Backing up before 10 upgrade

[CJW]

Right now I'm running 7 Pro 64Bit w/SP1.
My OS is on a 750GB SATA HDD.

I've never done this before & there are points the 10 upgrade may do to my machine that I don't personally like, so I would like to know how to go about making a full system backup.

What would be the simplest, but most complete way of doing this?
1. Should I use Microsoft's own Backup program or should I download some other (free) program?
2. I also have a 500GB SATA HDD, can I use this as my backup destination?

 

[CountryBumkin]

Is the 500GB drive a second drive installed in your computer - if so, that makes a great place to use for an automated backup routine. Regardless, as long as it's not the same hard drive as your Windows system is on, I would back everything up to the 500GB drive - meaning backup your personal files that you have created (not the operating system files).

I just copy everything from "My Documents" which includes all the subfolders (pictures, music, documents, etc.). You may also want to save your e-mails and internet favorites. I use the windows file explorer to copy the files from one destination to the other. No backup program used for this one time backup/copy process.

One thing I do that is not standard is that I create a subfolder under "My Documents" called "Outlook" and then I have my Outlook e-mail program use that folder to store my e-mails rather than the standard location, then when I need to backup everything I don't forget to save the e-mail files (which on a standard windows/outlook install are a little hard to find).

 

[ignatzatsonic]

1: Use Macrium Reflect Free Edition or Aomei Backupper to make an image of the current installation.

2: Yeah, that should work fine. The space required for the backup depends on how much space is occupied on the 750 GB drive. Maybe you can post a pic of Windows Disk Management. You may need to back up 1 or 2 or more partitions, depending.

You say "full system backup". That can mean different things, but I assume you are NOT referring to personal data backup.

 

[CountryBumkin]

The OP is talking about backing up files before the upgrade to Win10, so he wants to back up personal files. At least that's how I read the question.
In this case (Win7 to Win 10 upgrade, a complete image won't help (as OP would then be restoring everything back to Win7 if the image was restored). After the upgrade, making a system image is a good idea.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

In this case (Win7 to Win 10 upgrade, a complete image won't help (as OP would then be restoring everything back to Win7 if the image was restored). After the upgrade, making a system image is a good idea.

I read it differently.

As I read it, he has 7 now and is thinking about upgrading to 10 but is fearful and so wants to be able to go back to 7 if he doesn't like 10.

So I don't understand why you think a "complete image" of the current situation (Windows 7) "won't help". Restoring to 7 is precisely what he might need.

 

[CJW]

Thanks for the help both of you.

1. I'll take a look at the Macrium Reflect Free Edition, I've read other's recommending this program as well.

2. What I mean by a Full System Backup is backing up the OS & every program installed (as well as my personal tweaks). I do have all my personal documents, videos, pictures & other files on a flash drive & external USB drive already, so that is not a problem. I want to make sure I can go back to 7 if I have a problem w/10.

I can delete everything that is currently on the internal 500GB SATA HDD, so that is not a problem either.
Below is a pic of my Computer's Disk Management, hope this helps.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

With Macrium, you would need to make an image of all partitions on Disk 0.

Macrium should show you a choice that is worded something like "make an image of all partitions necessary to restore Windows". Take that choice.

You have a UEFI system. From what I've heard, that poses no problem with Macrium Free, but I can't personally confirm it as I don't yet have a UEFI system.

You have about 170 GB occupied on disk 0. A Macrium image of that would amount to roughly 70 to 90 GB.

You'll have to make a "recovery" disk in Macrium. AKA "rescue disk". There are 2 methods: WinPE and Linux based. Choose WinPE; it's much less likely to be problematic.

You need to CONFIRM that your recovery disk will IN FACT boot your PC. Test it.

Accept the fact that imaging may fail. Know what your plan B will be if it does. It's got probably a 98% chance of success.

 

[AddRAM]

You don`t have to delete everything on the D drive yet, see if the Macrium image will fit first, it compresses the image.

 

[CJW]

Thank you for the help. I'll update this once I use the program, hope it all goes well.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Macrium Reflect Free (here is a good tutorial on how to use Macrium Reflect).

 

[datapod]

Being in exactly the same position I can tell you what I plan to do.

Using an external USB caddy I am making a clone of my Windows 7 System drive using Macrium Reflect Free Edition to a similar 3.5" internal desktop HDD.

Should the Windows 10 upgrade go south or I decide I don't care for it (I am skeptical as I really like Windows 7 and not unlike a lot of folks I suspect resist change) I can simply physically swap the newly upgraded drive for the clone and be back on Windows 7 in minutes.

That coupled with my regular backup strategy of Macrium images to multiple locations, Syncback copies of personal user files (documents, pictures, music) and KLS Mail Backup for my WLM files I feel pretty confident going forward.

HTH

D

 

[CJW]

I've read about a few of those external USB caddies. Do they need an external power source or are they powered by the USB cable connected to the computer itself?

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I've read about a few of those external USB caddies. Do they need an external power source or are they powered by the USB cable connected to the computer itself?

