Full image of System

[tinpanalley]

I've had to reinstall Windows, I have what are my essentials for running my computer for personal and work use, and a really super clean set up. I need to have a frozen version of today in the easiest way possible to recover later if my Windows 10 ever needs to be reinstalled again so I don't have to go through everything I have gone through over the past days again to get to this perfect spot.

1. What is the best (free ideally) software to do this?
2. How likely is it to get a solution where you'd connect an external hdd and literally restore to a new hdd from there without needing that software again? Does that exist?
3. Is installing Windows 10 again first always the better way and THEN recovering an image?

 

[lxskllr]

I like clonezilla. You have to boot to media to use it, but it's both gratis and libre, so there shouldn't be an issue obtaining it. Store it on an old small capacity usb drive. I really like partedmagic. It's also libre, but you have to pay for it. It includes clonezilla on the image. It's a nice toolbox for checking/repairing computers. Costs $11

https://partedmagic.com/

 

[RLGL]

Windows 7 backup and restore>make an image, ( find it in control panel) FREE. The image and be mounted as a HD, in disk manager, so you can copy out of it what you want using Windoze Explorer

 

[Chiefcrowe]

I really like Macrium Reflect myself.

 

[Ketchup]

Second using the Windows backup to clone. But bear in mind that Windows sends down a whole new image twice a year, so even if you do this and need to use it say, next year, you will still need to wait for Windows to update to the latest build after the restore completes to have what should br considered a "secure" system.

 

[tinpanalley]

Yeah, I don't want a clone of the system, I want an image I can somehow reinstall via another application the way you might reflash an image of an Android phone you've saved or a Rpi install.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Yeah, I don't want a clone of the system, I want an image I can somehow reinstall via another application the way you might reflash an image of an Android phone you've saved or a Rpi install.

That's what the programs above all do -- create backups of drives to compressed files on either another internal drive or an external USB drive. You can then restore from the compressed files.

 

[tinpanalley]

That's what the programs above all do -- create backups of drives to compressed files on either another internal drive or an external USB drive. You can then restore from the compressed files.

Right. Got it. I just thought I'd ask to see if there was any one thing that restored easier than any other. I know it's highly unlikely, because Windows 10 is so easy to re-install, but this time when I had to reinstall Windows 7 and 10, it was made easier by the fact that I had a laptop to download MS ISOs from. So to prep for a situation where I can't do that, I wanted something where I could make a bootable disc of some kind that could then read and reinstall a fully functioning Windows install. Looks like Macrium is the best for that kind of interface/use.

 

[balloonshark]

I really like Macrium Reflect myself.

Ditto. It can also download the files to make a recovery disc that you can boot from to restore your image.