What is the best way to backup the Windows partition?

[hajime]

Hello, what is the best way to backup the windows partition? Backup within Windows 7 (by drag and drop the folders to the backup drive, use some kind of software, use the windows' built in utility) or use some kind of software to backup the Windows partition from Mac OS?

As some of you know from another thread, I cannot restore my windows partition via Winclone.

I am now looking for a way to backup the Windows partition of my MBP 2010 17" and then restore it to an up-coming new MBP.

 

[maflynn]

Paragon offers something I believe
http://www.paragon-software.com/home/hdm-mac/

Based on your other thread however, it appears your NTFS volume had errors on it, and Winclone failed to restore due to those errors. I'm no expert on such matters but I'm not sure any product will successfully function when there are NTFS errors

Check then out, that may fit the bill.

Given that bootcamp is fairly niche (compared to all of windows), I think those are the only two options you have.

 

[hajime]

I know that I cannot rely entirely on Winclone. It seems that Paragon Hard Disk Manager 15 Professional, Drive Backup 15 Professional and Acronis True Image 2016 are well known. In practice, which is better? How are they compared with the built-in Windows backup utility?

I guess now we need to take the ability to recover in different hardware into consideration. For example, now I want to copy hard drives from different computers with different versions of Windows and Linux into one drive using my MBP 2010 running Windows 7 Professional 64 bit. Later, when a new rMBP comes out, move these files to the new computer.

 

[dimme]

You may want to have a look at clonezilla. It's very good and free.

 

[ghislain]

Winclone works pretty well, provided you check under windows (chkdsk) that there are no errors on the windows partition prior to making the winclone image. Otherwise, winclone cannot restaure the windows partition from an image containing such errors. I am not certain that other utilities such as you mention would do better...

 

[maflynn]

Otherwise, winclone cannot restaure the windows partition from an image containing such errors. I am not certain that other utilities such as you mention would do better...

Yup, issues with the file system will most likely doom a restore process. With that said, its in the interest of the app to check for such issues and not proceed. I'm happy with winclone but it should do a check or validate the backup, or some communication about the health of the file system and its backup image.

 

[maflynn]

Not for nothing, but Winclone does advise you to make sure you're drive is error free and if moving it, you run SysPrep. I was about to kick off another backup of my bootcamp and I saw this.

This link is provided when clicking on the More Information: https://twocanoes.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/202627785