New free imaging program

[SIW2]

Aomei just released a new freebie. It is intended for users who just want a one click backup/recovery solution. Free for all uses, works on server os too.

It is aimed at those who want something very simple.

It makes a recovery partition and creates an entire system backup on there. You access that either from winpe it creates, or by pressing f11 after post ( on mbr ), or by the boot shell on uefi systems.

Just had a look and it does what it says on the tin. Similar to oem recovery partition in concept. You can replace the image with a new one when you like, but you do that manually.

Might be useful if you know people who want something straightforward like that. The image format is the same as used by their regular Aomei Backupper.

I think they would be better having it on a hidden f key.

You can give it a whirl:

One Key Recovery - Create a Factory Restore Partition with AOMEI OneKey Recovery

 

[Kari]

Need to test this, looks promising. Thanks for the tip Siw!

 

[GSL]

I has tested it out and liked that it automatically calculate and create a partition designated as recovery partition from the C: drive(No need to manually create a partition to set up as recovery) & it's extremely simply to use.

Unfortunately the Recovery partition can be deleted by a user via disk management as it is not a true recovery partition where the software should set it as an NTFS type 0x27 partition. I examined the MBR and found that it's using Grub4dos to call its winpe.iso in order for it to boot into recovery environment.

The system image is compressed and stored in a single .adi format(Did a lookup and this file is associated with active@disk image).

 

[SIW2]

I would say fortunately, the recov partition is hidden from the average user. Slightly above beginners can access it easily if they want by simply adding a drive letter.

.adi is aomei backupper format. Perhaps a different program also has similar extension.

It has been deliberately done that way. Their other product, Aomei Backupper can use the .adi image, if you wish.

 

[Gary]

Thanks, I will have to try this.

 

[whs]

It makes a recovery partition and creates an entire system backup on there

What happens if there are already 4 primary partitions in NTFS - as on many OEM systems off the shelf.

 

[SIW2]

It makes a logical partition.

It shows what it is planning to do.

Anything that creates a recov partition would have to do it that way.

Step 3: In this window, the program will show you the changes before and after making a new factory recovery partition, which is labeled with "+" and "AOMEI Recovery Partition". In order to prevent it from being damaged, it will be made as a hidden partition by default. To confirm the changes, please click "Start Backup" to continue.

It is only intended as a very simple solution. My grandma likes it. I would use Aomei Backupper, but some prefer this.

Tips:

If you not only want to backup your system but your entire hard disk, specified partition, or individual files and folders, you can use the complete backup software - AOMEI Backupper, which also supports backing up to external hard disk, USB flash drive, CD/DVD, shared Network or NAS. It is the best and safest way to protect your system and data from losing.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there

NO NO NO !!!!!! IMO not really worth the bother -- Imagine your whole HDD had gone south -- it requires use of the Windows boot menu (not available if HDD completetly "Kaput").

I prefer a STAND ALONE recovery program that I can boot from an external device. This program requires that the HDD in the computer is working to the extent that when F11 is pressed there's data on the HDD. If I totally reformat an HDD then there's no data for F11 to operate on.

This one is TOO limited to be of serious use at all. Have a look at the screenshot - it requires some sort of Windows to be working to use it.

I've seen users accidentally get their systems totally in a mess by accidentally pressing these recovery keys at system boot time --it's easier to do than you think.

Most people don't have trouble inserting a small USB stick into a machine and booting from it -- a MUCH SAFER way actually. My advice is DON'T USE. (Nothing against the corporation providing the software - just IMO the way that it's designed to be used will lead to a lot of tears).

Cheers
jimbo

 

[whs]

It makes a logical partition.

Even with a logical partition you can be in trouble. If you add a logical partition (extended partition) to 4 primary partitions in NTFS, you end up with 5 dynamic partitions.

 

[Barman58]

I can see benefits for certain users I deal with - Function focused users is how I would classify them - those users that have a desktop or laptop that they treat as a tool to do a few or even one particular job.

These users have little general computer knowledge, and to be honest, have no interest, (and never will have) in the technical side of computers, they are interested in just getting work or leisure activities done

Some of these users would not even know what to do with a usb stick, I can remember true incidents where users with under desk located towers were under the impression that the CD drawer was a drinks holder, It was quite amusing when a change to the way systems worked set an auto retract timer as default and a lot of hot drinks ended on the floor.

This may seem like an anathemer to some of us here, but these users are actually the majority of users out in the wild, we as Technical users, either professionally or as the family "Go To Guy" need to consider their needs not ours.

Have used the likes of Acronis to add this type of One Click recovery to user systems in the past, the option for a simple Manual refresh of the system data leads to further possibilities for a User proof system if it is possible to run the creation of image without user interaction a weekly system task could automatically keep the data on the recovery partition current. I take Jimbo's point of the issue of accidental initialisation of the recovery operation and would like to see an option to set the hot key to something more obscure than F11 (Eg, Ctrl-Shift R)

all in all an interesting an interesting possible option.

Another possible benefit is to replace the OEM bloated factory restore, which so many users currently rely on, with a streamlined clean install

 

[whs]

Nigel, I agree with you. For the kind of users that you describe (and I guess those are the majority), this can be a useful tool.

