Imaging/cloning/backup questions

Do a fresh install with your recent purchase

Once you install Windows, install all your applications and then do a clone using Clonezilla to an image file.

I would purchase a NAS to do your daily backups as it will have redundancy. Better than just one or two external drives. If your data is really valuable, do both

Then I would do a monthly clone of the drive to an image using Clonezilla.

The NAS will provide a data back up and the image will give you a full snap shot of your drive. If you ever need to do a fresh install, just use the first image you created with all the apps and no data

Gee wrote: ↑ Do a fresh install with your recent purchase

Once you install Windows, install all your applications and then do a clone using Clonezilla to an image file.

I would purchase a NAS to do your daily backups as it will have redundancy. Better than just one or two external drives. If your data is really valuable, do both

Then I would do a monthly clone of the drive to an image using Clonezilla.

The NAS will provide a data back up and the image will give you a full snap shot of your drive. If you ever need to do a fresh install, just use the first image you created with all the apps and no data

Hi, thanks for your reply. So I can't use the 1tb external drive to clone the new ssd? And then use the 2tb external drive for data backups? Also read this: Clonezilla is powerful and reliable, but lacks polish and will seem daunting and excessive for many general users. I need something that is not daunting, lol.

kwk1 wrote: ↑ Hi, thanks for your reply. So I can't use the 1tb external drive to clone the new ssd? And then use the 2tb external drive for data backups? Also read this: Clonezilla is powerful and reliable, but lacks polish and will seem daunting and excessive for many general users. I need something that is not daunting, lol.

If you only backed up your data to the external SSD, cloning it will be pointless as it will not boot up

If you removed the old drive (existing SSD) and installed it onto an external enclosure, then you can absolutely clone it to the new 2 Terabyte SSD, that would work. But I assumed your purpose for purchasing a copy of Windows 10 on a thumb drive was to do a fresh install.

I agree that Clonezilla will look daunting, but it is free and works really well. I suggest you give it a try. If you fumble with it, I am sure you will eventually figure it out.

Everything else that is easy to use costs money, Clonezilla is free. The other reason I like Clonezilla, it doesn’t need to be installed on your hard drive. You boot with it and clone the drive. Others like Macrium, Acronis et al are installed on your hard drive.

Gee wrote: ↑ If you only backed up your data to the external SSD, cloning it will be pointless as it will not boot up

If you removed the old drive (existing SSD) and installed it onto an external enclosure, then you can absolutely clone it to the new 2 Terabyte SSD, that would work. But I assumed your purpose for purchasing a copy of Windows 10 on a thumb drive was to do a fresh install.

I agree that Clonezilla will look daunting, but it is free and works really well. I suggest you give it a try. If you fumble with it, I am sure you will eventually figure it out.

Everything else that is easy to use costs money, Clonezilla is free. The other reason I like Clonezilla, it doesn’t need to be installed on your hard drive. You boot with it and clone the drive. Others like Macrium, Acronis et al are installed on your hard drive.

Hi, thanks for your reply. So I can't use the 1tb external drive to clone the new ssd? And then use the 2tb external drive for data backups? Also, you admit Clonezilla will look daunting but it's free. I did mention I don't mind buying software. You said " If you only backed up your data to the external SSD, cloning it will be pointless as it will not boot up." Are you saying that cloning the ssd to an external drive will not be bootable?

kwk1 wrote: ↑ Hi, thanks for your reply. So I can't use the 1tb external drive to clone the new ssd? And then use the 2tb external drive for data backups? Also, you admit Clonezilla will look daunting but it's free. I did mention I don't mind buying software.

It is not about buying software. The problem with the commercial software is that you have to install it on your hard drive. I prefer software that doesn’t install on my system. Clonezilla boots from a USB key and nothing gets installed on your SSD

The reason why Clonezilla looks daunting is because it is all text based. I believe the Acronis may have an option to boot from a USB key, but you need to install it on your hard drive first to create the USB key which defeats the purpose. Ghost was great, but I haven’t seen an updated version in over a decade.

I am a little confused with what you are trying to accomplish. What is on this 1 terabyte external SSD? If you just have your data on that drive, you cannot clone it on to your new SSD. If it was your original SSD from the old motherboard then yes, you can clone it to the new SSD.

If you want install Windows on the new 2 terabyte SSD and then clone a copy onto the 1 terabyte external, then absolutely

Use builtin Backup and Restore (Windows 7). It's in the Control Panel. You can set schedule. All I do is I write drive C image only to another drive weekly. If my primary drive (SSD) fails I will restore this image to a new one using Windows builtin utilities. No need for extra software, all automated, set-it-and-forget-it. I set it up perhaps 7 years ago. It's still doing this weekly.

