From the Backup Tasks on the left, select “ Create an image of the partition(s) required to backup and restore Windows.” This will auto select all the partitions that Windows needs to run, including the hidden system reserved partition created on some Windows systems.ģ. Download Macrium Reflect Free Edition, install and launch.Ģ. Make sure to click Options and select a 32-bit or 64-bit version to match the architecture for the computer you are going to install it on.ġ. When you download Macrium Reflect Free from the official source, CNET, it downloads an executable where you choose which distro you want and it downloads the latest version to the specified folder. There are paid versions which offer more functions such as incremental backups, email notifications, scripting and password encryption, but the free version creates full backup images with ease, works fast and could be all you need. The free version of Macrium Reflect has become one of the most reliable and respected pieces of imaging software around. Here we’ll show you 3 free applications that can make full backups of your entire Windows install and how to create an image of your system with each one. Thankfully things are different now and even Windows can create basic full image backups of your system, although it can be slightly inflexible.

Backup Images have an advantage over backing up files and folders because they make a complete copy of everything in the Windows partition.Īlthough it was good, Norton Ghost wasn’t free and has long since been discontinued. Norton Ghost used to be the go to piece of drive imaging software if you wanted to create full backups of your entire Windows system. If you’re constantly testing software, trying out new Windows settings or tweaks or even purposely infecting your own machine with malware, it’s essential to have a complete copy of your Windows partition to hand so you can quickly restore it to its exact state to before you started messing around.Įven if you don’t use your computer very often or for those things, a full backup could save you time and money, reinstalling Windows and all your applications again would be a long, laborious and possibly expensive process.

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