Want different system images in Windows 11

clippan · Sep 20, 2024

Hello. I have tried the built-in program in Windows 11 for backup/restore of a whole systemimage.
When using it it says" Existing system images might be overwritten". And it becomes overwritten.

I would like to be able to make different systemimages depending of what i am doing.
To have a couple to choose from if I want to.

If I make one systemimage (lets say it will be named PC1) and then make another one
it will overwrite the first one and name the second one PC1.

If I make one systemimage (named PC1) and then rename it to PC1_A
and then make another one the second one will be named PC1.
It seems that it takes the PC:s name by default.

So that gives me two different systemimages, that is the way I want it.

I can't find an opportunity to choose name for the system image when it's done, is there a way to do that
or do I have to rename them by myself?

Bree · Sep 20, 2024

clippan said:
Hello. I have tried the built-in program in Windows 11 for backup/restore of a whole systemimage.....

I can't find an opportunity to choose name for the system image when it's done, is there a way to do that
or do I have to rename them by myself?

Welcome to Eleven Forum.

The built-in system image backup has been a deprecated feature since September 2017.

Microsoft said:
Feature Details and mitigation Deprecation announced
System Image Backup (SIB) Solution This feature is also known as the Backup and Restore (Windows 7) legacy control panel. For full-disk backup solutions, look for a third-party product from another software publisher. You can also use OneDrive to sync data files with Microsoft 365. 1709

Deprecated features in the Windows client

Review the list of features that Microsoft is no longer actively developing in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

learn.microsoft.com

One of it's biggest failings is that, for no apparent reason, it can suddenly be unable to find or recognise a perfectly good image to be restored. One of the easiest ways to trigger this error is to start renaming things in the SystemImageBackup folder.

Microsoft themselves say you shouldn't use it, and recomend you to use a third-party product from another software publisher instead. There are plenty to choose from, some paid for, some free. Macrium Reflect and Hasleo Backup Suite (free) are two that seem to be popular choices. Others are available. All will allow you to achieve your aim of having multiple images available to restore. There are many threads here discussing the relative merits of each, such as this one.

Other than Macrium, what is your recommendation for a backup/clone software for PC

I purchased Macrium when it was free, and then I was forced to buy it when the discontinued the free version. Now they want an annual subscription, that is a huge increase in price over the original cost. I'm done. Looking for a replacement recommendation. Thank you. Edit, didn't purchase the...

www.elevenforum.com

Ghot · Sep 20, 2024

@clippan

This may help...

Macrium Reflect, AOMEI Backupper and Hasleo Backup Suite - GUIDES

How to use backup software... 1. When everything is working perfectly... make a full Windows backup. 2. Then, if something breaks... restore from the latest backup. 3. Then... try "whatever you were doing" a different way. If it still breaks Windows, then... go to step #2. 4. Repeat...

www.elevenforum.com

antspants · Sep 20, 2024

clippan said:
Hello. I have tried the built-in program in Windows 11 for backup/restore of a whole systemimage.

Never failed me once since 14 years. People have their personal preferences though.

cereberus · Sep 21, 2024

antspants said:
Never failed me once since 14 years. People have their personal preferences though.

It is not really a question of preference.

It has failed me several times, and I and others on this forum) no longer trust it (basically, you have been lucky).

If you wish to use a tool that has not been developed or maintained for over 7 years, that is your prerogative.

SIW2 · Sep 21, 2024

I have never had a problem with windows system image. In the consumer edititons it is intended as a basic program to get users out of a disaster. Some people who fool about moving and/or renamig the folders wonder why they cant get it the UI to work.

Older blocks are moved into shadowstorage. When the shadow storage runs out the oldest one that doesnt fit will go.

you can view them and if you want copy them out which is what I would prefer. Though It is possible to mount them read only from within shadowstorage

A tiny portable free program shadowcopyview is handy for the purpose, or you can link to shadowcopy yourself.

select the shadowcopy on the backup drive , scroll down to windowsimagebackup folder and either copy out the entire folder ( easiest for beginners).

Or anybody not a complete beginner can copy out just the vhd(x) files.

or create your own links to shadowcopies with commands for example

Code:

@ECHO OFF

if not exist c:\myshadows md c:\myshadows
for /f "tokens=2 delims=?" %%I in ('vssadmin list shadows ^| find "GLOBALROOT"') do (
    mklink /d c:\myshadows\%%~nxI\\?%%I\
)

explorer.exe "c:\myshadows"

pause

antspants · Sep 21, 2024

cereberus said:
It is not really a question of preference.

It has failed me several times, and I and others on this forum) no longer trust it (basically, you have been lucky).

If you wish to use a tool that has not been developed or maintained for over 7 years, that is your prerogative.

Is that a fact?

Yeah system image failures are reserved for Windows backup and Restore only, or so I’ve read in this forum. Macrium, Hasleo, Acronis etc etc have never failed anyone

I also use Hasleo. Image for image Backup & Restore/Hasleo. Hopefully can’t go wrong.

You couldn’t just mention a preference, could you.

cereberus · Sep 21, 2024

antspants said:
Is that a fact?

