Which backup method is best for me?

[exitPr0gram]

Hey everyone.

I am wanting to create a single ISO image of my current Windows 7. I have all the programs i need and everything tweaked the way that it needs to be.

When i restore from this image, i want to be able to put a new HDD (in case the one i have breaks, or i end up getting an SSD) and it working flawlessly. With all of my programs and settings and what not just how they were when i performed the backup.

I'm talking about a true "Clone" or "Image" or whatever the technical term is for it. Will restore MBR, etc., etc... From what it looks like there are paid programs that will do this or i can use Clonezilla, if i'm not mistaken.


Can anyone help me out?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Cloning and imaging are different procedures. Either could work if you move to a new hard drive.

"Flawlessly". Hmmmm.................that's a tall order. If you mean without possibility of failure, I'd say you are out of luck. Any given attempt at cloning or imaging may work perfectly and be flawless. Some other attempt may not. You can live with that or not, whichever you choose.

Standard choices are Acronis, Macrium, Aomei, EaseUS, and Paragon. Macrium seems to be used most here. Windows also has an imaging capability built-in, but most find it a bit difficult and not particularly flexible.

 

[mjf]

In addition to the above...
There is a free version of Macrium which is fine for what you want to do
Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download
There is a very good tutorial by a member (WHS) and he has a link to download a (pe) recovery boot disk.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html

By far the best way to test recovery is to buy or use a spare internal HDD and do a system recovery to it with your original HDD disconnected.

 

[exitPr0gram]

Cloning and imaging are different procedures. Either could work if you move to a new hard drive.

"Flawlessly". Hmmmm.................that's a tall order. If you mean without possibility of failure, I'd say you are out of luck. Any given attempt at cloning or imaging may work perfectly and be flawless. Some other attempt may not. You can live with that or not, whichever you choose.

Standard choices are Acronis, Macrium, Aomei, EaseUS, and Paragon. Macrium seems to be used most here. Windows also has an imaging capability built-in, but most find it a bit difficult and not particularly flexible.

Thanks. I was figuring one of those would be the options I just needed to make sure. I think Clonezilla could do it but I made a Bootable USB and there seems to be a large margin for error.

In addition to the above...
There is a free version of Macrium which is fine for what you want to do
Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download
There is a very good tutorial by a member (WHS) and he has a link to download a (pe) recovery boot disk.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html

By far the best way to test recovery is to buy or use a spare internal HDD and do a system recovery to it with your original HDD disconnected.

Thanks to you as well. I will use Macrium Reflect Free since im most familiar with it. Although I like Acronis as well... Just a bit pricey

 

[dowlittlerock]

[FONT=&quot]As long as you are fine without sane scheduled backups (a.k.a. with incremental), you should be ok. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]But once you are ready for good incrementals, file syncs and cloud backups – you probably should choose Acronis. I did.[/FONT]

 

[Tews]

I use Acronis for my main imaging needs, but I'm trying a new (for me) program called Rollback RX from Horizon DataSys, and I must admit I'm inpressed enough to purchase it.

Computer Backup,Restore,Disaster Recovery Software for All Types of Enterprises USA

 

[exitPr0gram]

[FONT=&quot]As long as you are fine without sane scheduled backups (a.k.a. with incremental), you should be ok. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]But once you are ready for good incrementals, file syncs and cloud backups – you probably should choose Acronis. I did.[/FONT]

Yea i like Acronis a lot. Like.. a lot.

I use Acronis for my main imaging needs, but I'm trying a new (for me) program called Rollback RX from Horizon DataSys, and I must admit I'm inpressed enough to purchase it.

Computer Backup,Restore,Disaster Recovery Software for All Types of Enterprises USA

I checked them out... they seem square. I'll give it a try. I'm going be buy an external HDD specifically for backups before performing a complete image (or w/e) of my machine.

Thanks again for the input.