Here are some great imaging software options for Windows 11.
Here are some great imaging software options for Windows 11.
I used Easus about 15 years ago. Everything was big and plain to look at. I don't know what the newest version looks like. There is also a program called Aomei Backupper, but nobody has installed it yet. Some people say they use it, though it started as free back then. The link points to Macrium Reflect Free. You can try downloading it for 30 days and check out this part of the page: "Reflect 8 Home Trial". It says that after your trial ends, you can still make copies of files saved during that time, but other tools will stop working. I think if you don't pay money, you are not locked out from restoring those trial files. My guess is that Macrium backs up every single partition on the main drive, but wait... with Macrium you pick which ones to save. You check boxes next to each one or leave them empty. It can be all of them, or just a few specific ones. That gives you full control over what goes where. Even if you have multiple drives, you can pick some from one and others from another in the same backup file. And when it comes back out later, you decide exactly which partitions to get restored, like choosing between these different options. Macrium has a box on the left that says "create an image of the partition(s) necessary to backup and restore Windows". I don't use this setting right now, but if I did, I would think it skips data-only drives and only backs up real folders like C: plus any others with system files. I also skip recovery partitions for me, though I assume that box would catch them if they have Windows inside them and not just empty space anyway. Someone else probably knows the truth about this better than I do.
Lafong, Wow, thanks so much for your long and thoughtful reply. Just recently, I installed the free version of EaseUS. Setting up is easy and fast now. Cool, I'll check it out. Great info. I think I'm going to skip the free Macrium version because I understand that it's no longer updated, not even for security reasons. Also, pay or don't pay, but I want something I can use and rely on for years without having to go back and rethink things once the trial ends, you know what I mean? One thing I'm looking at right now and really like more than EaseUS is one by Hasleo. It's 100% free, and unlike EaseUS, it keeps getting updated and doesn't nag you to upgrade every time you use it, which is exactly what the free version of EaseUS does currently. It has a clean interface. I also found the font size on EaseUS too small; although there might be an option to change it, I didn't find such an option in the short time I tested it. Right now, I'm leaning toward Hasleo. It's not for everyone, but my business needs are very basic and manual, so free software might just do the job. Thanks for your advice and insights! I know you aren't trying to sell anything here. From what I heard, the paid Macrium version is pretty good too. Still, if someone else is watching this thread... Hasleo provides Windows Backup & Clone, Data Recovery, Windows To Go Creator, and more stuff like that to help you make your digital life better. www.hasleo.com This one wasn't for me, but I always appreciate open source software... UrBackup - Client/Server Open Source Network Backup for Windows and Linux at www.urbackup.org Lastly, I did start a new thread asking about a weird partition issue while using some Imagers. It might not be within your experience if you don't even backup the EFI or Recovery partitions, but I'll post the link anyway just in case. Partition confusion while using BU Imager - Unknown Partition Question - Partition confusion while using BU Imager - Unknown Partition. I've been playing around with new Imagers for Windows 11. In the past, I used Acronis True Image (from 2016). When I would use Acronis, it would automatically detect and back up the Recovery Partition and the EFI Systems partition whenever I would execute the option to back up my main... forums.