Yeah system image failures are reserved for Windows backup and Restore only, or so I’ve read in this forum. Macrium, Hasleo, Acronis etc etc have never failed anyone

I also use Hasleo. Image for image Backup & Restore/Hasleo. Hopefully can’t go wrong.

You couldn’t just mention a preference, could you.

Yep it is an undeniable fact.

Reflect has never let me down once in over 7 years.

Even when you look on the Macrium Forum vast majority of posts come down to lack of user understanding.

Hasleo seems reliable but it is New Kid on the Block. I reserve judgement until it has been out in the wild for a wee bit longer.

antspants · Sep 21, 2024

cereberus said:
Even when you look on the Macrium Forum vast majority of posts come down to lack of user understanding

Yeah it’s way too complicated for the average PC user, that’s why. If you can’t click a button and make an image, it’s overrated. Might be OK for people who need to screw around with due to boredom, beyond it’s intended purpose.
I was happy just to give my preference and leave it at that. But in here, that’s too complicated also.
I find backup & Restore great for having a ‘Just In Case’ But NO, clippan, it doesn’t do incremental. You can apparently manipulate it so you can have more than one image, but who needs or has time to have to do that?
Not everyone wants to have to screw around with a program. I don’t have time for that crap, that’s for sure.

antspants · Sep 21, 2024

I just wish I’d found Hasleo before I paid for 2 other programs. I don’t mind paying, I hate trials so I don’t do them. But Hasleo, new or not, seems great for me, has been tested by me many times over in the very short time that I have had it, not failed yet.
2 different backup types is a good Idea.

SIW2 · Sep 21, 2024

antspants said:
I find backup & Restore great for having a ‘Just In Case’ But NO, clippan, it doesn’t do incremental. You can apparently manipulate it so you can have more than one image, but who needs or has time to have to do that?
Not everyone wants to have to screw around with a program. I don’t have time for that crap, that’s for sure.

Only the old blocks ( i.e those that have changed ) are moved into shadowstorage, it appears to be the whole thing when viewed because of links.

SIW2 · Sep 22, 2024

the most recent image is the visible one in the WindowsImageBackup folder.

Any earlier ones are from the old blocks that have been moved into shadowstorage

cereberus · Sep 22, 2024

antspants said:
Yeah it’s way too complicated for the average PC user, that’s why. If you can’t click a button and make an image, it’s overrated. Might be OK for people who need to screw around with due to boredom, beyond it’s intended purpose.
I was happy just to give my preference and leave it at that. But in here, that’s too complicated also.
I find backup & Restore great for having a ‘Just In Case’ But NO, clippan, it doesn’t do incremental. You can apparently manipulate it so you can have more than one image, but who needs or has time to have to do that?
Not everyone wants to have to screw around with a program. I don’t have time for that crap, that’s for sure.

No its not way too complicated. There are plenty of web guides.
The tenforums has excellent tutorials etc.
If people want plug and play without thinking, that is up to them. If you want flexibility and quality, invest a few brain cells.

I have taught people basics of Reflect in 10 minutes That is not complicated surely?

SIW2 · Sep 22, 2024

I dont know how to set the amount shadowstorage natively in windows consumer editions, it apparently can be done with z-vsscopy

antspants · Sep 22, 2024

cereberus said:
No its not way too complicated. There are plenty of web guides.
The tenforums has excellent tutorials etc.
If people want plug and play without thinking, that is up to them. If you want flexibility and quality, invest a few brain cells.

I have taught people basics of Reflect in 10 minutes That is not complicated surely?

A lot of people who use computers, find themselves in trouble and end up here or in the Macrium forum, are ma & pa computer users that bit off my than they can chew. There are people out there that don’t know there is a settings page in Windows, or that they’re using Windows 11. Yes, i think they fall into the category of “This is too complicated”

antspants · Sep 22, 2024

SIW2 said:
I dont know how to set the amount shadowstorage natively in windows consumer editions, it apparently can be done with z-vsscopy

View attachment 109553

No to this?

How to increase VSS Shadow Copy Limit · Customer Self-Service

antspants · Sep 22, 2024

The only time I have issues is if I have too many system restore points in Windows. Deleting them seems to free up room for (for lack of a better word) Incremental Backup & Restore (Windows 7) images.

SIW2 · Sep 22, 2024

antspants said:
No to this?

How to increase VSS Shadow Copy Limit · Customer Self-Service

I dont know anything about that company catalogic

Lucas North · Sep 22, 2024

Has anyone else ever tried 'QILING Disk Master Free' ?
I'm a Macrium Pro user and have been for many years but I recently tested this program and it did the job just fine.
There is a Pro, Technician and Server versions of it at cost but it looks like another option for some users that aren't
familiar with Macrium's set-up.

cereberus · Sep 22, 2024

antspants said:
A lot of people who use computers, find themselves in trouble and end up here or in the Macrium forum, are ma & pa computer users that bit off my than they can chew. There are people out there that don’t know there is a settings page in Windows, or that they’re using Windows 11. Yes, i think they fall into the category of “This is too complicated”

Don't ridiculously exaggerate - it is not too complicated but does needs a slight learning curve. Any decent tool requires a bit of effort to use it effectively.

Fortune favours the bold!

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