If we're talking about AOMEI Backupper -- I do not know the buttons or clicks because I use Macrium Reflect and Image for Windows. I had to create a usb and a dvd boot for Macrium Reflect and for Image for Windows. A restore operations can only be done from a usb boot or from a dvd boot. Because I do not use AOMEI Backupper -- I cannot tell you how to make their usb stick or dvd boot.
If you boot from the DVD or USB stick, (if your system is not able to boot other bootable will be checked and will either use the first one found or present a list of available boot devices, Select the Aomei option),
To recover a failed system you will be presented with a mini version of your normal Aomei Backup screen, You just need to select restore and follow the instructions
some pictures here should help with the detail - These are generic images from the Aomei Site which should be recognisable to what you will see ( I use the paid version on Windows 10 so it's better to post the standard link)
PS don't worry about the size of the backup file - My data backup is more than 1.3TB, and that is compressed, and is handled without problems
Hey Barman58-
Thanks for the help- at last a clear answer to my question! Well, as clear as an answer can be given the complexity of the situation.
What a gawdawful mess the process is, exacerbated by AOMEI's clunky disorganized help files [or is it just the process that's a mess?!].
Perhaps Macrium [etc] doesn't hide/downplay the bootable CD/USB key complexity part but AOMEI sure does.
One reason i'm exploring all this is that i'm not an internet lover- i spend most of time net'less. Fine, except that activation becomes a hassle.
Does Backupper [or any other such app] restore original activation, or must i reactivate?
My impression- surely the process can be simplified? If i sound like i'm whining, well i am, but consider: the more complex a procedure is, the more chance there is of repairs/recovery blowing up in ones face. It has sure happened to me.
Anyway- thanks again for the help.
Marinus
I've restored many backup images and never had to reactivate.
Now i'm using Macrium, but i've also used Acronis, Ghost, etc. - without issue.
I have retail Windows licenses, OS's installed and activated by me.
I do lose a license/activation for installed programs if they were installed/activated after the backup image was created that i restored.
Last edited by DavidE; 28 Feb 2017 at 18:49. Reason: fix typo
"...Does Backupper [or any other such app] restore original activation, or must i reactivate?"
Any full image made of the OS partition will restore said partition exactly -- licenses and all.
Now, as the previous poster indicated, any changes, any subtractions, any additions, etc., made after the date of the full image, will be lost.
Thanks RolandJS-
Your answer dovetailed with what i expected, but i had to ask.
The forum recommends that one formally declare the thread complete when one has [what appears to be] the answer, so i declare Finito.
PS: i have another question, re window explorer colors, but that warrants starting another thread, so i'll see you in the funny pages [in a day or two]. Thanks all.
I found my own post in the "buffer" -- clicked submit.
Cloning is always making a perfect copy of a whole source hard-drive onto a whole target hard-drive, nothing more, nothing less. Making full images is not cloning, rather, it is making a compressed big file of all the folders and files found in any one partition, or, the whole hard-drive can be backed up into one large compressed file.
In short, I'm glad you arrived at a solution; keep us posted if anything goes awry.
According to a very thorough tech here in sevenforums, MR 7 can do 3 different cloning operations...in order to avoid a possible too much information scenario -- I'll let thread starter or anyone else do their own research on Macrium Reflect's web site.
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