Gee wrote: ↑ It is not about buying software. The problem with the commercial software is that you have to install it on your hard drive. I prefer software that doesn’t install on my system. Clonezilla boots from a USB key and nothing gets installed on your SSD

The reason why Clonezilla looks daunting is because it is all text based. I believe the Acronis may have an option to boot from a USB key, but you need to install it on your hard drive first to create the USB key which defeats the purpose. Ghost was great, but I haven’t seen an updated version in over a decade.

I am a little confused with what you are trying to accomplish. What is on this 1 terabyte external SSD? If you just have your data on that drive, you cannot clone it on to your new SSD. If it was your original SSD from the old motherboard then yes, you can clone it to the new SSD.

If you want install Windows on the new 2 terabyte SSD and then clone a copy onto the 1 terabyte external, then absolutely

Acronis and AOMEI Backupper offer this also. I never use the installed version.

Clonezilla seem good, but the gui is not for everyone.

elgros4 wrote: ↑ Acronis and AOMEI Backupper offer this also. I never use the installed version.

Don’t you need to install it to create the bootable USB key?

kwk1 wrote: ↑ Hi, I've recently had to replace my motherboard so I decided to get a larger ssd (2tb). I had WD external drive that was backing up old ssd daily. I also purchased windows 10 retail version with usb stick for the new ssd. I'm kind of lost as to what I want to do as far as imaging/cloning the ssd, and doing incremental or differential backups. I would like to be able to (if ssd fails) use a backup image to clone a new ssd. Also would like to have all files, docs., etc. backed up daily. I did purchase 2 external drives, a 1tb and a 2tb. I've read and watched lots of videos/write-ups and not sure what software to get/use that is easy and will meet my needs. Not really concerned about cost, so it doesn't have to be a free version of something. I'm also planning to install ESET security and not sure if doing image/backup before installing ESET matters.
Thanks for any help and replies.

You could install Macrium Reflect Free and make a rescue media on a 2GB or greater stick

Is your intention to clone the old SSD to the new one?

As for daily backups as mentioned you could use Windows 7 Backup & Restore in Control Panel or the more modern File History. Either can do daily backups of folders.

Macrium WinPE recovery image prebuilt at https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/7 ... crium.html

Use with https://rufus.ie/en/ to create a bootable USB flash drive.

Gee wrote: ↑ Don’t you need to install it to create the bootable USB key?

With Acronis, they offer the iso and then you may use rufus to create the bootable USB.

Acronis does offer 2 versions, a linux based bootable and and an winPE version. For the WinPe creator, you need to install it
on any computer and create it once.

elgros4 wrote: ↑ With Acronis, they offer the iso and then you may use rufus to create the bootable USB.

Acronis does offer 2 versions, a linux based bootable and and an winPE version. For the WinPe creator, you need to install it
on any computer and create it once.

Is this for True Image 2014?

Gee wrote: ↑ Is this for True Image 2014?

Seem to be the case:
https://kb.acronis.com/content/46255

Gee wrote: ↑ It is not about buying software. The problem with the commercial software is that you have to install it on your hard drive. I prefer software that doesn’t install on my system. Clonezilla boots from a USB key and nothing gets installed on your SSD

The reason why Clonezilla looks daunting is because it is all text based. I believe the Acronis may have an option to boot from a USB key, but you need to install it on your hard drive first to create the USB key which defeats the purpose. Ghost was great, but I haven’t seen an updated version in over a decade.

I am a little confused with what you are trying to accomplish. What is on this 1 terabyte external SSD? If you just have your data on that drive, you cannot clone it on to your new SSD. If it was your original SSD from the old motherboard then yes, you can clone it to the new SSD.

If you want install Windows on the new 2 terabyte SSD and then clone a copy onto the 1 terabyte external, then absolutely

I'll see if I can explain better. My computer died. I removed the 1tb ssd and took it in for repair. I wanted a 2tb ssd so I had the shop install a new 2tb ssd. The original windows 10 key was oem but since the motherboard is what failed, I could get 10 oem installed again for no charge. I decided to pay the difference and get Windows 10 retail w/USB stick installed instead. So now I put the original ssd in an enclosure to copy files to the new ssd. I also had a 1tb WD passport external drive that I was using for backups with WD software on the original 1tb ssd.
Now I am looking at a way to not have to take machine in to get windows installed if the ssd fails which is why I want to clone/image it. That way, I can just get a new ssd and use the clone to get it up and running. And again, I'd also like to keep the new ssd backed up with another external WD hdd. So I figured getting macrium or some other software would be good cause it could do both clone and backups. I did read that Windows 10 has it's own backup and imaging built in as someone else has mentioned in a post. So again, I'm also looking for something that is easy to use as my pc iq is not very good and I don't want to screw anything up. Thanks for getting back to me again.

