Alternative to Macrium and Aomei Backupper - Free editions


wbadmin start backup . creates an image in the vhdx format stored on the backuptarget you specify

example:

View attachment 34152

the enable backup command allows you to set a daily schedule. It was added fairly recently, it is in win11, not sure if win10 has the scheduling

View attachment 34153



One way to restore the image is to use wbadmin start recovery. Obviously recovery has to be done from outside your windows installation , from booted winre or boot.wim The wbadmin recovery commands are a bit fiddly for beginners. However because the format is vhdx, there are other ways to access and/or restore from it.



you can get help by typing wbadmin /? at an admin cmd prompt

wbamin.exe in win11 is bigger than earlier versions.
i tried "wbadmin start backup -backuptarget:E: -include:C: -allcritical" but it says "The backup storage location is invalid. You cannot use a volume that is included in the backup as a storage location".. but for me D: and E: are completely different drives where i have downloads, documents and games.. doesnt make any sense
 
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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    -
    CPU
    4770k
    Motherboard
    Asus Maximus Formula VI
    Memory
    16 gb Kingston
    Graphics Card(s)
    2070 super
"wbadmin start backup -backuptarget:E: -include:C: -allcritical"

If C is your current os partition you dont need to include it twice.

-allcritical will already include it

it says destination is invalid cannot be used bc its critical volume..
try a different destination using -allcritical

example

wbadmin start backup -backuptarget Z: -allcritical

then it wil list the critical volumes it wants and ask you to confirm if you want to start the backup

See if it lists E as one of them
 

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  • OS
    Win7
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    i5-8400
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    gigabyte b365m ds3h
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    2x8gb 3200mhz
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    benq gw2480
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    bequiet pure power 11 400CM
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    cryorig m9i
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    CPU
    pentium g5400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    1x8gb 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450
If C is your current os partition you dont need to include it twice.

-allcritical will already include it


try a different destination using -allcritical

example

wbadmin start backup -backuptarget Z: -allcritical

then it wil list the critical volumes it wants and ask you to confirm if you want to start the backup

See if it lists E as one of them
This can only happen to me LOL.. i tried Z: just says destination doesnt exist..
 

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My Computer

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  • OS
    Windows 11
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    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    -
    CPU
    4770k
    Motherboard
    Asus Maximus Formula VI
    Memory
    16 gb Kingston
    Graphics Card(s)
    2070 super
Yes you need to pick a valid destination that is different from E

then when you do -allcritical it will tell you what it wants to backup.

See if it wants to backup E when you do that.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win7
    Computer type
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    CPU
    i5-8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    benq gw2480
    PSU
    bequiet pure power 11 400CM
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i
  • Operating System
    win7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    pentium g5400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    1x8gb 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450
Yes you need to pick a valid destination that is different from E

then when you do -allcritical it will tell you what it wants to backup.

See if it wants to backup E when you do that.
so you are saying with this method i can backup only to USB and not on internal drives?
 

My Computer

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  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
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    -
    CPU
    4770k
    Motherboard
    Asus Maximus Formula VI
    Memory
    16 gb Kingston
    Graphics Card(s)
    2070 super
No. we are trying to find out why you got that message

It might be it was confused when you tried to include C twice, or it might be you made a typo without realizing, or it might be that E does contain something that wbadmin thinks is needed, or it might be something else.

You could also try copying and pasting this and see if you get the same message


wbadmin start backup -backuptarget:E: -allcritical
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i5-8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    benq gw2480
    PSU
    bequiet pure power 11 400CM
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i
  • Operating System
    win7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    pentium g5400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    1x8gb 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450
No. we are trying to find out why you got that message

It might be it was confused when you tried to include C twice, or it might be you made a typo without realizing, or it might be that E does contain something that wbadmin thinks is needed, or it might be something else.

You could also try copying and pasting this and see if you get the same message


wbadmin start backup -backuptarget:E: -allcritical
restarted computer copy-pasted and got literally same message.. dont tell me its bc downloads location is put E: ...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
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    Manufacturer/Model
    -
    CPU
    4770k
    Motherboard
    Asus Maximus Formula VI
    Memory
    16 gb Kingston
    Graphics Card(s)
    2070 super
dont tell me its bc downloads location is put E: ...
do you mean you moved your userfolders or some of them?

