Poll on Backup software

I have been considering switching my Samsung SSDs to Samsung M.2 SSDs & cloning the OS & Data so I have been researching more info.
One thing I hate to read, but if true means a lot more work, for me.
From Samsung FAQ:
Can I move data from an HDD or SATA SSD to a Samsung NVMe™ M.2 SSD?

Yes. It is possible to clone a SATA HDD or SATA SSD to an NVMe™ SSD. Samsung, however, recommends performing a “clean install” of the OS and later transferring the desired non-executable files.

Because the registry information needed for NVMe™ SSDs is different from those of SATA HDDs or SSDs, a clean install helps to avoid unnecessary compatibility and performance issues that may arise from simply cloning a storage device.

SmokeMe said:

I have been considering switching my Samsung SSDs to Samsung M.2 SSDs & cloning the OS & Data so I have been researching more info.
One thing I hate to read, but if true means a lot more work, for me.
From Samsung FAQ:
Can I move data from an HDD or SATA SSD to a Samsung NVMe™ M.2 SSD?

Yes. It is possible to clone a SATA HDD or SATA SSD to an NVMe™ SSD. Samsung, however, recommends performing a “clean install” of the OS and later transferring the desired non-executable files.

Because the registry information needed for NVMe™ SSDs is different from those of SATA HDDs or SSDs, a clean install helps to avoid unnecessary compatibility and performance issues that may arise from simply cloning a storage device.

NVMe™ SSD Product FAQs | Support | Samsung Semiconductor USA

Find frequently asked questions and solutions for your upgraded computing life with Samsung V-NAND SSD products. Samsung NVMe™ SSD FAQs.

semiconductor.samsung.com

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Fooey - I have cloned from SSD to NVME many times without any issues whatsoever, using Macrium Reflect.

What is the worst than can happen if you direct clone? You might get an issue and have to start over.

cereberus said:

Fooey - I have cloned from SSD to NVME many times without any issues whatsoever, using Macrium Reflect.

What is the worst than can happen if you direct clone? You might get an issue and have to start over.

Click to expand...

I am glad to hear someone has had success cloning a SATA SSD to a M.2 SSD.
I was going to do it anyway but just a little bit concerned after reading the Samsung FAQ.

RD Mercer said:

Having to reinstall an OS and reinstalling all your software, and your time to do it all, isn't dirt cheap either, unless you just don't value your time. I like doing a TIB. backup, but with a clone to another drive you can instantly get back to what you were doing, unless you have lots of time on your hands, like me.

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Absolutely! I'm a sole proprietor running my own trading business in my own home office and time is everything.

My two computers run the same apps, and both use OneDrive. Data between them is always totally up to date in real-time. Moving between computers is totally transparent and they are always running side by side. For what I do, redundancy is paramount.

When I reinstall on one computer I simply move to the other, never missing a beat. Screens, apps, data, keyboards, and trackpads will be identical. Did I mention that moving between computers is totally transparent?

I can't imagine working any other way.

SmokeMe said:

I am glad to hear someone has had success cloning a SATA SSD to a M.2 SSD.
I was going to do it anyway but just a little bit concerned after reading the Samsung FAQ.

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I always think faqs take the most conservative position so they dont get sued.

SmokeMe said:

I have been considering switching my Samsung SSDs to Samsung M.2 SSDs & cloning the OS & Data so I have been researching more info.
One thing I hate to read, but if true means a lot more work, for me.
From Samsung FAQ:
Can I move data from an HDD or SATA SSD to a Samsung NVMe™ M.2 SSD?

Yes. It is possible to clone a SATA HDD or SATA SSD to an NVMe™ SSD. Samsung, however, recommends performing a “clean install” of the OS and later transferring the desired non-executable files.

Because the registry information needed for NVMe™ SSDs is different from those of SATA HDDs or SSDs, a clean install helps to avoid unnecessary compatibility and performance issues that may arise from simply cloning a storage device.

