System image to usb flash drive

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  1. tnm
    Posts : 110
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #1

    System image to usb flash drive


    Hi,

    Searched on the forum, but cannot find an answer I'm happy with.

    Q: Can I save a system image to an external usb flash drive?

    Q: If I can save an image to a flash drive can I use windows built in programme?

    Q: Can I also save my files alongside the image if I can save such image to an external usb flash drive?

    Todd
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,800
    Windows 7 Pro x64 SP1
       #2

    Tnm, first in most cases you have to have a large usb flash drive. It also has to be formatted ntfs

    how big is your usb drive?

    Rich
      My Computer


  3. tnm
    Posts : 110
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #3

    richnrockville said:
    Tnm, first in most cases you have to have a large usb flash drive. It also has to be formatted ntfs

    how big is your usb drive?

    Rich
    I haven't bought one. I was thinking of getting a 64gb flash.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 9,606
    Win7 Enterprise, Win7 x86 (Ult 7600), Win7 x64 Ult 7600, TechNet RTM on AMD x64 (2.8Ghz)
       #4

    I did a Macrium image to a 32gb USB flash drive several months ago & it worked. Of course it was a fairly fresh win7 install, so the regular HD was not filled up yet. So depending how much space is being used on your current HD would determine the size of the image that would be made & how much space it will need.

    Image your system with free Macrium
      My Computer


  5. tnm
    Posts : 110
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Thanks.

    Is it not advised to use windows own programme to back up?

    My only concern with a flash is the size of it. Might end up losing it.

    A 64gb flash is around £50. Wondering if getting an external HDD is any better?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 9,606
    Win7 Enterprise, Win7 x86 (Ult 7600), Win7 x64 Ult 7600, TechNet RTM on AMD x64 (2.8Ghz)
       #6

    I have been leaning towards the Ext HD Docks. Easy to swap out differet HD's.


    Show us your Dock
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 9,600
    Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit
       #7

    More advantages of using internal drives include:

    1. Internal HDDs take up less room to store.

    2. Internal HDDs are usually better quality than the ones in external HDD enclosures.

    3. You need only the dock and, in the case of 3.5" docks, only one PSU instead of having an enclosure and PSU for each external HDD.

    I love the internal docks in my desktop machine; no cables to keep track of and no worrying about finding a place to put an external dock or knocking one over while a HDD is in it.
      My Computer


  8. tnm
    Posts : 110
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Hi,

    I should have been clearer from the outset:

    I have a laptop, and look to purchase a back up device for a system image and files.

    Portable external HDD or usb flash? I need you experts to make this an easy purchase for me :)
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 9,600
    Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit
       #9

    tnm said:
    Hi,

    I should have been clearer from the outset:

    I have a laptop, and look to purchase a back up device for a system image and files.

    Portable external HDD or usb flash? I need you experts to make this an easy purchase for me :)
    Oopsie! Sorry about that!

    Get a USB powered external HDD (those have a 2.5" HDD in them). You will die of old age doing images to a USB flash stick. I was going to do a test to see if a USB stick would work to receive an image and restore it to the computer but aborted the image when Macrium Reflect said it was going to take over an hour and a half to make an image that normally takes around 20-30 minutes using a USB external HDD (actually an internal type HDD in a USB dock but it's all the same to the computer). Also, you can get more capacity with an external HDD.

    To answer an earlier question, we see a lot of reports here from people having trouble getting Win 7's imaging function to work reliably. Most here, including me, recommend the free version of Macrium Reflect instead.

    re: our being experts. Keep in mind "ex" is a has been and "spurt" is a drip under pressure.
      My Computer


  10. tnm
    Posts : 110
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Lady Fitzgerald said:
    tnm said:
    Hi,

    I should have been clearer from the outset:

    I have a laptop, and look to purchase a back up device for a system image and files.

    Portable external HDD or usb flash? I need you experts to make this an easy purchase for me :)
    Oopsie! Sorry about that!

    Get a USB powered external HDD (those have a 2.5" HDD in them). You will die of old age doing images to a USB flash stick. I was going to do a test to see if a USB stick would work to receive an image and restore it to the computer but aborted the image when Macrium Reflect said it was going to take over an hour and a half to make an image that normally takes around 20-30 minutes using a USB external HDD (actually an internal type HDD in a USB dock but it's all the same to the computer). Also, you can get more capacity with an external HDD.

    To answer an earlier question, we see a lot of reports here from people having trouble getting Win 7's imaging function to work reliably. Most here, including me, recommend the free version of Macrium Reflect instead.

    re: our being experts. Keep in mind "ex" is a has been and "spurt" is a drip under pressure.
    Thanks!

    Can you recommend any under £100?
      My Computer


 
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