Windows 10: testing Macrium Reflect image restore completely

I am evaluating Macrium Reflect Free Edition Version 7.2 Build 4473 on Windows 10 Home version 1903 build 18362.388, desktop PC. I've been successfully creating full and differential images the last few days and I'd like to try to test an image restore as if my main drive failed unbootable. I have created a Macrium Reflect Rescue USB stick and am able to boot via USB and access the MR images on their external USB HDD. I have an extra internal HDD (with sufficient capacity) I haven't been using, from a previous computer. I can power my desktop PC and see both the main HDD and the extra internal HDD at the same time without any problem.

So, for my testing, I'd simply pretend the extra internal HDD would be my replacement. I'd like to avoid any common pitfalls or leverage some best practices, as I'm leery I'll attempt this test and I won't be able to boot back to using my main HDD. My initial thought was to power down, disconnect main HDD, connect extra internal HDD, boot via Rescue USB, restore image to extra internal HDD, reboot to "replacement" internal HDD and verify successful login to Windows and some general sanity checking. Then power down, disconnect extra internal HDD, reconnect main HDD, power up and boot back to my previous main HDD, business as usual.

No worries with boot records getting messed up? Windows 10 Home (digital license linked to Microsoft account) won't complain about the changing HDD hardware? BIOS/UEFI will happily boot whatever internal HDD is connected without changes?

Thanks, I appreciate any suggestions and comments.

:)

 

Restoring Windows 10 Image using Macrium Reflect


In addition to the above. Here's my suggestion in step by step.
I assume you have Macrium Installed in your current HD and already made a backup copy.

1. Connect your new HD via USB port and boot up.
2. Run Macrium, click on Restore tab then select the Backup Image that you made to restore
3. click on "select a different target disk" then select your new HD as destination
   
   
   
4. Proceed to restore then Shutdown and disconnect the old HD and replace with the new HD
5. Boot up with your new HD.

 

New Macrium Reflect Updates


Something I found interesting:

New Feature: Automatic System Restore Macrium Software Blog

 

Restoring Windows 10 Image using Macrium Reflect


I am in the process of creating an Image of HP Pavillion DVT7 2200 Notebook now. Once it completes I would really appreciate getting some steps to follow to restore it. The Laptop I have Macrium Reflect running on now will have the HD replaced as it on the verge of failing hence why I'm doing doing.

Can someone please outline the steps from the point that I have physically swapped out the old HD with new HD? I will have Macrium Reflect Image contained on the root of a brand new 1 TB External drive. Please start at the point of turning the PC on for the first time and if I should have the External drive plugged in before I attempt to boot the laptop for the first time.

Thanks for the help from great people on these forums.

Steve