Good by HP and Dell. Never again.
This computer cost about $600 and has all the goodies that I want.
I was unable to get what I wanted from Dell.
Although I might be able to build one myself with a lot of errors
and expense I am to chicken to try it. And then there is wiffie.....
So I can have one built for half what it would cost at Dell. :(
It has a Bios by Gigabyte. This will present a problem until I read
the manual. It's quite different from the Bios in a Dell.
I tried to back up this computer with Clonezilla-lve and it froze the computer.
The tech man told me to use the one in the control panel. This worked.
But it has no verification of the backup which worries me. When I need
to restore, will the backup work????? Has anyone used this Microsoft backup???
Be curious to hear your experience.
I have never used Microsoft backup.
I highly recommend Macrium Reflect.
It can backup most file systems.
Hi Magnum,
I know about Macrium Reflect but it has a word connected with it that I don't understand "PAY".
My long time ago experience with it was the backup was free. But they didn't tell me that the restore
wouldn't work until you "Pay'd" for the software. This is false advertising and I will not buy a product
with false advertising in it.
Clonezilla-live is free. It just doesn't work with this new MO that I have.
It works fine on Wiffies computer running a Dell MO.
Hi shankle,
Do you have the option to restore the backup on another drive?
Personally, I prefer file-level backups. Compared to sector based backups, they occupy less space and you can extract individual files and folders.
Here is a good open-source project :
http://sourceforge.net/projects/wimlib/
Quote from: shankle on January 18, 2015, 08:44:32 AM
Hi Magnum,
I know about Macrium Reflect but it has a word connected with it that I don't understand "PAY".
My long time ago experience with it was the backup was free. But they didn't tell me that the restore
wouldn't work until you "Pay'd" for the software. This is false advertising and I will not buy a product
with false advertising in it.
Clonezilla-live is free. It just doesn't work with this new MO that I have.
It works fine on Wiffies computer running a Dell MO.
Shankle,
The free version that I have does backup and restore.
I used it for years until I bought a full copy. (I ended up not using the incremental backup because it involves more steps in restoration.)
It only does full backups and not incremental ones.
Let me know if you want it.
Thanks for responding Guys.
I went again on the Macrium site and the program is not free.
I would pay but as long as one is free that is the option I would take.
The wimlib program looks a tad complicated. Does it allow one to verify
the backup?? I haven't downloaded it yet. I don't need the incremental
feature as my hd is partitioned. So the image file backs up everything
and the other partitions give me the option to pull anything I want from them.
This technique has worked very well for me.
I'll download wimlib and take a look.
i use Easeus
Todo is the name of their partition backup program
i also use Partition Master
both are free for home use
Hi shankle,
>The wimlib program looks a tad complicated. Does it allow one to verify
>the backup??
You can check the the backup files with wimlib and 7-Zip. Even, you have the option to add integrity information to the backup.
wimverify.cmd C:\test1.wim
[WARNING] "C:\test1.wim" does not contain integrity information. Skipping integrity check.
Verifying metadata for image 1 of 1
Verifying streams: 14 MiB of 14 MiB (100%) done
"C:\test1.wim" was successfully verified.
Creating the backup of R:
wimcapture.cmd R: C:\test1.wim
Scanning "R:"
14 MiB scanned (33 files, 5 directories)
Writing LZX-compressed data using 2 threads
14 MiB of 14 MiB (uncompressed) written (100% done)
Restoring the backup after formatting R:
wimapply.cmd C:\test1.wim R:
Applying image 1 ("R:") from "C:\test1.wim" to directory "R:"
Extracting files: 14 MiB of 14 MiB (100%) done
Done applying WIM image.
You can create a Win7PE \ Win8PE ( PE = Windows Preinstallation Environment ) disc to do offline backups :
http://theoven.org/
Hi Dave,
From what I see Easeus is free for the trial then what happens??????
To vortex: Still looks complicated to use.
What's wrong with: what do you want to do? click A,B, or C.
