Re: (OT) Windows 10 won't back up to an internal HD?

On 2024-06-10, Andrzej Matuch <andrzej@matu.ch> wrote:

On 2024-06-10 11:34 a.m., RonB wrote:

On 2024-06-10, Andrzej Matuch <andrzej@matu.ch> wrote:

On 2024-06-09 7:44 p.m., RonB wrote:

On 2024-06-09, Andrzej Matuch <andrzej@matu.ch> wrote:

On 2024-06-08 5:06 a.m., RonB wrote:

My wife's Windows 10 computer (Inspiron, not my choice) came with a 256GB
SSD and a 1TB hard drive. Stupid me, I assumed that Dell would set up it up
so the program data would save on the TB hard drive and the applications
would run from the SSD. Nope. Everything ran on the SSD and all data was
saved there. The hard drive is just a drone, sitting there and doing
nothing. (I just discovered this.)
>
So after about three years, her computer slowed way down. I assumed she
needed more memory and bought a 32GB SIM (so she now has 40GBs of RAM).
Still slow. Then I realized that she had filled up her SSD. It actually had
only 25MBs free tonight. It's a wonder it ran at all.
>
So I ordered a 1TB SSD, and tonight cloned it in an external enclosure and
installed it. Worked well (the SSD came with Acronis True Disk). I saw that
Acronis had a backup utility as well, so figured I would back up the new SSD
to the practically unused hard drive... and I found out Microsoft doesn't
like backing up to an internal hard drive. Why does it have this limitation?
>
For those of you who use Windows, is there any way to make Windows 10 back
up to an internal hard drive? I've seen something about making the internal
drive a "network drive," which seems kind of convoluted. Is there any
application that overrides this (to me) senseless limitation? And why does
Windows 10 have this limitation — is there a logical reason for it?
(Apparently Windows 7 didn't have this limitation.)
>
Kind of ranting. Sorry. But I would like to see my wife's internal hard
drive set up for backups — if possible.

>
It might be a situation similar to my mother's Intel NUC. There were two
HDs in there, one of which was used exclusively to re-image the SSD in
case of failure. As far as I know, it was write-protected though I have
never admitted to actually use it.

>
No, the hard drive is just a standard hard drive (it's seen as the D:
drive). You can access it and copy files to it manually, but you can't set
up backup on it (directly from Windows, anyhow). Apparently this changed
with the release of Windows 10, Windows 7 (and, I think, 8) would backup to
internal hard drives. I've got to believe there is an application to do
this, but none that I've found so far specifically say they will work with
an internal hard drive. I really don't quite understand why Windows 10/11
has this limitation.

>
I'm surprised that anyone even uses the Windows Backup system, to be
honest. Every time I've taken a look at it, it appeared to be little
more than an automated process to copy your Documents and Pictures
folders elsewhere.

 
I'm totally ignorant about the best way to back up Windows. I just know I
have a 1 TB drive that's not being used and figured it would work well to
back up the SSD.
 
Any suggestions on backup software. The SSD came with Acronis (and includes
a backup feature, but it doesn't allow me to use the internal hard drive for
this?

>
Here is what Brave's search offered me when I searched for a free
alternative to Macrium Reflect:
>
Veeam Agent: A free alternative to Macrium Reflect with most of the same
features. Check the latest release as it might have fixed the issue
you’re experiencing.
Rescuezilla: An open-source, free alternative to Macrium Reflect. It’s
also a disk imaging tool that can be used for backups and cloning.
Clonezilla: A free and open-source disk cloning tool that can be used as
an alternative to Macrium Reflect.
Duplicati: A free, open-source backup tool that can be used for disk
imaging and cloning.
Déjà Dup: A free, open-source backup tool that can be used for disk
imaging and cloning.
Redo Rescue: A free, open-source disk imaging tool that can be used as
an alternative to Macrium Reflect.
AOMEI Backupper: A free alternative to Macrium Reflect with more
complete features. It’s a disk imaging and cloning tool that can be used
for backups and cloning.
EaseUS ToDo Backup: A free alternative to Macrium Reflect that supports
disk image backups on a fixed backup schedule.
MiniTool ShadowMaker: A free alternative to Macrium Reflect that
supports disk image backups and cloning.
Paragon Backup & Recovery: A free alternative to Macrium Reflect that
supports disk image backups and cloning.
FBackup: A free backup software for both personal and commercial use
that can be used as an alternative to Macrium Reflect.

Okay, thanks. I've saved your list to Simplenote and will work through them.
I think I have looked at a couple of them and they had the same limitation
on not using the internal hard drive.

At any rate, thanks for the list.

--
[Self-centered, Woke] "pride is a life of self-destructive fakery, an
entrapment to a false and self-created matrix of twisted unreality."
"It was pride that changed angels into devils..."     — St. Augustine