Good (and free!) Backup and Imaging/Cloning Software

[flexy]

As someone who used Acronis TI for years I just switched to EaseUS Todo Backup and I am very impressed with its reliability, speed and the very-simple interface. Imaging my disks every day was never faster and easier. (Incremental image now only takes a few seconds really since on my system drive hardly anything changes)

Acronis always was *somewhat* sketchy.

I am also testing Paragon Hard Disk Manager, it is also very good because it combines backup features with partition management but might appear too complex for the one or the other user.

I haven't tested Macrium (yet) which is supposed to be good as well.

All those above programs have free versions, I can definitely recommend them, especially EaseUS for cloning/backups. Just my $0.02

 

[MontyAC]

I like and use Macrium Reflect. The free version.

 

[Engineer]

I like and use Macrium Reflect. The free version.

2nd that one. Used it for years and has worked great. Have cloned many drive to drive (OS drives too) with ZERO issues. Have made many backups and have restored a few with ZERO issues. Can't beat the price either.

Did have a friend who said it crashed his PC when installing a few months ago. Not sure what that was all about.

 

[Chiefcrowe]

I think Macrium Reflect is great too, bought it a couple times as well. Love the speed of the backups for one, and the ease of use.

 

[capeconsultant]

My go to is Active@disk imaging software. Not free, but really fantastic software. NOT bloated like so many.

 

[Kaido]

I live off Macrium. Disk to image, disk to disk, disk to VM, all sorts of madness. Great for desktop & server. I especially like it's ability to use VSS to clone a live server without a hiccup. Has saved me more than once!

Easeus Partition Master for partitioning though.

 

[capeconsultant]

I am checking out Macrium now. Looks good. I really think software like this is the best type of backup software out there.

 

[John Connor]

I've used Macrium to make a back up of my disk before I installed Windows 7. Worked like a champ.

 

[Matt1970]

I am going to check out Macrium Reflect as well. Acronis has been getting on my nerves lately.

 

[Pardus]

Acronis True Image Trial good for 30-days, then $50.

EaseUS Todo Backup Free does files/folders and system image or $24 for home version to get more features. <--winner.

Macrium Reflect Free wont backup files/folders, standard is $45, pro is $60.

Norton Ghost Trial good for 30-days, then $53

.

 

[Berryracer]

Acronis True Image Trial good for 30-days, then $50.

EaseUS Todo Backup Free does files/folders and system image or $24 for home version to get more features. <--winner.

Macrium Reflect Free wont backup files/folders, standard is $45, pro is $60.

Norton Ghost Trial good for 30-days, then $53

.

thanks for the financial report

 

[sweenish]

I thought Clonezilla was the de-facto free tool. Surprised no one else mentioned it.

 

[smitbret]

I use EaseUS Todo Home Backup Free simply because I can create a bootable, recoverable image on an HDD that isn't the same size as the original, the destination drive only has to be big enough to hold the data. It's awesome, I can clone a fresh, activated install with updates from my active 500GB boot drive to an old 40GB IDE drive and just run the recovery when it's time for a reformat. Huge time and effort saver.

 

[lxskllr]

I thought Clonezilla was the de-facto free tool. Surprised no one else mentioned it.

That's what I use. I didn't mention it cause this thread was started right above another one where I recommended Clonezilla. Clonezilla is libre and graits, so it can be anywhere, for any purpose. I like PartedMagic. It puts a bunch of tools(including Clonezilla) in a single image. I just used it a couple weeks ago. I cloned a smaller drive to a larger one, resized 3 partitions, and deleted a 4th one. It all went flawlessly.

Magnet link for PartedMagic...

magnet:?xt=urn:btih:LWZTHDXCPZWC7VSHCV2NHRFHC2CP7BOS&dn=pmagic_2013_08_01.iso&tr=http%3a%2f%2flinuxtracker.org%3a2710%2f00000000000000000000000000000000%2fannounce

 

[flexy]

I thought Clonezilla was the de-facto free tool. Surprised no one else mentioned it.

Hello,

I have a problem understanding how a tool (as good as it may be, no doubt about that!) has any use if you need to boot a liveDVD/CD to actually perform a backup.

A backup/imaging program FOR ME must run within Windows and quickly and whenever I want (or using schedules or maybe even simultaneously in the background) perform the imaging.

I am NOT booting into a liveDVD independent from Windows "just to make a backup"..the idea alone is absurd and would be entirely contra-productive to any work.

 

[sweenish]

That sounds like a personal problem, then. In any case, no need to get all huffy over it.

You asked for suggestions, I provided one. It doesn't suit your needs. Move on.

 

[Chiefcrowe]

Well if you don't want to boot a livecd then you should try something like Macrium - nothing stopping you.

Hello,

I have a problem understanding how a tool (as good as it may be, no doubt about that!) has any use if you need to boot a liveDVD/CD to actually perform a backup.

A backup/imaging program FOR ME must run within Windows and quickly and whenever I want (or using schedules or maybe even simultaneously in the background) perform the imaging.

I am NOT booting into a liveDVD independent from Windows "just to make a backup"..the idea alone is absurd and would be entirely contra-productive to any work.