If I just want to make a drive image, and update it periodically,
I can use Macrium free? Does it come with a boot disk?
OK, np. Here is what I would do for that:
-Buy a hard drive for the image if you don't already have one. If you don't like going inside your computer for the images, get a USB enclosure as well.
-Download EaseUS Todo Backup (free), use the clone feature on the other drive, and put it somewhere safe (aka no use except for backup or catastrophe).
-One day when/if your hard drive dies, swap the drives and it should boot just like the other did with no intervention (assuming same SATA port). Buy a new drive, put it in the enclosure (if used) and repeat the process.
-In this process, you are spending some money, but should never be down more than a few minutes making the swap. You can even use your PC while the program is creating images.
This is just one example though. I am sure there will be others to share their approaches. And mine, for example, is a backup of all important data on my server in another room. Backup for important data on the server is in another area. A couple spare drives if catastrophe occurs.