should be selected , ie the Whole Disk so you can replicate the whole Drive if needed including the 3 extra partition Win10 needs. Later if needed for space reason you could use the Image Windows Files Option instead though that maybe the whole disk too depending on an individual system.

Not sure why you had to set security to enable system restore ....that's a new for me...

Yes if you don't change the Save location for the XML files it saves them to My Docs , if you moved ( not copied) that folder you will have broken the "Link" though for schedules to work and will have to recreate the XML for the backup in the desire locale.

Good to hear all is going well *Smile

KB

 

My used space on the C drive with fresh install of W10 is 23GB, so the size of image ( 10gb) looks about right, I think...

For XML files, I copied them from my documents to external, if the link got broken then I'll make a new back up but obviously can't do it for the fresh install since it is too late now, I have some programs installed...

 

Did you change the default compression in MR ? 10GB seems small even for a 23GB Used size that is less than 45% of the original size my images sizes are about 75% of the Used space. There maybe nothing wrong , just want to be sure , you could also boot off the MR disk and make sure your Computer can "see" the backups on the External and verify them.

No, if you copied them to the external , all you did was back them up , they are still in My Docs too, so should be schedulable still ....

KB

 

I did not change the default compression in MR, i did not modify anything.
Where do i check the compression in MR ?
How do i verify the image? boot off MR and recover from the image ? this means reinstalling W10 ?

For XML, i copied them to external but then deleted them from my Documents

 

Ok , just seems small for a complete back of Win 10. Compression is one of the advanced Options during the backup setup , but they can all be changed in the Preferences to be the Default. It is usually set on Medium .

Verify is also an advanced Option , which I set to on so MR checks the image when it is made. You can also check it manually in Win10 by choosing the Restore tab ,selecting a Backup and selecting Verify Image on the right. The exact same thing can be done with the Boot disk BTW. You do not need to do a restore to Verify the Image , but booting off the MR Disk and verifying the Image will prove both that the disk works as it should and that Your External Drv is seen in the MR Boot environment ,so if you do need it it is known to work. You can also Mount the Images in MR and copy back lost files etc without doing a Full Restore.

You may need to Rebuild the Backup XML if you move them but perhaps not in this case since you have not setup a Schedule yet right? If you move them after making a Schedule MR can't find the XML, so the Sch.Backup will fail with an Error. You may need to use the Green + sign on the Backup Definitions Tab to add them back to the list , then they can be scheduled. BTW the XML is just a text file telling MR what to do and where , it is not the backup image itself.

KB

 

Hi Kbird

Yes you are right, compression is set to Medium ( recommended ), should i set it to None?
What about the second option? should i leave it as it is or set it to exact same partitions¿
See the photo attached

For XML files, i haven't scheduled any back ups yet

Thanks

 

Nope those are the correct Default Options ...all good *Smile

last thing to Check would be to make sure you backed up All 4 partitions AKA the Whole Drive , Clicking on the Image on the Restore TAB should let you see what partitions were backed up.

IF all OK then , it is just a Win10 Lite install *Smile actually I'm not sure I have seen a 23GB Clean install, either now I think about it.... but been a while since I did a total Clean install since I use MR mostly if there is an issue.

KB

 

I did verify both images, and they both say "image verified OK" or "successfully verified" ( can't remember the exact words ).
And on the restore tab, both images show all 4 partitions.
So i think it is good.
For XML files, i haven't scheduled back ups yet, i just copied the XML files from my documents to a folder i created on the external drive.

Thanks

 

Yep sounds like you are good *Smile

when you verify the image after the fact I believe it is only checking the integrity of the File , since what is on the disk an hour , a day or a month later would be different obviously , I am not sure what it does at the Backup time , since it is actually using VSS , which is just a snapshoot of the disk at that exact moment in time. That's all too indepth for me , and since it works *Smile i leave it all alone pretty much.

good luck with things and don't forget to schedule backups and do manual ones when you hear Win10 is in for another major Update.

KB

 

One more question, to schedule back ups, which XML file do i use? i have three
And do i select back up definition files in "disk image" ?

Thank you

 

Not sure since I don't know why 3 or what each one specifies , would need more info. perhaps a pic or two ?

The definitions Tab is just the list of Def's made to Date , you can use the icon with the green Tick to make sure the backup will work.

Then the one with the Clock to schedule it

you can then goto the Schedule tab and pick a Def , right click it and Choose Run Now to test it , then you know you are good for Auto Backups. Of course if to your Ext. Drive it will need to be ON at the Scheduled Time.

 

Here is a pic for you to see, i have so far 2 XML files, one for each image that i did.
Which one do i select, or how do i schedule the back ups?

Thanks again

 

--- SEE ABOVE.........

--- No Pic included

--- assuming you did a Full backup after clean install and then another after Win Updates and Programs installed ?
it doesn't matter
that is cos each backup was for the whole C Drive and each subsequent one will be too then if you use the same XML file and schedule it for when you know your External Drive will be on.

KB

 

Sorry here is a pic of the XML files.
Yes i did one when i first installed W10, then i did another one when i installed updates and programs.
You say pick a def, but which one ? should i pick the first or second or it doesn't matter?
I did select each one and pressed on the green tick, it says validation OK.
It seems more complicated than Acronis where you click on schedule and choose the frequency and time.

 

The XML should be exactly the same , it is only the Image created at each time that is different so just Use the 2nd one , since it is already labelled Win10 and all my Programs .

There are more Options yes , but you have backups of the XML's so you can make changes and adjustment and try things out and just replace the XML or make another if something goes wrong. Best way to learn is to try...play around etc , Open the advanced options, see what they are etc. You are safe you have backups , so if you make a few boo boos no big deal.... how do you think I know if you move the XML from where it was when you made it , you will "break the schedule " *Smile and besides it's not like you will ruin Win10 or anything practicing how to get a schedule going. There is no need to plan Differential backups etc , just run the XML every 3 days and let it make 8 full backups before it starts deleting old ones and I think you will be fine.





KB