New to this version and have a basic question that involves the image backup features. There are multiple options one can select and I am confused on which to choose. I have read the info in the V 6 user guide but the explanation is unclear on the following two that seem most comprehensive: 1. Image selected disks on this computer (using this option will populate the Image Wizard with all selected disks and partitions in the application main window). 2. Create an image of the partition(s) required to backup and restore Windows (using this option will choose all the partitions required to boot Windows - this may include hidden system partitions that are essential for Windows to start and run). For routine back and restore operations which one is recommended? Any guidance or suggestions would be appreciated for this octogenarian.
Presumably you have valuable data on the partitions that are not essential for windows and you want to back them up too. I would therefore back up all partitions on each drive you have. In my setup the partitions that are needed for Windows to boot are all on the primary drive. This contains 1 - System (None) 2 - (None) (actually this is the MSR partition 128 MB size) 3 - Windows (C) (where windows lives) 4 - Windows RE (None). In my case all of these are "needed" to boot windows. I have all my files and data on a second hard drive which only contains 2 partitions 1 - (None) (actually this is the MSR partition 128 MB size) 2 - Data (D) I therefore do two image backups, one for each drive, all partitions each time. Note that my MSR partitions are not labelled but I could label them MSR in Windows Disk Management.
Thank you pling-man for the response and suggestion. I do not think that I have any information on any partitions that are not essential for restoring windows 7. I want to be able to image my C drive in the event of a crash so I can restore everything back to the date of the image creation. I am leaning toward the Backup Task identified as "Create an image of the partition(s) required to backup and restore Windows" option choice. Will that accomplish what I hope to do? I have created the rescue media bootable disk should I not be able to get into windows.
Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but as far as I know you can select either option and then on the next screen simply make sure you tick the boxes for every partition on the disk.
If you know what partitions are required to restore your "system" (it's different for Legacy-MBR systems than for more modern UEFI-GPT hardwqare), of course you can "roll your own" in the selection of the required partitions. But if you don't, using the "System Backup" option allows Macrium (who knows what you need) to pre-select the partitions required to have your system BOOTable once again. Since it has no idea how you've personally structured your "data" references, it only includes the partitions needed for "BOOTability," which may not be all you need to run for your successful "data included" system. Out of the box Window builds reference all their data on the same partition (Documents, Pictures, Videos, etc.) as the System resides. If you use the system this way, all will be well with a "System" backup. If not, you need to select the partitions you do use in addition to the ones needed for BOOTability.
It probably will, but what is on the other partitions that are not ticked when you select "Create an image of the partition(s) required to backup and restore Windows"? You might have some vendor specific recovery partitions as well that you might want to ensure are safe.
Many thanks to all responders for their patient explanations and suggestions. To the best of my knowledge all of my files are on drive C, so I believe my best backup option is "Create an image of the partition(s) required to backup and restore Windows". I am an 84 year old user residing somewhere between novice and intermediate levels. Primary daily usage involves reading news on the internet, occasional Google searches, Facebook, emails and sporadic photo and video file additions (which are later moved to an external HDD). I have selected the first day of each month for full backups. Not sure if I need differential backups in between - for example every 2 weeks? Does this sound like a workable algorithm to those of you more knowledgeable? Frank
