Usually, no. To make a restorable image of Windows, use Macrium Reflect’s Create an image of the partition(s) required to backup and restore Windows task, then check the partitions it selects. Include additional data partitions only if you also want their contents recoverable from that image. You do not need to select every partition on every connected disk just to back up Windows.
Which partitions should you select?
In Reflect X, choose Create an image of the partition(s) required to backup and restore Windows. Macrium says this opens the wizard with the system partitions it identifies preselected; its Windows logo marks partitions required by the operating system. Review the list before starting, since a computer’s layout and boot configuration can vary. See Macrium’s Creating a Disk Image guide.
A Windows image can require more than the visible C: volume. On UEFI/GPT systems, the EFI System Partition (ESP) contains the boot loader. Windows RE Tools provides startup-repair options and stores the Windows recovery environment image. The Windows partition contains the operating system, while the Microsoft Reserved Partition (MSR) is reserved for Microsoft data structures. Macrium explains these roles in Understanding Windows Partitions.
Do you need to image the EFI or recovery partition?
EFI System Partition
For a restorable Windows installation on a UEFI/GPT system, keep the ESP selected when Reflect includes it as a required system partition. It holds the boot loader, so an image of C: alone may not capture everything needed to boot Windows.
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- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
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Windows RE Tools
Keep this partition selected when Reflect identifies it as part of the Windows recovery set. It provides startup-repair options and holds the Windows recovery environment image.
Manufacturer recovery partition
Some computers also have a manufacturer recovery-image partition. Whether to include it depends on whether you want that manufacturer recovery image preserved in this backup. Macrium’s partition reference does not establish it as necessary for a standard Windows image restore.
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Should you image every drive or just Windows?
Choose based on what you want to recover from this particular image. Reflect distinguishes imaging the partitions needed for the operating system, imaging a selected data partition, and imaging every disk. The Windows recovery task is not the same as selecting all partitions on all attached disks.
| Recovery goal | Selection |
|---|---|
| Restore Windows to a working state | Use the Windows-required-partitions task and inspect the preselected system partitions. |
| Restore a separate data volume from this image | Add that data partition if you want its contents recoverable through this image. |
| Protect every disk in the computer | Choose Reflect’s all-disk imaging path and check the selected disks and partitions. |
How to check the selection in Reflect X
- Open Reflect and choose Create an image of the partition(s) required to backup and restore Windows.
- Review the partitions shown in the wizard, including the Windows-logo indicators that identify operating-system-required partitions.
- Add any separate data partition whose contents you want included, or choose the all-disk path if your goal is to image every disk.
- Confirm the destination and selected items before running the image job.
Macrium’s current guidance begins with deciding what to include in the image; the wizard’s actual list is more reliable than assuming every PC has the same partition count or arrangement.
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Where should the image be stored?
Choose a supported destination with enough space for the image and keep it separate from the partitions being protected when practical. Macrium’s older Disk Imaging overview lists removable USB storage as a possible destination; its older interface steps should not be treated as current Reflect X instructions.
Quick Recap
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