Understanding samsung/ms backup options + missing factory image AGAIN!

A while ago I started a thread about an NP900X3E -A02US I bought from the microsoft web store which, when opening samsung recovery, appears not to have a factory image (though the recovery drives are there)

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sam...-image-option-samsung-recovery-6-win-8-a.html

Well, I bought the same laptop for my missus recently (this time from Amazon) and started it up to find exactly the same problem - after downloading recovery via sw update, I opened it only to find no tab with factory image.

I can not be bothered trying to figure this out so instead have opted to use the backup tab in samsung recovery to make a backup to a bootable USB drive (which will take 2.5hrs):

Question 1) Since the computer is brand new will this be practically the same as creating a bootable factory image drive? The backup tab seems only to backup the C drive.

My main concern however is to try and understand the various backup options available with Samsung running Windows 8.


Question 2) Can someone please explain to me what each of the following do and how they differ:

1. Win 8 create system image/ backup (under Win 7 file recovery)
2. Win 8 Recovery - create a recovery drive (bootable)
3. Samsung recovery - Backup
4. Samsung recovery - Disk Copy

A word about my own set up - most of my data is on a NAS which is backed up by a mirror drive. The laptop contains some data like photos im currently working on, as well as lightroom catalogue etc and of course settings/aps etc. I realize MS are trying to move away from image model of backup - eg if you have a bad virus better to just reset windows, but images are still useful if your laptop gets stolen or hard drive fails. With that in mind I thought to use the Win 7 file recovery backup which creates a system image plus saves local data every week. In addition I will make a bootable Win 8 recovery drive. Now I also have the bootable samsung backup from my wife's new laptop. Does this make sense?

 

Hi alps1706,

Sorry it took me so long to respond to this. I think I remember that last case, and once again, I would expect this is either a model that has undergone aggressive Microsoft Signature cleaning OR a unit refurbished by someone not quite knowledgeable about Samsung stuff.

In either case would I contact the store and demand some form of installation media: Any computer that is sold with Windows (which you paid for) should have EITHER a factory image and a procedure for backing it up OR an installation disc or USB stick included in the box.

I would say you can use any backup or partition imaging tool you like: The biggest advantage of Samsung Recovery Solution is that it has a factory image that can be easily restored (and which your unit lacks). Its biggest disadvantage of SRS is that it's easily broken, leaving you without a way to restore your backups.

So in your case, I would look at 3rd party tools, such as Acronis, which many members here like, and which is more resilient than SRS. All such tools are known to damage SRS if you try to backup and restore the Recovery partition -- but if you decide to forgo SRS, you can ignore that. Other known 3rd party tools are Macrium, Paragon and EaseUS -- of which the last two are notorious for their propensity for damaging SRS. There is also the (free) Clonezilla on Linux Live USB.

I am afraid I don't know Windows 8's built-in imaging and backup features first hand. I would inspect them further if I were you (as you are doing). Maybe Microsoft already created a factory image if this is a Signature model.