HDD backup software

Windows Server has a non-crippled version of wbadmin which is an excellent backup utility, which backs up by image... but lets you restore by files, as well as volumes and the entire shebang should a hard drive fail. Wish MS included this with the client editions of Windows.

For Acronis, I just wound up paying the cost for the latest version, so it can handle UEFI BIOS. I've used others, but have wound up using Acronis for day to day backups, Mozy to copy off documents, and every so often, making an image backup via wbadmin just in case Acronis fails.

There are other ways as well, especially on UNIX-based systems (OS X and Linux.) If one has a few computers sitting around at the S&B house, one can use a service like dyndns and have the computer on the road use rsync over SSH to copy files over a secure link to the server at home. Done right, since both sides use RSA keys without anybody else needed, it provides excellent security, with everything well encrypted between the two computers.

Windows 8.1 and 10 have a file history feature that you can use to automatically make copies of your files anytime you make any changes in them. It works best if you have a network hard drive to save them on but other configurations are possible. What is nice is that you end up with multiple incremental copies of documents so if you're working on something and want to go back to a previous draft it's easily accessible. It doesn't replace true backups or images, but it does provide a different approach.

Aomei has worked great for me

I have had no occasion to use the saved image so I don't know how effective it is, but I have been using the Windows system image feature. It is still in Windows 10 in spite of early reports saying it was gone. See Control panel/File History - bottom left hand corner = System Image.

For data backup I use Microsoft's Synctoy 2.1. Free and has three options on how the files are saved - Synchronize, Echo, and Contribute.

Norton Ghost worked fine for W7 PCs. For newer versions of W, Norton disabled it.

Lady Fitzgerald wrote:
I prefer Macrium Reflect Free (here is a good tutorial on how to use Macrium Reflect) for backing up my C: drive (or partition in the case of my notebooks). While imaging is pretty much the only way to backup and restore system files, it is extremely inefficient and space wasting for backing up data. For that, I use FreeFileSync

I was recommended Macrium on another forum. Downloaded it last night and installed. It looks great, appears to do everything I want, and has a east to use UI. Think I will give it a try for now. Only thing missing from the free version is incremental backups.

Yes, imaging and file backup are 2 different issues. I too use freefilesync to manage file backup. I keep all my data encrypted with TrueCrypt and periodically mirror the files to external HDD.
BUT, with HDD space being so cheap there is nothing wrong with imaging data files/folders.

I prefer Macrium Reflect Free (here is a good tutorial on how to use Macrium Reflect) for backing up my C: drive (or partition in the case of my notebooks). While imaging is pretty much the only way to backup and restore system files, it is extremely inefficient and space wasting for backing up data. For that, I use FreeFileSync

1492 wrote:

Bucky Badger wrote:
How about this
https://www.paragon-software.com/home/br-free/

Complete Backup - create an exact copy of your PC including the operating system, applications, user settings and all data.

Have you actually tried this backup software? Limited free backup options. No where near what AOMEI offers.

OK you win there is only one option for the OP, No one else bother posting:R

My brother uses it and really likes it

Bucky Badger wrote:
How about this
https://www.paragon-software.com/home/br-free/

Complete Backup - create an exact copy of your PC including the operating system, applications, user settings and all data.

Have you actually tried this backup software? Limited free backup options. No where near what AOMEI offers.