I downloaded it and can not even tell where to start running it.
I tried clicking on "winlib-imagex". It just flashes on the screen and nothing happens.
Couldn't find a manual.
hi Jack
it is free indefinately for home use
big green dowload button...
http://www.easeus.com/backup-software/tb-free.html (http://www.easeus.com/backup-software/tb-free.html)
once you have it installed, you can go to the menus to create a restoration CD to boot from
be sure to partition the drive
i generally use 80 to 100 GB for the boot drive - it depends on total drive size
in some cases, there is an OEM restore partition
look over what you have - perhaps post pictures - before you decide a strategy
just to give you an idea....
my original OEM restore partition was ~ 7 GB
i modified the restore image, removing a bunch of bundled crapware :P
so - i can get it in 4 GB pretty easily, now
as you can see, i have set up all my drives to be bootable - and with the OEM restore partition
on some of the drives....
1) small partition for OEM restore
2) boot partition 60 to 100 GB (this will be the C drive if i boot from this drive)
3) larger data partition
4) small partition for backup images
when you partition a drive, you are allowed up to 4 "primary" partitions
if you want, you can make "logical" partitions to go beyond 4 - i never do, 4 is enough
this image was made using EaseUS Partition Master (free for home use version)
(http://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/p527/DednDave/partitions.png)
i set up my e-mail programs etc to use the data partition
and, i generally save all my images and other personal data on the data partition
if i have to restore from an image, it takes minimal time to get going again
let me know what you've got - i can help you decide a strategy, if you like
>To vortex: Still looks complicated to use.
>What's wrong with: what do you want to do? click A,B, or C.
>I downloaded it and can not even tell where to start running it.
>I tried clicking on "winlib-imagex". It just flashes on the screen and nothing happens.
>Couldn't find a manual.
If you really checked the zip archive, you could see the doc folder containing 14 pdf files. They are the manuals.
As I demonstrated some examples above, you should understand that wimlib is a command-line tool. You can see some of the options above in the examples.
Thanks Dave,
I download it and ran a backup of Easeus.
It ran successfully. Now if it only works when I need to restore.
Of course they constantly pester you for upgrading.
you can opt out of the pester e-mails
and, i created shortcuts that goes directly to the desired program, rather than their little splash thing
Shankle,
I offered you a free version that works.
??
I appreciate that Magnum.
It's just that I have had problems with the false advertising by Macrium.
I can relate.
I have a program that works.
If you do not want what I offer, that is your decision.
Having a hard time with hiccups that is driving me crazy. :-)
It is not my intention to be nasty to anyone.
I am so turned off by Macrium from my years ago experience
with them. I had run their backup and some time later my
puter failed and I tried to run their recovery and guess what.
They wanted money first. That little piece of information
should have been upfront. If it was I would never have bothered.
Thanks again for your offer.
Jack...
i highly recommend that you get a scratch drive and go through the recovery process, at least once
it will force you to have all your ducks in a row
the backup images should be on a seperate partition (not the boot partition)
and, you need to create a recovery CD
it takes about 30 minutes or so :t
with EaseUS Todo, it is important that the images and the CD were created using the same version software :biggrin:
Hi Dave,
I've got the Easeus backup on an external HD.
I got to thinking about the recovery process after reading you message.
If I have to restore with Easeus presumably the C drive has failed.
Now I have no Easeus . Only the Easeaus backup on the external drive.
So the recovery CD should enable me to recover from the external HD.
RIGHT?
If Easeus comes out with a newer version of their software, is it true that
older backup versions and the recovery CD will no longer work and must be scrapped?
If you have to time I would appreciate your response to this message.
i don't think USB devices will be recognized until after an OS boots
(well - maybe - i guess some have booted from USB drives ???)
it may be different on newer machines
that's why i suggest partitioning the main drive with a small area for images
as to versions...
it's ok - because you presumably create the image with the same version as the CD
just a "good to know" factoid :biggrin:
Thanks Dave for responding.
