Windows 10: Trying to create a system image from C: but it also says that my D and E drives are part of...

Hi Gurus, I am trying to copy my system from my old SSD 250GB to a new SSD 500GB, however, when I try to build the system image, it includes my D and E drives, which makes it over 2.3 TB size. I did not install system files in D or E drives, would you please give me some advice here to just copy my C drive to the new SSD. Thank you a lot!Cheers, Owen

:)

 

Backup "Create a system image" dialog does not list second hard drive as a target location

I have shrunk my D drive and created a new partition to see if it would let me back up to that partition instead. Now the new partition E is listed in the list, but it says it is on the same physical drive as my installation.





Now on the next 'Create a system image' screen, it does list D: as a 'System' drive that needs to be backed up (even if disk manager does not mention it as a system volume). You do not get a choice to exclude the D: drive. The disk manager gives no indication
that D: is a System drive, so I looked around to figure out what can cause a data disk to be seen as a system drive. Supposedly, having any application installed on the D: drive can cause the whole D drive to be included in a 'System image'.

Robert Aldwinckle's comment suggests that saving file history on your secondary drive might influence it being seen as a necessary part of the system image backup. My D: drive was set as the location for file history, turning it off however had no influence
on it being seen as a necessary part of the system image backup.

This answers my original question: A second drive/volume can be seen as a necessary part of the system image backup even if disk manager says it is not a 'System' volume. The "Create a system image" dialog will not show volumes that it deems part of what
it needs to back up as a valid target. The 'Create a system image' dialog offers no configuration to exclude drives/volumes from its backup.

If I want to use the system image backup system to transfer my installation to a new SSD I will have to find storage large enough to fit the whole backup, C: and D: drive included. It is still unclear to me if the system image restore process will allow
me to restore just the C: drive from the system image and ignore the D: drive, the new SSD isn't big enough to fit 2 partitions matching my old C: and D: drive in size.

Alternatively, I could use third party software to make a backup and restore only my C: volume. Although I am trying to avoid solutions that will require me to boot into windows with both the new SSD and the old C: SSD connected, since I had trouble with
drive letter/boot order reassignment on a windows 7 to 10 upgrade before.

It might be less of a hassle to just use windows recovery to do a fresh install of windows on the new SSD and then manually copy over what I want to save from the old SSD.

 

Creating a system image backup from The C drive to the internal D drive

Hi there,

I want to do a clean windows 11 installation and i want to backup my Apps,games,files,documents and etc. Except for the drivers which they're causing problem's.

I have 2 SSD drives, 1- C/Drive for system and windows and 2- The D/Drive for anything else...

Can i create a system image backup from C drive to the D drive without the D drive files and apps and games being deleted/replaced with the system image backup from the C drive?

And if it won't be deleted, can you help me how to create a proper system image backup and how to restore it after a clean windows 11 installation to the system, so I won't have to re-download them all?

Will the system image backup save the windows updates that I've done in the past days?

Will the system image backup save my settings and etc.?

Your's sincerely.

Thank you.

 

system Backup From C drive to D drive both internal drives

I've never had any issues with Macrium Reflect Free rescue drive seeing my internal D: drive. I would suggest you try it again and look better for files on D: drive.

UPDATE: So I booted into a freshly created Macrium Reflect rescue USB flash drive. When I browsed for image files to restore from, my normal C: drive partition did not have a drive letter (although my second data SATA drive did get a drive letter). Now, I don't know if it was because I created the rescue drive from Macrium Reflect installed on C: drive or not. Anyway, the solution to the missing drive letter was to click on the icon for command prompt. Run diskpart. Then I selected the partition missing the drive letter and was able to assign a drive letter to it. In my case it was:
Code: