Use windows back-up feature or Macrium, create partitions first?

@ WHS, I looked several times at the tutorial video, but I don't quite "get" it.
I got as far to what is showing on the attachment. I have the external HDD drive open and made a folder named system image. What should I do next to get a system image to the destination external drive?
(my pc literacy is very limited)

You select the partitions you want to image in the upper portion. You can choose from 3 partitions: system, C, and D.

Assuming you just want to back up your Windows installation, you need to makes images of System and C, but not D.

I think WHS prefers that you make 2 separate images: System and then C. Not both in the same image----although you can do that.

After you make one image of System, you shouldn't ever have to make another. But you would make new images of C every week, every month, or whatever.

So: click that System box and then select "image this disk" and you will be taken to the next screen.

At that screen, you'll see your source partition shown as System and you need to choose a destination--where you want to store the file. Choose a destination OTHER THAN the system or C partitions. You would navigate to that "system image" folder you made, using that button with the 3 dots on it. Then go to the next screen

That will be a summary screen showing source and destination. You click "finish" and you are asked if you want to run it now or save as an XML file. You can choose either one. I always just choose "run this backup now".

Give it a name. I usually use today's date, like 042414.

Click OK and it should start. You can watch the progress on screen.

That will take care of the image of the System partition.

Repeat the process again, but choose the C partition.

That's it.

@ WHS and Ignatzatsonic Thank you, I got the image going and after I do the next one, I'll check before I mark this thread solved.

Don't forget:

Test the rescue disk.

ignatzatsonic said:

That WinPE ISO should be the right one.

To test it, put it in the DVD drive and reboot from DVD drive. You'll need to bring up a boot menu and choose the DVD drive as a boot source. That's done with a particular key that varies depending on your PC brand. Maybe F2, F8, F12, etc. You push the key repeatedly during a normal boot process to bring up the menu.

If you boot from the disk, you should arrive at a Macrium screen. If you instead arrive at your regular desktop, you aren't booting from the disc.

I am going to try that tomorrow, I am a little nervous about doing it.

On an HP (I think that's what you have), the correct key is probably Escape or F9.

Don't be nervous about it. If it won't boot, much better that you find out now, when it's not critical and you aren't in a jam.

If it won't boot, you just make another rescue disk and test it.

If it does boot, you have a near certainty you can restore the Macrium image after a disaster.