I think you missed my point about the C drive failure.
If it fails you have no backups. You only have the CD boot disk.
I also thought I had only to create a boot disk one time until
a new version of Easeus came out. This is one reason why I
liked Clonezilla-live so much. I didn't have any of these problems.
Procedure I am going to follow to restore Windows 7 test:
Disconnect the regular Windows HD. In another bay put in a scratch HD.
Connect my External HD with the USB connector and Insert the Restore dvd.
Hit the Go button and see what happens........
Needless to say I am really confused now.....
one solution is to put the images on CD's, i guess
but, i prefer a small partition on the same drive
as to version - keep in mind - just because they come out with a new version doesn't mean you have to update
just be sure that, if you do update the software, your old image might be useless
with Todo (or any backup program), you can install once and not update
now, if they add a desired feature, you might want to update - but can't think of what that would be - lol
i simply created images and CD's with the same version - then stay with that version
in truth, once you have made the CD's and images, you no longer need the software running on the boot drive :biggrin:
One real solution would be for MS to have a system backup program built in that could cover all needs...perhaps in Windows 10...an easy backup solution from the MS people...that's the ticket...
Sorry Dave,
I'm still confused. If I put the images on a cd/dvd. Mind I have 1 cd/dvd installed in
the computer. How will that help me when I need to put the recovery disk in that drive?
Have you tried a recovery assuming the HD failed?
once the restoration CD has booted, it should fly without it and allow you to put in image CD(s)
i haven't done it that way, but it seems plausible
this is why i suggest a cold run - to see what the process is like
then, when you actually need to do it, you won't be in fear :biggrin:
Thanks again Dave.
I created a winpe recovery dvd. Directions were in bad English. The scroll bar didn't go
all the way across and yet another windows came up with confusing directions.
So I canceled the run and assumed it finished which I think it did.
Again the directions for creating the disk were confusing. I have no idea if I created
the correct recovery dvd. Will so find out :icon_confused:
yah - WinPE disks are a bit confusing - lol
there is a CHM file in the WinPE download package that is helpful, though
also, https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/ (https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/) has some info - use the search tool
and, there are others - Barts PE, PE Builder, and so on
i think that stuff is available through http://www.msfn.org/board/ (http://www.msfn.org/board/)
So did I make the wrong kind of a recovery disk??
I tested from the external hd and the recovery disk and
it was a no go. So you must be right Dave. The restore won't
work from a USB. So it appears that Easeus won't work for me.
There must be a vast difference from a backup and a disaster
backup. With Clonzilla-live it was a disaster backup.
I'm in a bit of a bind with no backup that works. :(
give this a try.....
create a linux boot disk, instead (you don't care what the OS is while you're recovering)
http://www.todo-backup.com/products/features/backup-bootableCD.htm (http://www.todo-backup.com/products/features/backup-bootableCD.htm)
although - that will make your USB a bootable linux image, i guess
here's how i do it.....
partition the hard drive - and leave a small partition for the recovery image
probably 15 to 20 GB is large enough - but, you already know if you've made the image files
copy the images over to that partition
create a bootable CD using Todo
when you boot from that CD, the image partition is visible
notice - if you use EaseUS Partition Master, you can resize the existing partition without destroying data :t
with Partition Master, you tell it what you want to do - then click the Apply icon to make it happen
as i recall, if you resize the current boot partition, it will tell you that you must reboot to do it
once that's done, you can create the second partition
I don't see how that will solve the problem if my HD fails.
Thanks Dave.
quite right - it won't
however, you will be buying a new hard drive
so, partition it - and copy the image files to the smaller partition (from CDs or another drive), then recover
i have this covered, because i have several drives - with several copies of the images
the more likely scenerio is that your hard drive gets a nasty virus
then, you can recover to a fresh image and no more virus
if the drive fails, nothing will fix it - lol
well - short of sending it out to have someone recover the data