I do worry though about this automatic creation of an additional partition. Most OEM NTFS systems are being shipped with 4 primary partitions - System, C, Recovery and Tools. Only the OEMs know why they would do such a stupid setup.

If AOMEI now tries to create an additional logical/extended partition, all 5 partitions will end up as dynamic partitions - and we all know what a pain that is not to speak of the 'simple' user who will be completely lost.

I think that point needs clarification and AOMEI should explain how they prevent this from happening.

 

[SIW2]

I expect this will happen:

It will need to find enough space, if not - it will just tell there isn't enough space, hard luck.

If there are already 4 primaries, and enough space, it will offer to create an extended partition, resulting in one of the existing primaries, and the recov partition being logical drives.

It will always tell you what the outcome will be before you agree to proceed.

In my case, I already had 4 partitions, one of them extended. So it just created another logical drive inside the existing extended partition. It did not attempt to convert to dynamic.

Nigel is spot on. Very useful for a large category of people.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there

Some BIOSES and Laptops use F11 already -- The key should be perhaps say Windows +F11 or another key that isn't used in the BIOS. A compound key (i.e CTRL + H for example) IMO would avoid using BIOS Fn keys or accidental key presses that start the recovery process.

My Dad (who isn't a total newbie in computers) has on more than one occasion accidentally started a Recovery by pressing one of these "One Click Keys" -- and the first thing he thinks of when he sees the Recovery screen is that his computer needs to be fixed -- so instead of cancelling (via ESC - but typical users aren't usually aware of that quick exit) he lets the process continue.

Maybe there should be a "Nag menu" before the process starts : "Are you sure you really want to do this - Press enter to continue or any other key to boot Windows". Can't be difficult to add a few lines of code into the start up script.

Perhaps some of us just never try and logon as a normal user and test stuff assuming we are total idiots -- it's amazing how many shopping web sites I visit where the basic navigation is so hopeless you wonder who passed the site as fit for purpose.

Mind you I'm really GOOD at breaking systems -- even at work if something needs to be tested the I.T lot usually say - let jimbo loose on it - he'll break it before you've had time for a coffee. !!

@WHS the 5 partition thing doesn't have to be an issue - the software can use it's own format -- even a LINUX EXT4 or whatever partition -- since it's reading it's OWN data via it's own "mini-OS" it doesn't have to create a Windows readable partition in the first place - in fact it's better that it DOESN'T create a windows type partition - that way Windows can't hose it up whether intentionally or accidentally.

Linux and other type of partitions can co-exist on the same HDD quite normally.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[whs]

I expect this will happen:

It will need to find enough space, if not - it will just tell there isn't enough space, hard luck.

If there are already 4 primaries, and enough space, it will offer to create an extended partition, resulting in one of the existing primaries, and the recov partition being logical drives.

It will always tell you what the outcome will be before you agree to proceed.

In my case, I already had 4 partitions, one of them extended. So it just created another logical drive inside the existing extended partition. It did not attempt to convert to dynamic.

Nigel is spot on. Very useful for a large category of people.

This is a good scenario. But is it what AOMEI really does.

In your case it was easy. You already had an extended partition. Suggest you try with 4 primaries on the disk.

 

[SIW2]

Haven't got a spare disk to try it,unfortunately.

Might have a dig around and see if I can rustle one up.

 

[Barman58]

I don't think the four primary partition limit should be a major issue - Even in multiboot scenarios.

Since Vista Windows does not require a Primary partition to run - As long as the System Boot partition is a primary partition the actual windows partitions can be a logical partitions

During the beta period of windows 7 I at one time had three different windows installs on a single secondary drive, so I know it's possible ....



Not got a snip of the setup mentioned but have included one which shows an operating multiboot - Drive 1 has the three primaries in use, and is a four OS multiboot

System primary is running Vista, and the other two primaries, (at the far right of the image), are running a Linux (system and scratch), distro, (Ubuntu I think) which still required primary partitions but the two Beta Windows 7 Installs are happily running in logical drives in a secondary partition. Shortly after this snip I did move the system files to a new primary partition,( No4), expanded the secondary partition, into the free space and added another Win7 install. All this ran happily for quite a while - not recommended for the feint hearted but an interesting experiment.

 

[SIW2]

It is exactly as I outlined.

1) 4 Primaries, but not enough space - hard luck




2) 4 Primaries, there is enough space, so ok it



It shows you the result before you proceed.



If you have 4 primaries, and enough space it creates extended partition. No problem at all.

 

[whs]

Good, that seems to work. Thanks Simon.

 

[mjf]

I can remember true incidents where users with under desk located towers were under the impression that the CD drawer was a drinks holder, It was quite amusing when a change to the way systems worked set an auto retract timer as default and a lot of hot drinks ended on the floor.

:roflmao:
I don't think this is going to help these people. Even this approach requires some backup discipline. I can hear the comments "I didn't do the recovery thingy because it takes too much time".

 

[Tews]

I can remember true incidents where users with under desk located towers were under the impression that the CD drawer was a drinks holder, It was quite amusing when a change to the way systems worked set an auto retract timer as default and a lot of hot drinks ended on the floor.

:roflmao:
I don't think this is going to help these people. Even this approach requires some backup discipline. I can hear the comments "I didn't do the recovery thingy because it takes too much time".

Ain't it the truth! :roflmao: