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Backup methods (2022) Microsoft Surface?

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explorador

10:05 pm on Oct 17, 2022 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



I've created threads/posts about backups in the past for servers and local computers, this time I'm a bit lost regarding Microsoft Surface computers as my method is not working.

After lots of testing ended up choosing ONE free tool for backup allowing me to back my data while working, without interruptions (Windows), and I could easily restore this backup even if the disk didn't boot or if the OS failed, all I needed was my backup and a rescue disk. Windows 10 appeared and I had issues restoring and booting, so I moved to ANOTHER free option (Windows) allowing me to do the same easily. I'm happy, it works, but not with the Microsoft Surface computer/tablet, it just refuses to boot. Yes I already disabled secure boot etc etc etc, no luck.

By now I'm backing the data on this computer using Microsoft IMAGE backup tool, restoring takes place booting for repair/restore, so yes it works, but it's SLOW, and restoring is even slower. I already searched the web for backup option #1 and #2 to get this computer to boot, but I don't see people having luck with this.

My specific goal with backups is being able to restore the full installation, not just keeping my files. During failures, it's no fun having to reinstall your OS and set up your preferences.

* I didn't mention the specific names to avoid specifics, in case anyone can bring some light here I will appreciate it, and if posting the specifics is allowed, then please go ahead and I'll mention the names of this free apps.

Thanks in advance.

explorador

7:39 pm on Oct 25, 2022 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



Solved. For future reference, some Microsoft Surface just won't boot anything except Microsoft installers or MS rescue disks, so, just file backups are possible along with creating images within Windows, other tools just fail, and even if you get somewhere, there is no way to boot from any other source, so... those backups are useless. Then, due to Secure Boot and all the security layer added by Microsoft, specialized tools for backup won't allow a full disk, system or full partition backup, only files. And no, not even Windows PE boot disks/usb worked.

Yet, I found what I needed, some guy on the web created an special ISO with Windows PE and backup tools, the details are explained slightly on how to create such thing but it's really complicated. Anyway, there is some special disk ISO floating on the web that will boot this weird models of Surface. I have no idea of details beyond this, but I found that some people trying, discovered there were some updates to the firmware causing this, sent by MS via the Internet. I experienced similar issues with the Surface RT, it doesn't affect all models of the series. I can't post any specifics due to forum rules, but I can say this thing is identified as 16299x64-v2.iso, works on UEFI and legacy for booting, then backing up and restoring.

* It was a long way to get here, hope this becomes useful to someone in the future.