Back up system that spreads multiple drives? SSD for win - HD for apps

robertheadley · 06 Aug 2015

I have windows installed on a SSD which is the C drive. I have all my apps and games installed on a HD which is the E drive. I started the windows 10 install and it said it could not save my apps and settings. I just re-installed because I got the SSD and I would hate to have to go through all of that again, not to mention hundreds of GB of game install on steam.

Is there an app that can backup the windows portion of the apps, and not the data files themselves?

Thank you for your help.

ignatzatsonic · 06 Aug 2015

"Backup" can mean different things to different people.

It might mean simply copying certain folders and their contents with the mouse or keyboard. In that sense, you can backup whatever you want, without any application. File by file, folder by folder. There are applications that can do this in an automated fashion.

But typically, "backup" means everything on a partition (by "imaging") and there may be multiple partitions on a drive--including hidden files, Windows if it's on the partition, installed apps, installed games, and pictures of your cat. In this case, you can't pick and choose what you want to back up within a given partition. It's all or none, partition by partition. The usual suspects include Macrium, Aomei, Acronis, Paragon, and EaseUS.

Going from memory---I think certain (advanced?) versions of certain imaging applications at least claim to allow you to select what you want to include or exclude when cloning and also possibly when making an image file. I'm not at all sure how well this works in practice.

All I can suggest is that you pound Google or the web sites of the major backup application suppliers: Macrium, Aomei, Paragon, Acronis, EaseUS, etc. Drill into their capabilities and then hope you can find someone who has actually tried to use that functionality. Possibly wonderful. Possibly hopeless.