Backup Windows 10 Installation

I want to back up an entire Windows 10 installation (including programs etc) to an external HD so that if my computer gets fried again, I can restore back to that version.

How do I do this? I believe I need an image ghosting tool? Is there a reliable one around?

Macrium Reflect is definitely one of the good programs I've used in the past for this purpose, but so is Acronis true Image, which is my favorite, but you have to pay for a license to use it.

One advice that's missing from topgundcp's post though is that you should backup to either an external hard drive, or to a drive that isn't the drives/partitions that you're backing up.

Sbrideau said:

Macrium Reflect is definitely one of the good programs I've used in the past for this purpose, but so is Acronis true Image, which is my favorite, but you have to pay for a license to use it.

One advice that's missing from topgundcp's post though is that you should backup to either an external hard drive, or to a drive that isn't the drives/partitions that you're backing up.

I consider Acronis products poorly engineered and supported after some problems I had a couple of years ago. Macrium Reflect is fine.

Steve C said:

I consider Acronis products poorly engineered and supported after some problems I had a couple of years ago. Macrium Reflect is fine.

Thanks for the warning, I haven't had any issues as of yet with Acronis.

topgundcp said:

1. Download https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree. Install, run, select: Create an image of the partition(s) required to backup and restore Windows.
2. Click on first icon to create rescue media on CD/USB so can boot from to restore when needed.

Here's step by step video. Video was created with ver. 6.x but would be the same for 7.x:

This looks like a good product. So, I just need to confirm that with the free version, and following the instructions you have provided, I will be able to create a bootable clone of my Windows 10 drive, and that copy will work exactly the same as the other one when I boot on to that drive. Is that correct?

Kruddler2017 said:

This looks like a good product. So, I just need to confirm that with the free version, and following the instructions you have provided, I will be able to create a bootable clone of my Windows 10 drive, and that copy will work exactly the same as the other one when I boot on to that drive. Is that correct?

Yes, Reflect Free will do that. You can also mount the image of any partition as a virtual drive and cut/paste individual files to a location of your choice.

I recommend setting up a backup schedule in Reflect to automatically do full & differential backups.

I read this in a review, which suggests I can't do that:

Reflect Free is limited to imaging disks or individual partitions (no cloning, file backup, or other choices), but there’s an option to select only those partitions required to restore the Windows operating system.

Macrium Reflect Free review

Kruddler2017 said:

I read this in a review, which suggests I can't do that:



Macrium Reflect Free review

Reflect Free images partitions to a drive of your choice and can recover them to a drive of your choice. You can also recover individual files/folders by mounting the backup partition image as a virtual drive. You need the paid for version of Reflect to backup individual folders plus other features not found in the free version.
I've found the free version fine for all my needs.