Windows 8 Backup for image backups

Mediaman09

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Question about Windows 8 backup...

Context: My basic backup "strategy" is as follows (see visual overview attached):

  • Main disk is set up as a:
    • small C partition ( for o/s, apps and user profiles) and a
    • larger D partition for user data
  • I back up the C partition (and all hidden partitions) as an image, to another drive, at staggered times ( daily, weekly monthly) using automated scheduled tasks, with EaseUS ToDo Backup
  • I back up the D partition as file copies, to another drive, at staggered times ( daily, weekly monthly) using automated scheduled tasks with Vice Versa Pro
  • I also back up the D partition file to an external USB driver.
  • If my main drive fails, I would boot with the Ease Us emergency disc and load the image.
  • I also have the Win 8 system recovery and OEM DVDs
  • I do not used USB sticks
  • I do not like cloning.

Now that I am on Windows 8, is Windows Backup a good/better choice for image backups than EaseUs??

 

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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Funny you seem to be doing something similar to myself at the moment. The only problem is with my Samsung computer Windows backup does not work as the 'System Reserved' containing the BCD partition is too small to allow the Windows recovery to work. This partition has to be increased but this would invalidate the warranty...It was also mentioned that Easeus does not work either. So, you need to find out if they work first. I've never had any problems with windows backup till now!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8 pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Computer 1 of 4
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4A78LT-M LE
    Memory
    4GB Kit (2x2GB)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 18"
    Screen Resolution
    1080p
    PSU
    Cheapo
    Internet Speed
    30mb
    Other Info
    Computer 2 :~ Dell Inspiron - 1x 350gb & 1x 250gb - 6GB Memory - Win 7 | Computer 3 :~ Samsung 355v5C Notebook - 6Gb Mem - Win8 2Core| Computer 4:~ Samsung 355v5C Notebook - 6Gb Mem - Win8 4Core
I have 2 500G disks and use Macrium Reflect Free edition to image the complete disks each week. This takes about 45min max.
Works great and I have tested it by doing a recovery of the main disk from the boot disk you can create for it.
You can mount these images and copy single files directly from Explorer.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Fruit Salad
    CPU
    Intel Pentium Dual core E5700 @ 3GHz
    Motherboard
    Biostar G413DB
    Memory
    4G
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GT 610
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster LED S23B370
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
Now that I am on Windows 8, is Windows Backup a good/better choice for image backups than EaseUs??

No.

You will be fine with Todo.

check the recovery disc boots ok first, though.

It isn't that hard to make a winpe3/4 recovery disc/flash with Todo included.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Gotta love Windows 8 - where ya just cant find any find anything :)

How do you even launch Windows Backup? I can find it anywhere, not even under Apps Search.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Gotta love Windows 8 - where ya just cant find any find anything :)

How do you even launch Windows Backup? I can find it anywhere, not even under Apps Search.
Where it's always been in Control Panel
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Fruit Salad
    CPU
    Intel Pentium Dual core E5700 @ 3GHz
    Motherboard
    Biostar G413DB
    Memory
    4G
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GT 610
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster LED S23B370
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8 pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Computer 1 of 4
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4A78LT-M LE
    Memory
    4GB Kit (2x2GB)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 18"
    Screen Resolution
    1080p
    PSU
    Cheapo
    Internet Speed
    30mb
    Other Info
    Computer 2 :~ Dell Inspiron - 1x 350gb & 1x 250gb - 6GB Memory - Win 7 | Computer 3 :~ Samsung 355v5C Notebook - 6Gb Mem - Win8 2Core| Computer 4:~ Samsung 355v5C Notebook - 6Gb Mem - Win8 4Core
Gotta love Windows 8 - where ya just cant find any find anything :)

How do you even launch Windows Backup? I can't find it anywhere, not even under Apps Search.
Where it's always been in Control Panel


Well, I would have no way of knowing that, having never used the program, and not being able to find it under Apps, Search or Help.

You says its in Control Panel -- okay I'll bite where !! Still cant see it !!!
 

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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Last edited by a moderator:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
SIW2, Well stated! Running it now.

Re your reference to "MS will get rid of it soon", were you referring to the furstations re Start, Search, naming conventions etc.. or did you really mean they are getting rid of Windows Backup, the function ( in which case I don't want to start relying on it !! ).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Actually, it doesn't matter. The back up failed!! Error message was not enough space. which is ridiculous. The drive I tried to back up is Drive C - 40GB used. The target drive has 150GB free. It created a 6GB file, but clearly not successfully. If I cant handle a simple backup, I give up. Some part of Windows 8 are fine ; other are quite pathetic, after all these years.

Will try Ease US (Ver 5.3) next. I used Acronis in the past as well, so thats another option as is Marcrium.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
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