That might be it. If so, then the -allcritical is not suitable for what you are trying to do.

Instead, you can select each volume you want to include.
 

My Computers

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  • OS
    Win7
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    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i5-8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    benq gw2480
    PSU
    bequiet pure power 11 400CM
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i
  • Operating System
    win7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    pentium g5400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    1x8gb 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    -
    CPU
    4770k
    Motherboard
    Asus Maximus Formula VI
    Memory
    16 gb Kingston
    Graphics Card(s)
    2070 super
Closer inspection of Evorim reveals that the restore I did restored only the windows partition. The existing esp partition was untouched.
That could be a problem in some scenarios. :(

Having a look inside the image at the allegedly backed up esp:


evorim-image-explore-1..jpg


evorim-image-explore-2..jpg
 
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My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i5-8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    benq gw2480
    PSU
    bequiet pure power 11 400CM
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i
  • Operating System
    win7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    pentium g5400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    1x8gb 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450
My preferred method is baccking up to a .wim using wimlib. It is not for everybody.

Quite nice Evorim has the restore to different hardware function . Not an independent module unfortunately, but it is something not often found in free versions.

That is assuming it works in the free version. Maybe it doesnt and you need to stump up for it. I should have ticked it during the restore to see if just went ahead , or if it would prompt to buy the pro version.
Restore to different hardware isn't such a problem for Windows any more - especially if using vhdx physical files.

Simply just copy the vhdx file from old to new hardware using any utility you like - even file explorer and then apply the bootloader to a primary efi boot file via bcdboot.

I often perform a Virtual to Physical conversion this way often to quite different hardware to the original machine I created the VM on - but you don't need to use VM's to use this method. So long as you have a functioning Internet Windows is quite good at fetching any specific drivers these days in most cases.

vhdx files on decent hardware don't reduce performance by anything even remotely noticeable if using ssd's or nvme type disks and you can have several windows installs on the same disk. simply create 1 efi partition, optionally 1 msr partition and then the rest of the disk as a single non efi std partition. (or use different disks / external or internal for the vhdx files -. The trick is you only need one single EFI file for the main boot -- and at boot time you'll get the standard Windows coloured boot menu (with a default if you prefer).

All these people flogging paid for things to create WindowstoGo type stuff or "Easy bootable menus" are really just peddling things to people who with about 3 commands could do it themselves with bog standard windows commands. I suspect those paid products are some sort of "wrapper" around this process.

The two tools of note here are dism /Apply-Image and bcdboot with possibly bcdedit. learn how to use those and "you are in business".

For Non tech people who need to backup (or more likely possibly recover) data then I agree a decent fool proof menu with a sensible GUI is perfectly OK but I doubt whether "Old Grandma" as some people call her - is going to be in the business of messing around with various Windows builds etc. !!!!.

However whatever your mechanisms - you can't have too much backup - so any method that works and is reliable is OK.

cheers
jimbo
 

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Is there any way to backup system disk without using third party software or old win 7 backup..
dism /capture-image or have the whole windows system as a vhdx file and just save it with file explorer.

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

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    2 X Intel i7
evorim Advanced Backup seems turned off many important features in free edition like backup a volume and incremental backup. only file and folder backup is available which is useless !!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
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    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    5900x
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    MAG X570S TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI
    Memory
    32 GB G.Skill
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    RX 6800 XT
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster Z
    Monitor(s) Displays
    BENQ and AOC QHD 120Hz
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    2TB Intel 660p and 2TB Sabrent Rokect 4 plus nvme, 4TB HDD HGST
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I'll pass on it.
 

