[Device Reviews and Information] LuxZg:
Could be that UEFI boot is the culprit, USB sticks I've had preopared were prepared (and tested) on older PCs/laptops.

Usually I use Acronis as I've tried it with dozens of PCs, laptops, servers and so on, both Windows and Linux. But right, could be none of them had UEFI :)

Thank you both for tips, I'll try with Macrium since you've both recommended it and [MENTION=721306]dicker182[/MENTION] just confirmed it works fine for him. Time to do some backing up, thaaaanks! Oh, and I'll report back, no worries :)

EDIT: Ok, here is what I did...

1) downloaded free version from http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx as you guys suggested, currently in version 6

2) ran the installer, selected Free, and download location, let it download

(before hitting download you've got option to download just the installer or installer+different PE files, you can pick any, it will download what it needs later if it won't have all files; you do need to download 32bit if your OS where you're creating image is 32bit, and 64bit if OS is 64bit)

3) install Free edition

4) first run, it offers making Rescue media, do it (or if you've missed it go to menu "Other Tasks" - "Create Rescue Media")

5) make sure you create Windows PE 5.0 rescue media (Win 8.1 kernel), available under "Change PE Version" button to check & change

6) change "PE Architecture" to "32 Bit" as dicker182 already confirmed that works, allow it to download files from Microsoft if you haven't already done it

(if you're creating this USB rescue media on Chuwi it will automatically add drivers from it's OS install; I did it on another computer which is 64bit so drivers weren't compatible, but it worked fine even without any additional drivers)

7) once it's done downloading, mounting, extracting, copying etc pick: USB device (I've used 2GB stick in the end), and mark a checkbox for "Enable multiboot MBR/UEFI USB support", and click Finish

Note before step 7:

I had issues with USB sticks having previously made partitions which this software did not want to remove, and I couldn't remove it in Disk Management in Win OS, but you can do so from command line by using diskpart on Windows, just open an elevated Command Prompt (Admin) and run diskpart, and than commands as follows:

- list disk

- Note the disk number that corresponds to your USB drive (it should be obvious going by size)

- select disk X where X is the number from step before

- list partition - There should be one probably, numbered with "1"

- select partition 1

- delete partition

- exit

... Exit Command Prompt

Next, I've connected USB hub to USB OTG cable on Chuwi, connected USB mouse/keyboard, new bootable drive with Macrium on it, and one (almost) empty 16GB USB drive formatted as FAT32

Powered on Chuwi, pressed Esc few times untill it booted in boot menu, selected Boot manager

Selected "EFI USB Device (... flash disk)", pressed enter

once Macrium boots:

- Backup - Image Selected Disks

- make sure all partitions are selected !!

- as Destination select the empty USB drive

- Next - Finish - ... and wait for image creation to finish

Few things of note that I've learned in the process:

- when Macrium was installing and downloading WIM file(s), it had to restart download few times; this probably resulted in corrupted image, so if it fails - uninstall it and try again. It worked for me after that.

- before final step (Finish button), unplug all but mouse and destination USB drive, click finish, and unplug mouse as well; maybe it won't be needed in your case, but it was the only way for me that Macrium was starting to copy files, perhaps Chuwi did not have enough power for 2 USBs, and mouse and kbd, and USB hub all at the same time; either that or maybe using powered USB hub... unsure

It's still not done...but keeping my fingers crossed

EDIT #2: Done! And copied as backup to my primary PC. Two 4GB files and one bit over 0.5GB, total 8,54GB in three files. Did NOT test restore yet, it's 1AM, sleep... maybe tomorrow. Thanks again to both of you! In the meantime I've found more people using Macrium for Chuwi and other dual boot tablets so it must be ok I guess.

EDIT#3: Today I've found similar tutorial was already made in May, but in French.. anyway, here is Google Translate of the original post WITH PICTURES! :

https://translate.googleusercontent...usg=ALkJrhgHqK9PbKem35VlaFINxruU1WeU9Q#p69686