re System Image

MrMoo117

MrMoo117

MrMoo117

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Joined
24 Jun 2025
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18
Location
UK
Hello All,
I really didn't know where to post this so hopefully i've picked the right spot....
Just got a new laptop, migrating all my programs over before I move all my data across...
My question is, What is the best way to ( can I even do this? ) make an Image of just Win11 and also a separate Image of all the installed Programs in case SHTF and I have to start from scratch......

Your thoughts and guidance please

many Thanks

ben
 
How I would do it… clean install to get rid of any bloat then install all your programs and transfer over your user files (which you should have more than one backup of).

Then just take a system image (and have more than one backup of that also).

This works for me but other folk may have a different approach.
 
There is a number of ways to do it.

1. Use the software built in to Windows 11 (backup and restore).
2. Use 3rd party software like macrium Reflect (can still get the free version to use)

Get the OS with everything installed and setup the way you like it and then do a image of it.

backup\image it whenever you like or do a change you plan on keeping
 
I try and do something similar. Once I have the base install done and the essential device drivers installed/working I will then image it.

Then later on I'll take another image/backup if I'm considering a major update.

I have an old version of Acronis (perpetual license) and still works great for me. Have the old ISO image on a pen drive to let me do the base install before I then add any apps/games.
 
Awesome stuff.
Looks like I got a working setup of Macrium working so
Best type of media to keep the Image/s on ?
Obviously more than one kept ( plan on having a "house" NAS next year ) but.... in the mean time a good quality flash drive for portability, I travel a lot for work, and a decent HDD at home ??

Thnking you all for the suggestions/help so far :)
 
I've a handful of external HDDs. I've never felt the need (or more importantly been able to justify to the Mrs) for a NAS for my personal use. My Windows drives are fairly lightweight and I typically just install specific games I play.

But agree that it's a good idea to copy any images across multiple disks as you should expect a failure at some point.

I also have a 2.5 SSHD installed on my PC as well and typically will initially image onto that drive from my main NVME Windows drive.
 
nade said:
I've a handful of external HDDs. I've never felt the need (or more importantly been able to justify to the Mrs) for a NAS for my personal use. My Windows drives are fairly lightweight and I typically just install specific games I play.

But agree that it's a good idea to copy any images across multiple disks as you should expect a failure at some point.

I also have a 2.5 SSHD installed on my PC as well and typically will initially image onto that drive from my main NVME Windows drive.
Click to expand...
My laptop is my sanity whilst away at sea for weeks on end so.... it is all things to me, school/work/fun/3d printing/engineering/CAD/CNC/everything!
Along the way I have ended up with eleven! 1tB portable drives!! Mainly films/series/backup files/etc and the Sony tv doesn't like removable media that big which makes it a PITA when the missus wants to watch something on one of the drives...... hence a NAS.... IF! I set it up right I should be able to access it when I'm away at sea and the missus can watch stuff when I'm away, hopefully via a tv app.... Also could do with having the 3 laptops/PC's in the house backed up and the daughter being able to access college/uni work whilst away at uni.... and the wife's work stuff.... my god the list goes on.... :rolleyes:
Some of this stuff makes sense to me but until a week ago I hadn't even heard of Docker! It is a learning curve! Hence all the stupid questions! Sometimes th forum replies predict of level of knowledge...
 
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