AOMEI Backupper & AOMEI Partition Assistant

Just wanting to look at the Free version, but it won't install here (failed to load driver, please reinstall - but that doesn't help).

Won't follow up with support (which is pretty good) right now, as I don't really need it at the moment.

 

AOMEI Partition Assistant v7.5 (October 16, 2018)
Download Home / Pro
Changelog

 

Aomei Backupper Version 4.5.6 ((Released 2018-10-31)
http://www.backup-utility.com/free-backup-software.html

 

AOMEI Partition Assistant v7.5.1 (November 6, 2018)
Download Home / Pro
Changelog

 

AOMEi Backupper v4.6.0 (November 13, 2018)
Download
Changelog

 

I used to use AOMEI Backupper Pro for Systems Backups (in addition to Macrium Reflect) but realised, after upgrading to latest Win10 1809 build that it doesn't actually correctly image all of system partitions.

Current partitions:


The new, active Recovery Partition (using reagentc /info command) is 5 sitting immediately after C:Windows. This is apparently the new default position chosen by Microsoft (after OS partition). A full system backup should image Partitions 2 (System), 3 (Reserved Partition), 4 (Windows) & 5 (Correct New Recovery Partiiton) but...



AOMEI's system backup only backs up Partitions 1 (Old Recovery Partition), 2 (System) & 4 (Windows). Restoration of these partitions would not reinstate system properly and is therefore of limited value. I don't know whether deleting old recovery partition would partially address this ~ would AOMEI select new recovery partition ~ but it still doesn't address the missing partition 3 (Reserved) which can cause issues on its own. I've kept old recovery partition just in case I have to roll back to build 1803.

Until AOMEI address this issue or allows user to at least add/select partitions to system backup I don't see that it's useable. EaseUS ToDo Backup also seems to suffer from the same issue for system backups.

 

A System backup won't save you if the GPT disk dies. I think System backups are OK for MBR systems. The best backup is an Entire Disk backup. But you need these partitions, at least...

The Recovery partition
EFI System Partition
MSR partition
Windows partition

Edit... If reagentc /info references Partition 5 as the RE then it's OK to delete partition 1.

 

That was my understanding too Brian K. I use Macrium Reflect for full disk images in addition to system snapshots using AOMEI but the latter seems utterly pointless based on my earlier post!

 

Jason, AOMEI is OK if you don't use System backups. System backups do work if restoring the image to the same HD. But not restoring to a new HD.

 

I'm not even sure AOMEI system backups work on same HD ~ last time I tried Windows got stuck in an Automatic Repair Loop after restore. I didn't think much of it at the time as a Macrium Reflect image restore corrected. AOMEI system backups had just been an extra layer of protection anyway.

 

So the full Disk Backup is the only way to go?

I seem to recall @Peter2150 posting that he had problems with that, and recommended System Backup, but I can't find that post. Never quite understood the issue at the time and consequently still feel a bit uneasy about which option to use ... I also actually just use AB as a 'backup' to Macrium Reflect.

I have laptops and typically would only want to restore to same HD (SSD), so maybe it doesn't matter?

 

I understood AOMEI disk backups weren't without issue either ~ see attached link from AOMEI forum (specifically post 4). I've read about this glitch elsewhere too.

https://www.aomeitech.com/forum/discussion/5092/system-backup-vs-disc-backup

 

Had a reply from AOMEI which in summary states:
- For System Backup, AOMEI Backupper backs up system partitions and boot partitions only (as described by/in Windows' Disk Management). Although clearly it also attempts to backup recovery partition too.
- The reserved partition isn't backed up as not listed in Windows Disk Management... even though this was created by Windows in a previous iteration & is required on GPT disks?!
- On not backing up the newer, active Recovery Partition, AOMEI accept there's a bug in their software which will be actioned in a future release.

 

Thanks. Seems like quite a basic oversight!

 

Thanks Pete.

I hadn't gone as far as performing your level of testing, because MR has always worked for me, but that would be the only sure way to test AB on my system(s).

 

Since I run 8.1 exclusively (only actually), I always prefer the full disk backups since with SecureBoot-UEFI (all that jazz) Windows 8 sports those extra partitions like Recovery etc.

I do this to avoid problems that might be encountered if I only did a system backup alone and maybe run into a failed restore issue.

It's something of a trade off I suppose by sacrificing rapid imaging-restores for 100% picture perfect no-fail restores, so speed while very helpful for most isn't really a same priority on this end, and especially since Windows even in 8 flavor can be finicky, the system only backup is passed over for whole disk backup to stay on the safe side.

I can wipe with zeroes any disk and return a perfect restore with Macrium with so far not a single hiccup or fail.

Also I trust Aomei is quite capable of the same results. I like this company and it's products.

 

If anyone reads this and has a suggestion would be most grateful. The Aomei backupper, which worked just fine a week ago, now is totally dead! Support Dept., while doing the best they can, so far not been able to fix. I did remove and reinstall the program, and also made sure the "service" was still running. A mystery?

Failed to enable backup service. Please retry or reinstall the software and try again.
Contact our technical support for help if this message still appears.

 

AOMEi Backupper v4.6.1 (December 7, 2018)
Download
Changelog

 

AOMEi Backupper v4.6.2 (January 23, 2019)
Download
Changelog

 

There's no restore to Dissimilar Hardware option in AOMEI?

 

AOMEI Partition Assistant v8.0 (January 25, 2019)
Download Home / Pro
Changelog

 

There is.
https://www.backup-utility.com/features/dissimilar-hardware-restore.html

A while ago when when I put my SSD in a new computer, it kept getting BSODs. Doing a restore to dissimilar hardware with AOMEI was the only way I could get it to boot. I tried doing the same with other backup software, but AOMEI was the only one that I didn't get BSODs with.