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    Windows 11 Pro
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    Western Digital 500GB M.2 NVME Gen3
    OCZ-TRION 100 500GB SSD
    OCZ-TRION 150 500GB SSD
dism /capture-image

Cheers
jimbo

That is only one volume at a time.
I prefer wimlib because it is quicker and because the append command works nicley with the create option.
This means if you point it at an existing wim , it will append. If there is no existing wim it creates one.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win7
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    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i5-8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    benq gw2480
    PSU
    bequiet pure power 11 400CM
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i
  • Operating System
    win7
    Computer type
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    CPU
    pentium g5400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    1x8gb 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450
Aomei hangup my entire system when I try to take system backup now I dont have any other option but Macriumbut it does not have incremental backup :hot:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    5900x
    Motherboard
    MAG X570S TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI
    Memory
    32 GB G.Skill
    Graphics Card(s)
    RX 6800 XT
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster Z
    Monitor(s) Displays
    BENQ and AOC QHD 120Hz
    Screen Resolution
    QHD
    Hard Drives
    2TB Intel 660p and 2TB Sabrent Rokect 4 plus nvme, 4TB HDD HGST
    PSU
    Corsair RM750
    Case
    Bloody rage
    Cooling
    Water cooling gamdias 240
    Keyboard
    razer ornata
    Mouse
    razer da v2
    Browser
    FF and Chrome
    Antivirus
    Malwarebytes
Aomei hangup my entire system when I try to take system backup now I dont have any other option but Macriumbut it does not have incremental backup :hot:
That's not normal behavior for Aomei. It would seem to point to something awry with your system.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Homemade
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5700G 8-Core
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Strix B550-F Gaming
    Memory
    Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 3200MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Onboard ATI Radeon
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Asus 28"
    Screen Resolution
    4K - 3840 X 2160
    Hard Drives
    PNY CS2140 500GB M.2 NVMe Gen4 x4
    Western Digital 500GB M.2 NVME Gen3
    OCZ-TRION 100 500GB SSD
    OCZ-TRION 150 500GB SSD
That's not normal behavior for Aomei. It would seem to point to something awry with your system.
it does not even able to create incremental backup from folder. I dont know what happean to this tool, it was working fine before.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    5900x
    Motherboard
    MAG X570S TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI
    Memory
    32 GB G.Skill
    Graphics Card(s)
    RX 6800 XT
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster Z
    Monitor(s) Displays
    BENQ and AOC QHD 120Hz
    Screen Resolution
    QHD
    Hard Drives
    2TB Intel 660p and 2TB Sabrent Rokect 4 plus nvme, 4TB HDD HGST
    PSU
    Corsair RM750
    Case
    Bloody rage
    Cooling
    Water cooling gamdias 240
    Keyboard
    razer ornata
    Mouse
    razer da v2
    Browser
    FF and Chrome
    Antivirus
    Malwarebytes
it does not even able to create incremental backup from folder. I dont know what happean to this tool, it was working fine before.
Uninstall it with something like Revo Uninstaller and reinstall to see if that fixes it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Homemade
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5700G 8-Core
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Strix B550-F Gaming
    Memory
    Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 3200MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Onboard ATI Radeon
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Asus 28"
    Screen Resolution
    4K - 3840 X 2160
    Hard Drives
    PNY CS2140 500GB M.2 NVMe Gen4 x4
    Western Digital 500GB M.2 NVME Gen3
    OCZ-TRION 100 500GB SSD
    OCZ-TRION 150 500GB SSD
Uninstall it with something like Revo Uninstaller and reinstall to see if that fixes it.
tried that also contacted support they dont know.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    5900x
    Motherboard
    MAG X570S TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI
    Memory
    32 GB G.Skill
    Graphics Card(s)
    RX 6800 XT
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster Z
    Monitor(s) Displays
    BENQ and AOC QHD 120Hz
    Screen Resolution
    QHD
    Hard Drives
    2TB Intel 660p and 2TB Sabrent Rokect 4 plus nvme, 4TB HDD HGST
    PSU
    Corsair RM750
    Case
    Bloody rage
    Cooling
    Water cooling gamdias 240
    Keyboard
    razer ornata
    Mouse
    razer da v2
    Browser
    FF and Chrome
    Antivirus
    Malwarebytes

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