Windows Image Backup

Hello @Irethel,
Welcome to TenForums.

Personally, I would stay clear of the Windows Built-In Imaging & Backup option for the reasons I have given below, because they just don't work most of the time.

Information:

DOWNSIDE:

It is common knowledge that most of the time you CAN'T trust ANY of the MS built-in Backup or Image facilities because they just DON'T work. The System Imaging facility is a deprecated feature which is NO longer being developed or updated [ it used the same executables in every version of W10 ]. Even MS say that the built-in System Imaging facility should NOT be used . . .

System Image Backup (SIB) Solution
We recommend that users use full-disk backup solutions from other vendors.

SOURCE: > Features Removed or Deprecated in Windows 10

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UPSIDE:

If you do use the built-in MS System Imaging facility, then a Recovery Drive USB from almost any version of Win 10 is capable of restoring any other version of a Win 10 MS System Image. A Recovery Drive USB and the System Repair Disk DVD are functionally identical. The only requirement is that it is the same Win 10 bit type [ x86 or x64 ] as the System Image to be restored.

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There are two imaging programs that are widely used on this Forum, AOMEI Backupper Standard Edition and Macrium Reflect, BOTH FREE.

I hope this helps.

Irethel said:

What alternatives are there?

Several are identified in
my ditty - File backup vs imaging, imaging utilities, backing up drivers [post #3] - TenForums
From early next year, Macrium Reflect will no longer be free for more than a 30 day trial. But a free version downloaded & installed now will remain free. Just never updated.

I agree that you should stay clear of Backup & restore [Windows 7].
It is not as reliable as Macrium or the others. Sometimes it refuses to recognise its own images when you try to restore one. It's always been awkward & inflexible.
But some people swear by it & continue to use it without problems.
By the way its reference to Windows 7 is just a name. It means nothing more than that it was copied from Windows 7. Perhaps MS originally included it to help people just during the transition period to Windows 10 and they told us to stop using it when they realised they'd have to fix it.


Best of luck,
Denis

Macrium Reflect tends to be regarded as the gold standard, especially with advanced features in the licensed version, superior to any other such program I know of.

It has an older style GUI, which some find harder to feel comfortable with.
Aomei's is simpler.

The free offerings have different features and limitations compared to the licensed versions. You can find pages giving feature comparisons.

Both allow you to create a bootable disk. Macrium R free users cannot post on Macrium's forum, but can read its content.

Both have Youtube videos available.

Aomei is Chinese; English is generally good, but sometimes its origin shows.

There are other disk imaging programs: one to avoid is Acronis's True Image.

Some of them:
14 Best Disk Image Software in 2023

Backup Considerations:
Disk imaging (image files kept offline) allows recovery from bad situations (failed disk, stolen PC, ransomeware, user error etc) provided your image predates the problem.

Complement disk imaging with:
Selective data backup - e.g. for critical fast-changing data you wish to back up additionally or more frequently.

Whilst imaging programs may also provide data backup, they may not be the most appropriate for your needs.

System Restore is a valuable complement to disk imaging. Why? It does not affect use data.

I like EaseUS Todo, because free version has pre-OS.

31 Best Free Backup Software Tools (February 2023)

Irethel said:

Thanks for writing back, do any of the suggested providers "phone home"? Do they connect to the internet?
Are there any security or privacy conerns over Macrium Reflect, Backupper Standard Edition, EaseUS Todo?

Macrium only has two types of phone home.
One is for updates and the other is for the bootable Rescue Media builder (if needed).
Both can be blocked in your firewall if desired.

Here's a Quickie picture guide I made for Macrium, to give you and idea of the basics...

Macrium Reflect and Bootable Rescue Media, pictures... | Windows 11 Forum

Irethel said:

The official image backup in windows10 says that it supports only windows7.
What alternatives are there? If you recommend something please explain why.

You are misinterpreting the tool. What it means is use the method that was initially used with Windows 7. It works with Windows 10 as well but it is a deprecated feature and not been actively supported for a number of years.

Irethel said:

Thanks for writing back, do any of the suggested providers "phone home"? Do they connect to the internet?
Are there any security or privacy conerns over Macrium Reflect, Backupper Standard Edition, EaseUS Todo?

One you might not have considered is whether the image files themselves are accessible to others.
Some tools provide encryption: this is often not available in the free version.

Image files can be mounted and explored in the usual way, and files copied from them.