Nov022012

What is the best Windows tool for creating a backup of my PC on an external drive?

Gurjot Singh asks:

I need a tool to create a full backup of my PC and copy it to an external hard drive. Then I intend to format my PC, reinstall the OS and restore my content back to the PC as it was in the first place. I would also like to keep the backup of my content for future peace of mind.

What software would you suggest for this? Which is the best backup solution? I need some help, fast!

Thank you.


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20 Answers -

0 votes

Bruce Epper

November 2, 2012

Depending on your version and edition of Windows, you may already have a backup tool on it. For what you are looking to do, that would be sufficient. If you want to look at tools that can schedule regular backups or create system images, you would be better served looking at the various backup tools from Paragon Software and Easeus as well as Linux based tools such as Clonezilla..

0 votes

Dino Pearsons

November 2, 2012

I’ve heard great things about Bvckup. (http://www.bvckup.com/)

They are also currently developing version 2 of the same app (http://www.bvckup2.com/).

It’s a really minimal and simple app.

0 votes

Lisa Santika Onggrid

November 2, 2012

Paragon and EaseUS work well and highly regarded for such operation.

0 votes

kumar raja

November 2, 2012
0 votes

Patrick Jackson

November 2, 2012

I agree with Lisa, EaseUS Has a great backup application. Go forward and use it!

0 votes

ha14

November 2, 2012

Acronis true image is reliable, it is shareware but you can get support if needed.

How to: Clone your hard drive using Clonezilla
http://techatplay.wordpress.com/2011/03/04/how-to-clone-your-hard-drive-using-clonezilla/

0 votes

Naveen Kumar

November 2, 2012
0 votes

Manuel Guillermo López Buenfil

November 2, 2012

The program I use for backup is FreeFileSync:
http://freefilesync.sourceforge.net/
It is a very good program, but it only works with files, not programs. That is, it will not help you to reinstall a program.

0 votes

Gurjot Singh

November 2, 2012

I JUST WANT A TOOL THAT CAN HELP ME MAKING BACKUP OF MY SOFTWARES INSTALED IN MY PC , SO THAT I DO’NT HAVE TO WASTE TIME REINSTALLING THEM ….. PLZ HELP

ha14

perhaps with Almeza MultiSet
http://www.almeza.com/

pickmeapp
http://pickmeapp.com/

November 2, 2012
0 votes

Nikhil Chandak

November 2, 2012
0 votes

Alex Schnapps

November 2, 2012

You need a Image backup sofware (instead simple file backup)/ For example free windows utilities:
1. Paragon Backup & Recovery 2012 Free (great addition functionality e.g partitioning) http://www.paragon-software.com/home/br-free/
2. Macrium Reflect Free (hi speed backup) http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx
3. DriveImage XML (small size programm) http://www.runtime.org/driveimage-xml.htm
4. EaseUS Todo Backup Free (ability copy to cloud folder and synchronization data) http://www.todo-backup.com/products/home/free-backup-software.htm
etc…

0 votes

josemon maliakal

November 3, 2012

I recommend clonezilla which is a best and free app for your Windows OS

0 votes

Charley Rouse

November 3, 2012

+1 for CloneZilla:

Visit: http://clonezilla.org/downloads.php

Download the .iso and burn to CD/DVD

Plug in your external harddrive (after ensuring it has sufficent space for a full copy of the PC’s Harddrive)
Reboot the Machine, (may need to change the boot order to “Allow boot from CD”
and follow the prompts.

Clonezilla is quick, well written AND most importanlty , recovery of the image is the same procedure, selecting recover and again following the prompts.

Highly recommended

0 votes

Boni Oloff

November 3, 2012

You can try Norton Ghost, many companies use this software i think.

0 votes

Gutha Gowtham

November 3, 2012

SugarSync is what i could suggest

http://sugarsync.com

0 votes

Brandon Ragoo

November 4, 2012

By full backup I’m guessing you mean system image.
If your using Windows 7 or Vista this guide should serve you best http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/4241/how-to-create-a-system-image-in-windows-7/
however if using windows XP I recommended using this
http://www.optimizingpc.com/optimize/systemimage.html

Gurjot Singh

THANKS

November 4, 2012
0 votes

Vishal Mishra

November 4, 2012

FreeFileSync is a really good software to synchronize files between different location, in addition it’s easy and open-source.

0 votes

Christopher Harlan

November 4, 2012

I like the free edition of EaseUS – I use it constantly when I fix or move computers as workstations.

0 votes

softwaredemons

November 6, 2012

Acronis true image is easy to use bakup software

0 votes

Zack263

November 10, 2012

I would recommend acronis backup or bitcasa has unlimited cloud storage for free for backup.