Edit: I also purchased a new WD 1tb ext. hdd and a 2tb ext. hdd for the cloning and backups.
Oh, and what does it matter if the software is on the ssd or not, just curious.

Thanks for all the other replies, not sure what to do now.

FrostyWinnipeg wrote: ↑ You could install Macrium Reflect Free and make a rescue media on a 2GB or greater stick

Is your intention to clone the old SSD to the new one?

As for daily backups as mentioned you could use Windows 7 Backup & Restore in Control Panel or the more modern File History. Either can do daily backups of folders.

Hi Frosty, no, just want to make a clone of the new ssd. Maybe I'll use Windows to backup current files on the new ssd. So, I'm not sure but in order to make a image/clone, does it have to be on a usb stick? Like I can't make it on an external hdd? Thanks. Oh, and I lived in Winnipeg for 45 years.

Is this good to use for cloning? It gives a choice for hd, can it boot from a hd?
https://imgur.com/a/cQnwU6O

Just as confusing as before. Let me see if I can sort this out

Removed 1 terabyte SSD from original computer and installed it in an enclosure
New motherboard with new 2 terabyte SSD
2 terabyte SSD is installed with Windows 10 Retail

I would install the apps you need on the new 2 terabyte drive with Windows 10 retail and make a clean image

Restore (copy) data from 1 terabyte external to the new 2 terabyte drive with Windows 10 retail

Create another image, now you have two images.

1. Clean Windows 10 retail with your apps
2. Windows 10 retail image with all your data

I would create these images on your WD external drive. If you have any problems, you can restore either the clean image or the image with your data.

You can install the WD software and continue to back up your data to the 1 terabyte External.
After you are certain that the data is intact and nothing is missing, I would reformat the SSD that was removed from the original computer.

Gee wrote: ↑ Just as confusing as before. Let me see if I can sort this out

Removed 1 terabyte SSD from original computer and installed it in an enclosure
New motherboard with new 2 terabyte SSD
2 terabyte SSD is installed with Windows 10 Retail

I would install the apps you need on the new 2 terabyte drive with Windows 10 retail and make a clean image

Restore (copy) data from 1 terabyte external to the new 2 terabyte drive with Windows 10 retail

Create another image, now you have two images.

1. Clean Windows 10 retail with your apps
2. Windows 10 retail image with all your data

I would create these images on your WD external drive. If you have any problems, you can restore either the clean image or the image with your data.

You can install the WD software and continue to back up your data to the 1 terabyte External.
After you are certain that the data is intact and nothing is missing, I would reformat the SSD that was removed from the original computer.

Just as confusing as before. Let me see if I can sort this out

Removed 1 terabyte SSD from original computer and installed it in an enclosure correct
New motherboard with new 2 terabyte SSD correct
2 terabyte SSD is installed with Windows 10 Retail correct

I would install the apps you need on the new 2 terabyte drive with Windows 10 retail and make a clean image
Well, I've been using the new ssd for a week or so which means it won't be as clean as it could be. But I'm fine with that.

Restore (copy) data from 1 terabyte external to the new 2 terabyte drive with Windows 10 retail
I already copied desktop, files, and photos to new 2tb ssd.
Create another image, now you have two images.
I think I'm okay with just 1 image as it currently sits.
1. Clean Windows 10 retail with your apps < not this cause already have some stuff on new ssd
2. Windows 10 retail image with all your data < but this

I would create these images on your WD external drive. If you have any problems, you can restore either the clean image or the image with your data. So would I just use windows built in or like macrium to do this? And, is an image on a hd still requiring windows 10 usb stick to start up? I'm not sure how it all works.

You can install the WD software and continue to back up your data to the 1 terabyte External.
The new ssd is 2tb so I'd prefer to use the new 2tb WD external for backups. and the new 1tb WD external for the image/clone.
After you are certain that the data is intact and nothing is missing, I would reformat the SSD that was removed from the original computer. I may just erase it and sell it, not sure.

Thanks again for your patience as my pc knowledge in limited.