Ostap
26-03-2021, 19:33
Hi Everyone
I'd like to share here some of my experience with Paragon software
Especially using the "Capsule"
Older versions of Paragon (i think up to v14) were offering to create a bootable disk (USB or CDROM)
Using which one could startup computer and backup the whole Windows partition to a separate disk
That bootable tool is in fact a PE type Windows (mostly used for installs ..and is a stripped down version of normal Windows)
It offers to create a Capsule - where you can store your backups right on your existing disks without giving Windows access to it
(thus no way of infecting it)
Beauty of having an internal Capsule is that restore operation will take just 50 seconds (on NVMe disk) ...or about 2-3 minutes on SSD
To start - you'll need the actual tool from Paragon (https://files.42amsterdam.net/repository/TOOLZ/PARAGON_26_06_2018_W81.iso) - its already created boot disk with windows 8.1
(Win8.1 is new enough to see your NVMe disks)
Its an ISO file you can directly write to USB stick with Rufus (https://rufus.ie/) software
Once done and you've got the bootable USB we can start:
Creation of backup Capsule
Before booting into the Paragon tool - prepare your disk
You'll need to create some free space that will be used by the Capsule
Here is an example from my home system:
7178
I've allocated about 75Gb for it right at the end of the disk
(position is not of any importance - though Paragon suggests it to be last one)
Here is how it should look:
(disregard the sizes ...for this tutorial i'm using virtual win)
7179
But as the size indication - my windows 7 partition is 98GB large
My Capsule is 75GB ....and at the moment holds about 5 backups
for more modern windows :
My Windows Server 2019 partition is 115Gb large
Capsule is the same 75Gb ...and holds about 3 backups with plenty space for more
Once you got some space reserved - we can proceed with the tool
Shut down your PC ..and enter into your BIOS
You'll need to configure your computer to start from USB
Eventually boot from USB stick into Paragon tool
You will see this menu:
7180
First you'll need to create new Capsule - click "Manage Backup Capsule"
You'll get this:
7181
Leave the advanced mode unchecked most of the times you wont need any complications
Click next -
you'll see list of your disks:
7182
Select the correct one (in case you've more) and click next -
you'll see this screen:
7183
Here you can manually fine tune the size of your Capsule
When ready - click next
There will be a second confirmation - select yes ...I'm sure :)
7184
Click Next - and there it goes:
7185
Once all is done - you should see this:
7186
Click "Finish" - we are done for this step.....after that you'll be back to the main screen
Making a Backup into the Capsule
Allrighty then !! Lets make the first backup !!! shall we ?
From the main screen select "Backup to Virtual Disk"
You'll get this:
7187
bla bla - just click next :)
7188
at this step - select partition you want to backup ...(the windows of coz :)
After selecting - once again - next button:
7189
Here we go ...
Basically - you can backup to anywhere on your PC ...but we want to use the Capsule
Click on the yellow folder on the right
7190
and select "Backup Capsule":
7191
I would suggest to create a separate folder for each backup ...with a name you will understand
something like "Right after install" ...or "Current windows state" ...what ever...
On the top - you have again folder icon - click and create new folder.
Once created - select it and click OK (you'll be back to first screen):
7192
Next...and there it goes!!!:
7193
If backup were successful - you should get this:
7194
Click finish ...and backup is done !!!
You'll be back to main screen
Restoring from the Capsule
After backup - lets try to restore !!
Select "Restore from Virtual Disk"
You'll get this:
7195
Once again bla bla - click next:
7196
Because there is a capsule - it will be offered as first source...
Open it and select backup you want to restore:
7197
Click next after:
7198
Since we're restoring whole partition - click "Restore disk or partition":
7199
At this step - you can select to restore whole disk or just 1 partition (at the time)
We are interested in windows partition of coz "Local Disk"
Click next:
7200
This is MOST IMPORTANT STEP !!
