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Bootable Windows clone/backup

xraydoc

xraydoc

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Original poster
Oct 9, 2005
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So I know on MacOS that it's very easy to create a bootable backup drive with Carbon Copy Cloner (other apps as well). Almost a one-click solution. Should the original drive fail, just replace it with the clone and back in business.

Any simple way to do the same on Windows? App recommendations?

I just bought myself a game-capable desktop PC (haven't had one in well over 10 years), so I want to make sure I can keep easy system images.
(And just for the curious, it's a i7-9700K, RTX 2070 Super, 16GB RAM, 512GB NVMe, plus some additional SATA storage)
 
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I have Acronis True Image (thanks to it being included in my SSD), while the boot process starts with the external drive windows, it enters the recovery process as it cannot finish for some reason
 
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maflynn said:
I have Acronis True Image (thanks to it being included in my SSD), while the boot process starts with the external drive windows, it enters the recovery process as it cannot finish for some reason
Click to expand...
Hmm. I suppose I'd be ok with an application that cloned the internal boot drive to an external then was able to restore that image back to an internal boot drive. Clone doesn't necessarily have to be bootable itself....

Just looking to clone my PC's NVMe boot device and restore it to a new one if necessary.
 
I would just use the built-in Windows System Image tool.

Install all your updates, etc, but don't copy your files. Create a system image once your setup is perfect so you have a clean version with all your software. Then copy your files to a different backup destination that you DON"T keep connected all the time [in the day and age of crypto-ransomware and wiper software].

I would also add large non-ssd drive for "file history". You can configure file history to take backups every X amount of time and retain them for X amount of time or indefinitely until space is needed, if you ever accidentally delete or edit a file, you right click the file, click properties, click the file history tab, and you can restore the file to a specific point in time or just view the previous version.
 
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SpeedyTheSnail said:
I would just use the built-in Windows System Image tool.

Install all your updates, etc, but don't copy your files. Create a system image once your setup is perfect so you have a clean version with all your software. Then copy your files to a different backup destination that you DON"T keep connected all the time [in the day and age of crypto-ransomware and wiper software].

I would also add large non-ssd drive for "file history". You can configure file history to take backups every X amount of time and retain them for X amount of time or indefinitely until space is needed, if you ever accidentally delete or edit a file, you right click the file, click properties, click the file history tab, and you can restore the file to a specific point in time or just view the previous version.
Click to expand...
File History I've already set up to a networked drive.

I thought the Windows backup tool was depreciated, however, so I haven't thought to use it.
 
xraydoc said:
Hmm. I suppose I'd be ok with an application that cloned the internal boot drive to an external then was able to restore that image back to an internal boot drive. Clone doesn't necessarily have to be bootable itself....

Just looking to clone my PC's NVMe boot device and restore it to a new one if necessary.
Click to expand...

If that s the case don't waste your $$$ as it already built into Window; Settings - Update & Security - Backup, opt for the Windows 7 Backup and Restore.

You can create and reload system images as you will, I opt for a fast external SSD, takes a matter of minutes and has never failed to work. The back up drive can contain other data as Windows creates a specialised folder for the system image, so no need to have a dedicated drive for that sole task.

Q-6
 
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Queen6 said:
If that s the case don't waste your $$$ as it already built into Window; Settings - Update & Security - Backup, opt for the Windows 7 Backup and Restore.

You can create and reload system images as you will, I opt for a fast external SSD, takes a matter of minutes and has never failed to work. The back up drive can contain other data as Windows creates a specialised folder for the system image, so no need to have a dedicated drive for that sole task.

Q-6
Click to expand...
I thought this utility was deprecated and not to be used any longer in current versions of Windows 10?
 
xraydoc said:
I thought this utility was deprecated and not to be used any longer in current versions of Windows 10?
Click to expand...

No works perfectly - W10 Pro 1909
1584118319169.png

Backup and Restore, simple, easy and effective...

Q-6
 
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Another user of Acronis True Image. I've used this to upgrade nvme drives via an external Thunderbolt nvme enclosure.
 
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