Can you use file backup to recover entire drive or not?

[omega3]

I want to make regular backups of my c drive which in case my hdd would die, I could simply copy on a new replacement hdd without needing to re-install windows and all programs.

Can this only be done with disk images, which take alot of time to make every day, or will this also work if you use a file backup program and copy every file on your c drive to a USB backup drive. Or will you still have to re-install windows and programs if you recover using a file backup program.

Can anybody please clarify this cause i'm very confused about that. Which (free) file or image backup software will work the fastest for what I wanna do, especially if you wanna do backups on a regular basis.

Thanks in advance for all good feedback.

 

[Ketchup]

You want a full disk image with incremental backups thereafter. Acronis on one program that does this, and does it well. While not generally free, there are often good deals on their consumer software if you look.

 

[PeterRoss]

In the past, I would have recommended CrashPlan (Hopefully, someone can find a way to make an old version work on a decentralized network), right now Acronis or Storegate craft. Free versions? No clue, I would need to do extensive research on that topic. I haven't explored free backups.

 

[bruceb]

Use Acronis and you do not need to do it every day. You only make an image when something radical has changed. Say a major update to Windows or you just updated a few applications (java, flash, stuff like that) or you just installed some new application or peripheral device (new printer, scanner, etc) ... You can use a simple file compare program to keep all your personal files (which might change from day to day) backed up to another location. I also manually backup Firefox Profile with FEBE and also manually backup my Bookmarks (as places.sqlite, .json and .html)

 

[pjmssn]

Acronis is what you need, money well spent...

 

[corkyg]

Acronis is what you need, money well spent...

Agree. Just got the new 2018 upgrade - well designed and loaded with features.

 

[bruceb]

I bought True Image on Aug 5, 2017 ... Last week I got the notification about the free upgrade to the 2018 version. Of course I took it. My laptop has the 2017 installed on it and a Bootable Recovery Flash Drive. When I decide to make the image, I would use the Bootable Flash Drive. Acronis sent me a new Serial # for the 2018 version. So that means I can now use these on up to 6 computers (I had bought for 3 since it is my laptop, eventual new desktop and if my brother ever goes to Win 10 at some point)