Why there is no System Backup in Windows 10 (that works)

Software & Operating Systems Windows
1

I can’t believe Windows 10 doesn’t have a system backup feature that wouldn’t be a decade old. Essentially I would like to have a way to restore my system without having to reinstall every piece of software.

I know there is the ancient Backup and Restore but I have never got it working and it is too slow for any production use.

What I do is I use EaseUS Todo Backup and I have successfully used that to restore couple of times. It does work but costs a little and also they charge through Cleverbridge which has a questionable reputation.

Every time when I have asked this question from those wiser than me I have got answer “Why don’t you just backup your documents folder or keep your data on other drive”. Yeah I know… but am I the only person who thinks having entire system backup is actually useful?

I need a way to recover fast because I use this stuff for work and reinstalling every piece of software I need for work, while inputting each license key and such.

2

here’s why broken down

MS fires its testers
you are the beta tester
nobody uses MS backup
nobody tests it
nobody knows its broken

3

System Image & Restore worked for me three or four years ago. I’ve done backups recently with it, but no restores.

Yes it is the same tool as from Windows 7 but is there something wrong with it?

2 Likes
4

further enforces nobody knows because nobody uses it and nobody tests it

5

I have done backups more recently as I said. The files appear to be there in the VHD so I believe it works.

So, you don’t know of anything wrong with it. Got it.

2 Likes
6

Did you use a local disk for it?

7

No. I use Windows Pro which allows network target for image backups, and a directory on my NAS.

1 Like
8

I dd my windows drive to an image on an external drive.

You can do this with an ubuntu live usb stick if you don’t have linux installed.

I found an old article on the process which may be helpful:

9

I used acronis to take monthly full disk images of the boot + data drives, and daily incremental backups between. Clones perfectly, once you know how it works.

Not too expensive either.

1 Like
10

FYI, I checked on my 10 home laptop and it also lets me choose a network location such as my nas.

I’ve also used the backup and restore utility with success in the past, though more recently I just sync data I want to keep and reinstall if I have issues… which has been never basically.

2 Likes
11

I’ve used Clonezilla on a usb stick boot off it and then backup and or restore from the images it makes. Will work across networks too.

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12

Acronis True Image.

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13

Control Panel has a Backup and Restore option that allows you to create a windows image. You can restore this image with any installation medium, even corrupt install media made with Etcher or dd.

I test restores MONTHLY. It is successful every time.

The image itself takes a little less than an hour, and it backs up ~300GB to a USB 3.0 spinning rust hard drive. The restoration takes about 15 to 20 minutes, maybe, I’ve never counted but the time always seemed adequate.

I’ve played games and ran a full development environment while the backup was running.

There is also PowerShell:

wbadmin start backup -backupTarget: {B:} -include:C: -quiet -allCritical

Create a Windows Task to run that whenever you want.

Good luck.

5 Likes
14

Par for the course imo.

1 Like
15

I recommend Macrium Reflect (free edition) which is a drive imaging software with scheduler and an option to restore on boot up.

16

Btw, timed it today…

Screenshot_20200907-123818
Screenshot_20200907-1238181080×2160 82.6 KB

Install media: PNY 64GB USB 3.0
Image source: Toshiba 1TB USB 3.0 5400
Destination drive: Samsung 970 NVME