Hi, All my programs are installed on a distinct partition P:\ 'Advanced' software for disaster recovery images, e.g. AOMEI Backupper, Macrium Reflect, offers different options for system and data drives. Which should I choose: - system, because P:\ is in fact an extension to Windows' Program Files and Program Files (x86) or - data, because Windows itself is not installed on P:\ I would also appreciate some explanation on the difference between these methods. Earlier I used DriveSnapshot which does not make such a distinction. Thanks.
Georgeous, Just image that partition using the Data option. The System option probably chooses several partitions but otherwise there is no difference in the image. You probably don't even need to use an imaging app to backup that partition as it's unlikely to have locked files. Robocopy or one of the many data backup apps should work. My son uses a large non OS partition to install his games. We backup that partition with Robocopy. It's fast and automated.
Thank you Brian. Backup/restore C:\ and P:\ make sense together only, I think I had better use the same program. Earlier I used Drive Snapshot and some other imaging software that did not offer this System/Data option and could restore both C:\ and P:\ with no problem. I don't understand the difference (the choice is offered for single partitions), anyway you must be right that Data is the option for P:\. Thanks again.
Program + OS partitions should be imaged together. Programs often add things to the OS and change settings.
Yes, Keatah, that was my initial problem. Two drives (let's skip the historic cause for that) which belong together. Do you know the difference in Macrium Reflect, AOMEI Backpacker, etc. between imaging a 'system' and a 'data' drive?
Well, there is the matter of the boot record and startup information. But the most visible difference is how the restore process works. System = reboot via WinPE Data = go ahead and restore right away http://kb.macrium.com/knowledgebasearticle50079.aspx
So no harm can be done if I image P:\ as system since the reboot via PE won't touch C:\. No advantage over imaging it as data though either. (Of course, after restoring both I have to reboot so that they find each other.) Clear now, thank you very much.
