From what I have been able to determine, AOMEI states that you must use the "system backup" function, in order for the computer to be bootable after a restore - just doing a "partition backup" of the system partition will not result in a bootable computer. At the moment, I have a dual boot system (both Windows OS's) and when I select "system backup", AOMEI backupper creates an image of both OS partitions, resulting in an image which is double the size. In the past I have used Macrium Reflect to backup only my "C" partition, and I have restored this image on numerous occasions. without a problem. Has anyone had any experience with using AOMEI and a dual boot system?
Backing up a bootable partition to the same disk always works for me. In cloning to another disk, I often have to do an "mbr rebuild" to make a partition bootable. If a restored partition doesn't boot, a blinking cursor or bios error message usually means an mbr problem--ie the mbr is pointing to the wrong sector. If you get a Windows can't boot message, it is a bcd problem on the system partition. There are many ways to do a dual boot system. Aomei, or any imaging program, might work with some and not others. I haven't used "system backup" but I would assume it saves the mbr as well as the partitions. A partition backup will do just that and won't save the mbr or adjust it if you restore to a different disk.
I remember in previous versions of Macrium Reflect, there was an option to backup the MBR, I am not certain that option is still available, perhaps it is automatically backed up now, and I do not see that option in AOMEI.
