Windows 7 - Free Image/Backup Software

seag33k · 05-27-2010

I ran across this software and wondered if anyone has any experience with it?

Free backup and restore software for system backup and restore, partition or disk backup and restore, disk clone and disk image under Windows 2000/XP/Vista/Windows 7/2003/2008..

I am about to purchase an upgrade to Acronis, but figured this would save me $30!

Thanks,

richc46 · 05-27-2010

Many members like this

Free Backup Software: Paragon Backup & Recovery Free Edition - Overview

or this

http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp

Each mentioned many times in the fourm. Never saw yours mentioned here. That may be a clue for you

Your OS, also has a good back up; system image.
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/4241/...-in-windows-7/

electrotune1200 · 05-27-2010

Or....

You could just use the native image backup tool in Windows 7. Works great.

The only thing it really doesn't do is compress the image.

karlsnooks · 05-27-2010

I use a free system backup.

That free system backup can be accessed by:
WIN key | type backup | Enter key

Works very well. I use it very frequently.
Documentation is also excellent:
WIN + F1 key combo | type Backup and Restore | ENTER key

WIN is the the key with the weird-looking flag on it.

seag33k · 05-27-2010

Thanks for the great suggestions! I am mainly looking for something that I can use to create a "gold" image of my machine so that I can quickly restore it if hit by a virus or other failure. Something that is easy to use and fast critical.

Thanks again!!

richc46 · 05-27-2010

A little extra information. While you are sure that your computer is 100% up to snuff. Make a copy of your hard drive, and hide it somewhere. Then once a week you can make another copy to update once a week ( I use System Restore). If you have a problem your update is only a week old. If you get a virus etc. and the copy is damaged, too, guess what, just remember that old copy that you hide away.

derekimo · 05-27-2010

Here's a tutorial for macrium which I use with no problems,

Imaging with free Macrium

Here's one for windows which takes a little longer in my experience with it,

Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

SIW2 · 05-27-2010

Todo works ok - but there are much better free solutions.

Rich already mentioned Free Backup Software: Paragon Backup & Recovery Free Edition - Overview

and http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp

Both of those are much much better than the one built into Windows.

Quote: Originally Posted by seag33k

Thanks for the great suggestions! I am mainly looking for something that I can use to create a "gold" image of my machine so that I can quickly restore it if hit by a virus or other failure. Something that is easy to use and fast critical.

Thanks again!!

whs · 05-27-2010

Quote:

Both of those are much much better than the one built into Windows.

+1, absolutely agree. Unless you have the skill level in windows imaging like Karlsnooks, I suugest you opt for something easier and more reliable such as Macrium. derekimo has posted the link to my Macrium tutorial in post #8. If you have any further questions, post back.

seag33k · 05-27-2010

Thanks for the suggestions and link to the video tutorial. I will most likely choose one of these products considering the recommendations and save my $30

Windows 7 - Free Image/Backup Software

Free Image/Backup Software problems?