Solved Need to backup all programs and files without System Image

ChocoBilly · Mar 12, 2014

Hi all,

I recently got myself into a quandary. I installed 4 additional drives with the intent of creating a RAID volume that's supported by the BIOS. In order to do that I must change the BIOS setting for the controller which includes all volumes including my boot drive (which I don't intend to RAID.) The problem I have is that when I switch the controller from UEFI to RAID, Windows Recovery will not use the System Image that I made. It says the volume was created under a different setting (Bios vs. EFI).

What are my options? Is there a different backup setting that will preserve all my installed software? I'm not concerned about data which I can copy to an external volume but it would take several days to get all my software reinstalled. I'd like to avoid that. I assume I will have to reinstall Windows 8.1 Pro and then use a backup program to restore everything else. If that's the case, then I need to know which backup program will work. If there's a better way, I'd love to know. I see my options as either, get another backup program, get a separate controller card for either the boot drive or the RAID volume, or reinstall everything.

Thanks

David Bailey · Mar 12, 2014

Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download

broe23 · Mar 12, 2014

I use Clonezilla to make images of both of our laptops, to the NAS on our network. You can download Tuxboot from tuxboot.org and then create the USB Pendrive image.

Very easy to use, and really quick when it comes to backing up in Offline mode. I have not found any Windows based backup programs that come close to being as good as Clonezilla.

ChocoBilly · Mar 12, 2014

Thanks for the reply but I don't think Clonezilla will work any differently from System Image unless I missed something in the description. It appears that Clonezilla will recreate the original partition type as well which is the problem. I have a perfectly good image as well as the actual boot drive that aren't usable once the BIOS is changed to RAID and as I mentioned it doesn't matter if want the boot drive in RAID mode or not. Windows Recovery sees the boot drive and the image but won't restore to it because the BIOS setting for drives has changed.

caperjack · Mar 12, 2014

I must change the BIOS setting for the controller which includes all volumes including my boot drive (which I don't intend to RAID.

is that even possible??

been reading some ,and I seen .[That depends a LOT on whether or not you configured your onboard MB
controller for RAID MODE initially, or not.
where it stated that unless raid setup was set in bios as default before you installed windows you will have to reinstall windows
There is a very good reason why Intel highly recommends that
the BIOS be set initially to RAID mode, even if all devices will be JBOD
starting out.

Intel calls this "RAID Ready".]

this looks like a good guide to setting up raid .
RAID ? What Is RAID? And Setup Guide For First Timers | Republic of Gamers

broe23 · Mar 12, 2014

See this bios - Why Clonezilla doesn't recognize RAID0 drives - and how to fix it? - Super User

broe23 · Mar 12, 2014

caperjack said:
I must change the BIOS setting for the controller which includes all volumes including my boot drive (which I don't intend to RAID.

Click to expand...

is that even possible

I have never seen the ability to do that. Only way would be to have a PCIe Raid Controller, with some drives on it, the others on the motherboard controlled by the motherboard bios. Then you could possibly do it.

ChocoBilly · Mar 12, 2014

Thanks for the replies everyone. I pretty much assume I will need to reinstall Windows on the boot drive and what I'd like to avoid is the days and I mean literally days to re-install software. So, I think I need something that will backup and restore programs as well as files if that exists for 8.1. Probably commercial software. Also, to be clear. There are no RAIDed volumes at the current time. I put the system image on an external USB drive and boot from a flash drive. Incidentially, my previous PC was able to have both volume types at the same time but it also had a 2nd controller on the mobo. I might be able to get off cheap with just a 2nd controller card and move the boot drive to that as long as it's still recognized. I'd rather not shell out ~$300 for a RAID controller which is what I researched it would cost. I know there are cheaper ones but nearly all brands have compatibility issues. And while I've seen cheaper, they tend to be PCIe x1 which has a 250MBs cap.

Mark Phelps · Mar 12, 2014

I have not found any Windows based backup programs that come close to being as good as Clonezilla.

I also use Clonezilla and one thing is does NOT do, which my favorite Windows based backup program (MR) DOES do is allow you to MOUNT the saved image as a file system and extract stuff from it.

Also, MR allows for incremental backups, which (if I remember correctly) Clonezilla does not do.

In addition, MR comes with utilities that allow for the creation of a WinePE boot disk -- which has proven invaluable in rescuing Windows from the occasional boot glitch. I don't believe that Clonezilla does this, either.

Not badmouthing Clonezilla, because I use it all the time to backup up (and restore) Linux distros, but MR clearly has features that Clonezilla does not.

Much the same can be said about other "Windows based backup programs" like EASUS, and AOEMI (just to name two).

ChocoBilly · Mar 12, 2014

No idea what MR is or stands for. Please explain? It's not a problem getting files from the current boot drive, I can easily toss it in an external enclosure and get at anything in it. Why I can't do is fix the registry settings for installed software. I'm currently looking into Symantec's System Recovery (aka rebranded Norton Ghost) which is about to release a version for Windows 8.1. It claims it can restore to dissimilar hardware which may cover my situation.

whs · Mar 12, 2014

The Macrium Pro version has an option to restore to dissimilar hardware. I wonder whether that would work.

Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download

ChocoBilly · Mar 12, 2014

Macrium Reflect didn't list 8.1 in their supported OS list but from their forums it appears it does. I'll try it out.

whs · Mar 12, 2014

ChocoBilly said:
Macrium Reflect didn't list 8.1 in their supported OS list but from their forums it appears it does. I'll try it out.

Remamber that is the Pro version - not the free Macrium.

David Bailey · Mar 12, 2014

Paid version of Macrium:

ChocoBilly · Mar 13, 2014

Yes, thanks. I did notice that it was the paid version that comes with their ReDeploy program and it specifically states that one of it's uses is to restore to a RAID volume from a non-RAID volume and vice versa. And it does this by attempting to locate the correct driver to install on the restore without having to re-install Windows which sounds exactly like what I need.

whs · Mar 13, 2014

So is that's what you are going to to ?

ChocoBilly · Mar 13, 2014

Yes, I went with Macrium Reflect Pro. It was not as automatic as implied but it worked. After restoring the image and selecting ReDeploy I did not get the screen to add or change driver, if it doesn't see it it doesn't let you change it. I had placed the drivers on the flash drive with Macrium expecting they would be needed. Went through several reboots with Windows unhappy but it could boot to the point it had a splash screen and say it wasn't working. Rebooted Macrium from flash tried it's boot repair option which seemed to make Windows more unhappy. Eventually, I got a Safe Mode option, selected that and installed the driver manually from the flash drive.

That worked or seems to. I'll trust it more after a few more days and reboots. This is probably the only solution that would have worked. Thanks to all for their input.

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