you'll have to select WHERE to restore it
If you have just 1 disk - its easy - just select the windows partition (local disk D :)
If you have many disks - TAKE YOUR TIME AND CAREFULLY SELECT CORRECT DISK AND CORRECT PARTITION
any mistake here - might cost you your data if you select incorrectly
7206
7201
Click next:
7202
Paragon is good :) ...one intermediate step for you to review your selection
Click next when all is double checked and rechecked again:
After that restore will commence:
7205
and if all is fine - you should get this:
7204
All done...click Finish ...and basically you can return to your restored windows
I'd like to share here some of my experience with Paragon software
Especially using the "Capsule"
Older versions of Paragon (i think up to v14) were offering to create a bootable disk (USB or CDROM)
Using which one could startup computer and backup the whole Windows partition to a separate disk
That bootable tool is in fact a PE type Windows (mostly used for installs ..and is a stripped down version of normal Windows)
It offers to create a Capsule - where you can store your backups right on your existing disks without giving Windows access to it
(thus no way of infecting it)
Beauty of having an internal Capsule is that restore operation will take just 50 seconds (on NVMe disk) ...or about 2-3 minutes on SSD
To start - you'll need the actual tool from Paragon (https://files.42amsterdam.net/repository/TOOLZ/PARAGON_26_06_2018_W81.iso) - its already created boot disk with windows 8.1
(Win8.1 is new enough to see your NVMe disks)
Its an ISO file you can directly write to USB stick with Rufus (https://rufus.ie/) software
Once done and you've got the bootable USB we can start:
Creation of backup Capsule
Before booting into the Paragon tool - prepare your disk
You'll need to create some free space that will be used by the Capsule
Here is an example from my home system:
7178
I've allocated about 75Gb for it right at the end of the disk
(position is not of any importance - though Paragon suggests it to be last one)
Here is how it should look:
(disregard the sizes ...for this tutorial i'm using virtual win)
7179
But as the size indication - my windows 7 partition is 98GB large
My Capsule is 75GB ....and at the moment holds about 5 backups
for more modern windows :
My Windows Server 2019 partition is 115Gb large
Capsule is the same 75Gb ...and holds about 3 backups with plenty space for more
Once you got some space reserved - we can proceed with the tool
Shut down your PC ..and enter into your BIOS
You'll need to configure your computer to start from USB
Eventually boot from USB stick into Paragon tool
You will see this menu:
7180
First you'll need to create new Capsule - click "Manage Backup Capsule"
You'll get this:
7181
Leave the advanced mode unchecked most of the times you wont need any complications
Click next -
you'll see list of your disks:
7182
Select the correct one (in case you've more) and click next -
you'll see this screen:
7183
Here you can manually fine tune the size of your Capsule
When ready - click next
There will be a second confirmation - select yes ...I'm sure :)
7184
Click Next - and there it goes:
7185
Once all is done - you should see this:
7186
Click "Finish" - we are done for this step.....after that you'll be back to the main screen
Making a Backup into the Capsule
Allrighty then !! Lets make the first backup !!! shall we ?
From the main screen select "Backup to Virtual Disk"
You'll get this:
7187
bla bla - just click next :)
7188
at this step - select partition you want to backup ...(the windows of coz :)
After selecting - once again - next button:
7189
Here we go ...
Basically - you can backup to anywhere on your PC ...but we want to use the Capsule
Click on the yellow folder on the right
7190
and select "Backup Capsule":
7191
I would suggest to create a separate folder for each backup ...with a name you will understand
something like "Right after install" ...or "Current windows state" ...what ever...
On the top - you have again folder icon - click and create new folder.
Once created - select it and click OK (you'll be back to first screen):
7192
Next...and there it goes!!!:
7193
If backup were successful - you should get this:
7194
Click finish ...and backup is done !!!
You'll be back to main screen
Restoring from the Capsule
After backup - lets try to restore !!
Select "Restore from Virtual Disk"
You'll get this:
7195
Once again bla bla - click next:
7196
Because there is a capsule - it will be offered as first source...
Open it and select backup you want to restore:
7197
Click next after:
7198
Since we're restoring whole partition - click "Restore disk or partition":
7199
At this step - you can select to restore whole disk or just 1 partition (at the time)
We are interested in windows partition of coz "Local Disk"
Click next:
7200
This is MOST IMPORTANT STEP !!
you'll have to select WHERE to restore it
If you have just 1 disk - its easy - just select the windows partition (local disk D :)
If you have many disks - TAKE YOUR TIME AND CAREFULLY SELECT CORRECT DISK AND CORRECT PARTITION
any mistake here - might cost you your data if you select incorrectly
7206
7201
Click next:
7202
Paragon is good :) ...one intermediate step for you to review your selection
Click next when all is double checked and rechecked again:
After that restore will commence:
7205
and if all is fine - you should get this:
7204
All done...click Finish ...and basically you can return to your restored windows