It depends on the type of HDD used in the dock. 3.5" docks always have to be powered by an external power supply. 2.5" docks can get their power from the USB with some caveats.

When using USB 2.0 docks, the power has to be taken from two independent USB 2.0 ports, using a special cable that is almost always provided, to get enough power to run the HDD. If the two USB 2.0 ports share a single power source, such as a self-powered hub would, then it cannot get enough power to run a HDD. Sometimes, a single USB 3.0 port can supply enough power.

When using USB 3.0, the power from a single USB 3.0 usually will run a 5400 rpm HDD (some cheaper portable computers may not supply enough power from a single port). 7200 rpm HDDs require more power and getting them to run on a single USB 3.0 port is iffy at best. I had to search high and low to find a special cable to run my 2.5" 7200 rpm WD Blacks off a pair of USB 3.0 ports.

 

[mjf]

I'm wondering if you upgrade to Windows 10 then decide to revert to Windows 7 with a system image restore could you have activation issues? Does it depend on whether you installed an OEM or full retail OS?

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

That's something that still needs clearing up plus MS keeps changing the "rules".

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I'm wondering if you upgrade to Windows 10 then decide to revert to Windows 7 with a system image restore could you have activation issues? Does it depend on whether you installed an OEM or full retail OS?

Maybe 2 weeks ago, possibly on a MS site, I read something to the following effect, paraphrased from memory:

If you have 7 and "free upgrade" to 10, you can later revert to 7, BUT, to do so you will have to interact with the MS "store" to effectively re-authorize your old Win 7 key. The info regarding the old key is kept at the "store".

So, I'm wondering if that is doable with a purely "local account" installation? Because I've also read that at least some aspects of the "store", such as purchasing applications, require a non-local account.

I don't know how all of that affects restoration by image.

 

[CJW]

Hello everyone, had some other computer-related (& car) issues to deal with, but all is well now.
So back to my original posting.

What I want to do is this:
In the future, upgrade to 10. But if I don't care for it/it doesn't work for me, I want to be able to swap out my Hard Drive for another & be back to exactly where I am now w/7.

Using Macrium Reflect Free, what route should I take to accomplish this? Backup, Image or Clone?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Hello everyone, had some other computer-related (& car) issues to deal with, but all is well now.
So back to my original posting.

What I want to do is this:
In the future, upgrade to 10. But if I don't care for it/it doesn't work for me, I want to be able to swap out my Hard Drive for another & be back to exactly where I am now w/7.

Using Macrium Reflect Free, what route should I take to accomplish this? Backup, Image or Clone?

Image, to include your C partition and possibly other partitions. Either in a single image file or in a separate file for each.

Cloning isn't a backup.

Backup is a vague and non-specific term.

BUT: you say "swap out my hard drive"...........

I don't follow that. Typically, if you wanted to go back to an earlier OS and your hard drive was still working, you would not swap out a hard drive. You'd restore to the same hard drive.

Suppose you have a drive X.

You can't put the free upgrade on drive X without first putting a qualifying version of an earlier Windows operating system on drive X.

If you wanted to have drive X with Windows 10 and drive Y with Windows 7 and swap back and forth, you'd have to buy Windows 10, rather than use the free upgrade.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Hello everyone, had some other computer-related (& car) issues to deal with, but all is well now.
So back to my original posting.

What I want to do is this:
In the future, upgrade to 10. But if I don't care for it/it doesn't work for me, I want to be able to swap out my Hard Drive for another & be back to exactly where I am now w/7.

Using Macrium Reflect Free, what route should I take to accomplish this? Backup, Image or Clone?

First, some definitions. A backup is basically a copy of some sort of your data that can used restore lost data. Both cloning and imaging are forms of backups.

A clone is an exact copy of the source drive on another drive. It's like using using a copy machine to make a copy of a document directly onto another piece of paper. While cloning is excellent for transferring data fram a drive to one that will replace the first drive, it's not the most efficient form of backup.

Imaging is used to restore data back to a drive without having to replace it. It's like making a photo negative that is then used to make a print. Imaging usually is a more efficient way to backup a drive.

There are other kinds of backups but, for purposes of this discussion, we will ignore them.

If you are wanting to physically replace drive you have downgraded to Win 10 with a copy of the drive before the downgrade, then the easiest way to prepare for that would be to use Macrium Reflect to clone your current drive to another drive, then do the downgrade on the original drive. Depending how much data is on the drive and how difficult it is to get at your drive in your computer, it probably would be the fastest and easiest way to get back to the original OS.

 

[CJW]

So from what I want to do (go back to 7 if 10 is not what I want) I should use Imaging.

Now I'm a little confused on this part.
Once I create the image, is it stored on my main drive or do I store it on a separate drive?
I think that's what my confusion is centered on & what I meant by 'swap-out'. I thought I could image to another drive (& then remove it), update my main drive & if I don't like 10, just take out my main drive & put in the imaged drive & be back to pre-10.