NVMe™ SSD Product FAQs | Support | Samsung Semiconductor USA

Find frequently asked questions and solutions for your upgraded computing life with Samsung V-NAND SSD products. Samsung NVMe™ SSD FAQs.

semiconductor.samsung.com

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They are correct about having potential side effects, BUT... these side effects are fairly easy to fix/avoid. See:
Just in case you'll also need to run the bcdboot command like mentioned in the link above, booting from the Windows installation USB lets you do this by pressing Shift+F10 at the language selection menu screen, which opens a command window as an administrator within WinPE (as the Windows installation media are based on WinPE albeit any other WinPE-based bootable media should let you do the same).

blued said:

My favorite back in the day was Symantec Ghost, DOS on a floppy.

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I think you'll find that @TechnoMage2021 here still uses his elderly copy of Ghost, and it works for him in 2024.

I was able to back up the solid state disk (Hard disk drive too), explore the .gho file with ghost explorer, and most important restore the .gho file back to the solid state drive. Everything in GPT UEFI mode.
This is the master command : Ghost64.exe -NTEXACT -NOTRIM

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v12


There is apparently an issue with v11 on some machines as mentioned in this 2023 article from Dell

SIW2 said:

v12

Ghost 12 GPT UEFI + Ghost explorer | Ghost Solution Suite

Hello all, I have sucessfully backup a GPT UEFI (Windows 8.1 x64 and Windows 10 x64) to a .gho file. I am able to explore the .gho file with ghost explorer.The

community.broadcom.com

There is apparently an issue with v11 on some machines as mentioned in this 2023 article from Dell

Ghost Imaging on Skylake/Thunderbolt Systems | Dell United Arab Emirates

www.dell.com

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Use a 20 year old tool and there are some issues - go figure!

Let me down several times.

Like all tools, some may say they have not had issues but that is basically just luck.

It is outdated crap - many far better tools around

I just upgraded my Easetodo backup to the 2024 version. It's always been quite reliable and, Easy To Do

CannonRebel said:

I just upgraded my Easetodo backup to the 2024 version. It's always been quite reliable and, Easy To Do

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I have just upgraded to V2024 but not much difference as far as I can tell from V2024.

One slight improvement is when you select disk, you can choose which partitions to backup.

However, when you do a restore, you either have to restore all the partitions backed up, or just one at a time. If you backed up 4 partitions, you can restore all 4, or any one individually. You cannot choose to restore 2 or 3 in one go.

Also I was unimpressed with its speed of backup - Macrium Reflect and Hasleo are Backup Suite much faster.

Also, it does not have Delta Restore.

So whilst an ok tool, it does lag behind its competitors.

snerd said:

Macrium Reflect here for years.

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same here

Here is what I did back in the day for backups

Hard to beat duplicators.

I use AOMEI Backupper Pro
Works for me and does what I need.

Macrium Reflect.

EaseUS ToDo

RD Mercer said:

Hard to beat duplicators.

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If you like replicators, have you tried the excellent Karen's Replicator, from the late Karen Kenworthy? She is gone, but her inventions live on.

Wisewiz said:

If you like replicators, have you tried the excellent Karen's Replicator, from the late Karen Kenworthy? She is gone, but her inventions live on.

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Haven’t tried that, the replicators are so simple and fast, I wish I would have bought the two I have years ago.

I know what I wont be using again, as I discovered today, I really dislike AOMEI Backup Software.

I uninstalled it last month for whatever reason, and because I never visit the drives that I create my AOMEI images on, I failed to notice that uninstalling AOMEI actually removed the images it created. I can’t work it out. I have no other explanation as to how they would all be gone off 3 separate 500GB SSD’s

It was just lucky I had a backup and restore (Win 7) image from the same date (I record the dates on file) of which I have just re-loaded.

I’ll be taking a look at another recommendation by hsehestedt tomorrow