Windows Backup using Paragon Capsule

[Ostap]

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 - 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 software

Once done and you've got the bootable USB we can start:


Creation of backup Capsule

1. 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:
   
   
   
   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)
   
   
   
   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
   
2. Shut down your PC ..and enter into your BIOS
   You'll need to configure your computer to start from USB
   
3. Eventually boot from USB stick into Paragon tool
   You will see this menu:
   
   
   
4. First you'll need to create new Capsule - click "Manage Backup Capsule"
   
   You'll get this:
   
   
   
   Leave the advanced mode unchecked most of the times you wont need any complications
   
   Click next -
   you'll see list of your disks:
   
   
   
   Select the correct one (in case you've more) and click next -
   you'll see this screen:
   
   
   
   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
   
   
   
   Click Next - and there it goes:
   
   
   
   Once all is done - you should see this:
   
   
   
   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:



bla bla - just click next



at this step - select partition you want to backup ...(the windows of coz
After selecting - once again - next button:



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



and select "Backup Capsule":



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):



Next...and there it goes!!!:



If backup were successful - you should get this:



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:



Once again bla bla - click next:



Because there is a capsule - it will be offered as first source...
Open it and select backup you want to restore:



Click next after:



Since we're restoring whole partition - click "Restore disk or partition":



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:



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







Click next:



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:



and if all is fine - you should get this:



All done...click Finish ...and basically you can return to your restored windows

[red3ninja]

I have experience with the program AOMEI Backupper and AOMEI OneKey Recovery.
The first for personal use and the second for people who find it difficult to restore their system on their own.
When you tell someone that with one button they will restore their system, it's as if they have just been reinstalled and they are very happy.
AOMEI Backupper has more features, in addition to being a system archiver, it can also create copies of partitions. As they can be loaded, as a virtual disk (in addition to the usual recovery).
While AOMEI OneKey Recovery creates a hidden partition (which is cut from the latter) where the recovery file is stored.

[Ostap]

I have experience with the program AOMEI Backupper and AOMEI OneKey Recovery.
The first for personal use and the second for people who find it difficult to restore their system on their own.
When you tell someone that with one button they will restore their system, it's as if they have just been reinstalled and they are very happy.
AOMEI Backupper has more features, in addition to being a system archiver, it can also create copies of partitions. As they can be loaded, as a virtual disk (in addition to the usual recovery).
While AOMEI OneKey Recovery creates a hidden partition (which is cut from the latter) where the recovery file is stored.

Oh ...there are many ....very many programs that can do backup...
I choose Paragon because of "offline" backup/restore ....and the Capsule ...(they've discontinued it in version 15 for some reason)
It is not a "one button click" solution - but it does the job pretty well

Basically what i'm doing is after windows install - backup ...
after programs install - backup
after configuring everything - backup
.....
and then in the run of using windows - i'm making intermediary backups every 3-6 months ...when i'm sure i'm not infected...
what ever happens - i have many steps to "step down" .... back to primary installation if needed
Yes it costs some space on your disk ...but i'm fine with that

---------- Post added 26-03-2021 at 19:27 ----------

And in order not to loose the settings - I've moved my profile to another disk with symbolic link ...
but that's another tutorial

[Ostap]

Firefox - starting from version 100 seems to cave in to the demands of "external forces"
It simply refuses to show some sites - claiming that certificate is invalid
Bullshit !!!

anyway - for anyone who did use this backup option ...you can still restore your system back with an old Firefox present (anything below version 100)

after restore (before anything ....DO NOT START FIREFOX !!!)
just run this reg script to disable any further updates

[Supersniper98]

Here you can find many old releases https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/
I use 88.0.1 (88.0.1/win64/en-US) purely for visual reasons - so far no problems

[Ostap]

Here you can find many old releases ......
I use 88.0.1 (88.0.1/win64/en-US) purely for visual reasons - so far no problems

finding older version is not the problem
having all your plugins installed for that version ...that might be

[Supersniper98]

finding older version is not the problem
having all your plugins installed for that version ...that might be

You mean extensions? I got couple like uBlock and a tracker blocker... latest ver works fine there