Windows 8.1 loses Windows 7 Imaging

Apparently the only way you can still make a system image is via the command line. The GUI link is gone! Not cool!!

http://www.howtogeek.com/167610/8-features-microsoft-removed-in-windows-8.1/

 

Please read the article you're posting:

Good to see they are removing useless/redundant/replaced features. I mean, the Windows Experience Index, really? Haha, less crap on my PC.

 

It's like this time MS does a so called upgrade to a brand new release by making it worse.

No matter. Looks like I'll be duplicating what i had to do with XP. I never did patch beyond SP2 and with windows 8 i certainly won't destroy all the work and hacks i put into it to make it more functional then the default out of box.

 

Compared to third party imaging apps it is a poor tool. It can't image partitions larger than 2 TB. It can't image FAT/FAT32 partitions. The EFI System partition is FAT32.

 

I did. That's why I posted. The GUI based imaging is gone. I said nothing about File History (which is not imaging and IMO, something I would never use.)

From the article...

Brian K: Yes, it had its issues. But it was bundled and for what it was meant to do, within its limitations, it worked. What I would have liked to have seen was the imaging app improved. Not axed...

 

I just built this machine and installed UEFI Windows 8 64bit and made a bare bones registered install image with the built in program. Does this mean if I restore the image it it won't work?

 

Sure looks that way. I posted in your other thread that since the imaging is gone in 8.1, it is pretty clear now that you'll have to use Macrium (or something else) to make your images. And if your PC has UEFI, the Windows based whole disc image apparently doesn't include the EFI partiton.

 

Thanks HAN. Since my topic has been bumped I'll continue over there.

 

File History is not the same as imaging.

 

Yes.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/set-drive-file-history

 

So, is there ANY imaging in 8.1 at all then?

 

no.
you'll have to use a third party one. Paragon Hard Disk Manager, Macrium reflect, image for windows are all good ones that are capable of imaging the new GPT UEFI/Secure boot. There is a integrity check option for built into Paragon which can effectively prevent image corruption.

 

Ok, then that is indeed regrettable and not a good thing. Thanks....

 

Don't leave out the newest imaging snapshot combo app AX64 Time Machine. It's a very useful imaging program indeed in spite of it's infancy. And many more innovative features are planned. Great support personnel too courtesy it's developer Isso.

 

Thanks for the info.
I did not mention it because AX64 does not support UEFI/Secure boot yet (new windows 8 machines all have these features enabled by default). So once AX64 does add this support then sure I will also give it a try.

 

innerpeace,

Restoring just the Win8 image to the same partition on your drive should be OK.

 

It's been officially supported for weeks now. You may want to check again. lol


http://feedback.ax64.com/forums/206143-general/suggestions/4075904-make-it-snappy-just-kidding-

 

cool...
however I meant the rescue disk, not the installed version. I only use the rescue disks to make images of a freshly installed OS partition. Right now my top two are Paragon HDM and Macrium Reflect Pro.

yes right now the installed ax64 version supports UEFI/Secureboot, I am waiting for ISSO to add imaging ability to the recovery cd.

regards,
oliverjia

 

I have made system image this way:

In "Search", type in "File Recovery" without quotes - then, select 'Windows 7 File Recovery, a screen will come up like the attached - note the middle item is "Create a System Image" - go from there .......I believe you can make a System Image of Windows 8.

 

JohnBurns,

Did you do that from Win8 or Win8.1?
I can't get it to work from 8.1.

 

Win 8 (I don't have Win8.1) - after getting to that point, I followed the instruction at:

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...overy-restore-image-computer-windows-8-a.html

 

Ah, that clears my confusion. This thread is about Win 8.1. It doesn't have imaging.

 

why use the built-in option of windows 8/7, which has no image compression at all, while there are much better, free third party options that can create much smaller images with integration check also?

 

I agree. Win7/8 imaging has no advantages over free third party imaging apps and has these disadvantages.

It doesn't image FAT/FAT32/Linux partitions. Since most (? all) Dell computers have a OEM Diagnostic partition (FAT16) this won't be included in the image and if you have to restore the image to a new HD (due to HD failure), the Dell Diagnostic partition will be missing. UEFI systems have a FAT32 EFI system partition.

The images aren't compressed and are roughly double the size of images created by other imaging software.

It can create incremental images. The extra image is added automatically to the base image and you only find out about it when you try to restore as you see a series of dates.

There is no option for resizing the restored partition.

You can't restore into a smaller partition (eg if you want to transfer your OS to a SSD).

The images can't be Validated/Verified.

You can't move the backup image to another folder as the restore process won't find it.

It can't image partitions larger than 2 TB.

 

Thanks. Does this mean the image will restore the 3 NTFS partitions and leave the Fat32 partition untouched and in place?