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The thread discusses methods for updating or managing system image backups on Windows. The original poster asks whether re-creating a system image on the same external drive overwrites or adds to the existing backup, seeking advice on updating their backup. Respondents share their approaches: one suggests creating incremental backups and maintaining multiple backup versions, while another recommends regularly creating full images with backup software like EaseUS Todo Backup, emphasizing the importance of personal backup strategies and ease of use. Overall, the discussion highlights different practices for maintaining reliable system backups.
manasan

manasan

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I made a complete system image backup on an external hard disk about a month ago, now I want to update the image. Does creating system image again on that same external hard disk create everything from scratch or update the existing backup?

If so, how can I update my existing backup?
 

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patcooke
Depends on what you are using but most systems (like the free version of Macrium Reflect) gives you many options which include making of a complete new image each time of making an initial image folllowed by "incremental" update. To keep things simple in the event of needing to recover a full or part system I prefer to make complete backups keeping three "generations" deleteing the oldest of the three each time I create a new one. The size of the backups will vary depending on how you use your storage space. My system drive contains only operating system, installed applications and system files/folders. All user data is stored on a separate physical or logical partition. In this way my compressed backup images (of a Windows 10...
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patcooke

patcooke

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#2
Depends on what you are using but most systems (like the free version of Macrium Reflect) gives you many options which include making of a complete new image each time of making an initial image folllowed by "incremental" update. To keep things simple in the event of needing to recover a full or part system I prefer to make complete backups keeping three "generations" deleteing the oldest of the three each time I create a new one. The size of the backups will vary depending on how you use your storage space. My system drive contains only operating system, installed applications and system files/folders. All user data is stored on a separate physical or logical partition. In this way my compressed backup images (of a Windows 10 sytem and masses of apps) are never more than about 20GB in size.
 

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MikeHawthorne

MikeHawthorne

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#3
Hi

I create a new image every time, and I save the last two.
I like to have a backup just in case something goes wrong with the latest one.
This hasen't happened in 15 years, but better safe than sorry.

I use EASEUS Todo backup Free, I've used it for many years and it has always worked.
Best of all it's so easy to use you can't screw it up, just 3 mouse clicks makes a backup and it will create a boot DVD so you can recover your crashed computer.

Unlike Patcooke, even though I only install Windows and a few basic programs, my C: drive is around 200 Gigabytes and the backup is about 100.

It takes around 25 minutes to backup or restore.

The reason that my C: drive is so large is that my Users Folder is on my C: drive, something I will correct when I get a new computer.

Mike
 

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