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#151
Quite right Milady. You can never have too many backups.
Oh, I do. At least once a month after Patch Tuesday. But I had just set up a Hyper-V VM on this machine when I discovered its HDD had hundreds of reallocated sectors.
Rather than loose that work, I tried (and succeeded) in making an error free image. By the time I had finished the reallocated sector count had more than doubled so yes, I was lucky - but not entirely unprepared
Thanks, people. I wonder why all the backup programs offer cloning when it has so many disadvantages.
I've always had data on a separate partition and in a separate image. I have very few changes to the C (sys+prog) partition, so don't have to make new images of C often. Then I also have a 2nd computer with identical programs and data that I use if i'm repairing this one. So I think I'm covered.
Tell me if I misinterpreted something I read on this site some time ago. Or maybe I misread it:
You can make an image of Computer 1 system +programs and use it to install the system and programs on Computer 2 if you include the drivers from Computer 2.
This would go against everything I've ever learned about setting up a new machine.
The paid versions of Macrium have a re-deployment feature which adapts an image to new hardware. Re-deploying to new hardware - KnowledgeBase v7 - Macrium Reflect Knowledgebase - KnowledgeBase v7 - Macrium Reflect Knowledgebase
Depending on how different the hardware is, it might be necessary to "adjust to new hardware".
I think paragon were the first to introduce "adjust to new hardware" module many years ago. Most imaging programs can do it nowadays. Usually it requires the paid version for that functionality.
It is available free in the giveaway version O&O diskimage 12 Pro.
Registration for your FREE license of O&O DiskImage 12
Download
Last edited by SIW2; 25 Dec 2019 at 09:12.
Cloning is a very useful feature. It's best used for creating duplicates of drives or, depending on the software used, duplicate partitions. An example is when replacing an otherwise perfectly good HDD with an SSD. Or when upgrading from one drive to another, better one (if the replacement is larger, it may be necessary to expand the new partition after cloning). Cloning can be used for backing up a computer but, since each time you update, you are copying over the entire drive or partition, it takes far longer. Also, unless you put umpteen partitions on the backup drive, you can have only one backup clone on a drive whereas it's easy to have multiple images.
As Kado897 pointed out, Macrium Reflect has a redeployment feature that allows an image from one computer to be used on another one. I've never used it but, from what I've read, it has a fair amount of success. Generally, when moving to a new machine, it's better to use a fresh install.
I'm still using an older paid version of Macrium Reflect. Back then, redeployment was a feature available only on the paid version. I only recommend the free version of Macrium Reflect due the incompetence, laziness, or both of the website designers of (not so)Cleverbridge, the company that Paramount (the company that makes Macrium Reflect) uses to handle their payments,
I would be willing to pay Macrium $70 to set up another computer. The customizations and ironing out of problems of the system and each program drives me nuts.
OTOH, if I use O&O, I first make the image in that program instead of Macrium?
I can set up one of 2 spare machines. One has an SSD, one doesn't.