How can I back up all contents of users or system folders?

I’d like to get a good Windows app (best it if works with macOS too) to copy the whole contents of a folder (including system files, symbolic links, etc).

I’ve done some frustrating tests with robocopy (I tried all possible switches), WinMerge, Windiff or just drag-and-drop, they either have issues with either system files, symbolic links, offline files etc.

The problem is that, after the backup, I compare both folders and the file count and size will change, so, how can I know everything has been backed up without having to spend time revising the backup?

I wonder if there’s any app for Windows/macOS to backup everything, without having to clone the drive. If the only solution is cloning, what’s a good tool for a computer repair technician (to backup and restore customer’s drives, etc), even if I have to pay for it.

I would connect both the source and target drives to separate SATA ports (I heard it's better than connecting through USB, not sure why).

Any advice much appreciated.

Macrium Reflect has a File and Folder Backup option now, and has no problems with my symlinks or offline files. Imaging the C: drive will (by default) give you a somewhat compressed image that you can mount in File Explorer to examine it. You can set it to No Compression. Setting it to Verify the image will give you assurance that it's a true image. Unfortunately, Macrium for Mac is still a hoped-for app.

I think if you check around here on TenForums (search Macrium, maybe), you'll find an amazingly strong majority opinion that MR Free is all you need for home use. The premium version offers scheduled runs (but you can do that with Task Scheduler and properly made shortcuts that run your saved MR protocol with a click; I run my image settings [MR offers to store them for you and to make shortcuts for you] and my "software and data" settings from shortcuts, and it works beautifully), extensive tech support for a year, incrementals, and a few more options than the free version, but most of us do very well with MR Free. In fact, if you need help learning your way around MR, there are smart, helpful, knowledgeable people all over this site who will be happy to answer your questions.

Well said Dan.

Macrium Software | Macrium Reflect Free

Wisewiz said:

I think if you check around here on TenForums (search Macrium, maybe), you'll find an amazingly strong majority opinion that MR Free is all you need for home use....

Yes....

The premium version offers scheduled runs (but you can do that with Task Scheduler and properly made shortcuts that run your saved MR protocol with a click; I run my image settings [MR offers to store them for you and to make shortcuts for you] and my "software and data" settings from shortcuts, and it works beautifully),...

Saving your backup definitions so you can run them later with a click, or schedule them to run automatically, are all included in Free....

....extensive tech support for a year, incrementals, and a few more options than the free version, but most of us do very well with MR Free....

Free can make Differential images, but Incrementals are as you say a Premium feature. One Premium feature you didn't mention by name, but may be relevant for the OP is the ability to make Files and Folders backups. Free just images whole partitions. The Free version will offer to become a 30 day Trial version if you try to use any of the Premium features, so the OP could try them out. At the end of the trial it reverts to the Free version.

And yes, I did very well with Free for several years before purchasing a licence pack in one of their 'Black Friday' sales.

Bree said:

Saving your backup definitions so you can run them later with a click, or schedule them to run automatically, are all included in Free....

When I said "(but you can do that with Task Scheduler and properly made shortcuts that run your saved MR protocol with a click; I run my image settings [MR offers to store them for you and to make shortcuts for you] and my "software and data" settings from shortcuts, and it works beautifully)" I was trying to make it clear that the scheduled backups and some other goodies in Premium can, in fact be accomplished perfectly well in Free if you just figure out the workarounds.

I think I failed to make myself as clear as I should have been. But thanks for clarifying.

Wisewiz said:

I think I failed to make myself as clear as I should have been. But thanks for clarifying.

It read as if you were saying scheduling was only available in the paid version and you would have to set up the Task Scheduler manually, outside of Reflect. I just wanted to clarify that Free includes exactly the same scheduling options as the paid for version.

Bree said:

It read as if you were saying scheduling was only available in the paid version and you would have to set up the Task Scheduler manually, outside of Reflect. I just wanted to clarify that Free includes exactly the same scheduling options as the paid for version.

You, sir, are absolutely right. I have never tried scheduling regular images or file-folder backups because it's so easy to set up shortcuts that run my backups on demand, and I do it once a week (for the System drive) and every time I make changes to my applications and utilities. Two backup sets; two shortcuts; two informal schedules. Works for me.

So I was thinking that scheduling (within MR) was a license perk, simply because I've never looked at that option in my various iterations of MRFree, and thought I had seen in the ads that you had to have the license to run the (MR) schedules. I was completely mistaken. Thanks for persisting with the correction until I got it.

BTW, I got an update to version 7.3.5854 this morning. As usual from MR, it went smooth-as-silk.

Dan