The process involves at least four steps that require choices on your part, with one final confirmation that lays out in very clear terms exactly what's about to happen. You don't need any installation media or product keys, and you don't have to adjust firmware settings to boot from an alternative device. This feature, which has been significantly refined since its debut in Windows 8, lays down a completely new copy of your current Windows version, without any third-party drivers or software that might be causing problems. However, if the image reflects a Windows 10 version that you want to use while you skip one or two successive feature updates, you might see this as a plus. As with an OEM recovery image, the backup doesn't necessarily include the most recent feature update. The disadvantages of this technique include the extra time and effort required to create the backup, as well as the organizational chops required to keep that backup safe and easily accessible when it's needed.
