Need free imaging app to backup Win7

[Bird222]

I am wanting to backup my Win7 computer before I install Win10 just in case I want to go back. I know that for a certain amount of time Win10 will let you go back but I want a permanent solution. I have an empty harddrive that I want to backup to already installed in the computer. What's the best free software to do this with?

 

[balloonshark]

Macrium Reflect Free version. http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

 

[xgsound]

YMMV ... Take your pick.
I use Aomei free to clone whole drives for backup. Always triple check that you are cloning the active drive. http://www.disk-partition.com/download-home.html They also have a backup program I never used.

Others often highly suggest Macrium Reflect free, but I've haven't used that either. http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

Jim

 

[pcgeek11]

Another vote for Macrium Reflect free. That is what I use.

 

[SparkyJJO]

I've used Aomei free, CloneZilla, even the built in Windows system image (and create a USB boot drive), all have worked fine.

 

[John Connor]

I've used AOMEI to clone my old SSD to a new one in my laptop. You have to share the link via social media to get the feature, but that's a small price to pay for free software that just works without all the bloat and cumbersomeness.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I did the same thing with Linux and dd. Clonezilla would be the user-friendly version of that.

 

[Bird222]

Ok, I decided to try Macrium. As I said above I have a hard disk in the computer I want to copy to. Question should a create a disk image or a disk clone? It sounds like I should do a disk clone. Windows 7 want have a problem with two bootable drives in the computer will it?

 

[SimMike2]

You can choose which drive to boot to in your BIOS at computer startup. This is my preferred way to boot different OS on the same computer. Since you are cloning, this is not an issue for you, but if you decide to install two different OS installs on separate drives, disconnect one or the other for the install. They will then be totally independent installs.

 

[nerp]

I would recommend against having multiple bootable drives in the same machine especially when upgrading from 7 to 10. Clone the drive. Install Windows 10.

If you like it and want to keep it, blast it and then fresh install Windows 10 a few days late.r

 

[Bird222]

Ok, everything seems to have gone fine but now I have a visible 'system reserved' drive that is visible and has a drive letter that wasn't visible on the original drive. How can I remove the drive letter and hide it?

 

[corkyg]

That should not happen if you only have one of the cloned drives in the machine at a time. The advantage of cloning is that the product is immediately bootable as a replacement, whereas imaging backups need to be restored.

 

[Bird222]

That should not happen if you only have one of the cloned drives in the machine at a time. The advantage of cloning is that the product is immediately bootable as a replacement, whereas imaging backups need to be restored.

I unhooked the original drive and booted the clone and the 'system' drive is still visible.