Backup and Restore Software for Windows 11 24H2 - Which Solution is Right for You?

[Priyanka Chopra]

(Broken down by - Free & Open Source/Free Proprietary/Paid Proprietary, - Unique Features, - Known Issues)

 

Fully free and "Open Source"

 

Duplicati - https://www.duplicati.com/

□ Unique Features: Supports cloud storage integration, encryption, and web-based management. It allows for scheduled backups and incremental backups, making it user-friendly for personal use.
□ Known Issues: Some users report complexity in setup and occasional performance issues with large backups.

 

Restic - https://restic.net/

□ Unique Features: Focuses on speed and security with built-in encryption and deduplication. It is command-line based, which may appeal to advanced users.
□ Known Issues: The command-line interface can be intimidating for less technical users, and it may lack a graphical user interface (GUI).

 

UrBackup - https://www.urbackup.org/

□ Unique Features: Combines file and image backups, supports both Windows and Linux clients, and offers a web interface for management.
□ Known Issues: Some users have noted that the initial setup can be complex, and performance may vary based on network conditions.

 

Amanda - https://www.amanda.org/

□ Unique Features: Designed for network backups, allowing a single master server to manage multiple clients. It is highly configurable.
□ Known Issues: Configuration can be complicated, and it may not be as user-friendly for those unfamiliar with network setups.

 

Bacula - https://www.bacula.org/

□ Unique Features: Enterprise-level features with extensive configuration options for large networks. It supports various backup types and storage media.
□ Known Issues: The complexity of setup and management can be a barrier for smaller users or those looking for a straightforward solution.

 

Free Solutions (Proprietary)

 

DriveImage XML Free

□ Live Imaging: Allows backup of the system while it is running, minimizing downtime.
□ XML Format: Uses XML files for easy integration and management of backups.
□ Known Issues: Limited support for newer hardware configurations can lead to compatibility issues, especially after Windows updates.

 

AOMEI Backupper Standard

□ File Sync: Offers file synchronization in addition to backup capabilities.
□ Sector-by-Sector Backup: Can create a complete image of the disk, including unused sectors.
□ Known Issues: Some users have reported incremental backups failing after Windows updates, raising concerns about data integrity.

 

EaseUS ToDo Backup Free

□ Smart Backup: Automatically backs up files that have changed since the last backup.
□ Cloud Integration: Supports backing up to cloud storage services.
□ Known Issues: Users have experienced occasional crashes during backup processes, particularly with large files or system images.

 

Mini Tool Partition Wizard Free

□ Partition Management: Combines backup with powerful partition management tools.
□ Disk Cloning: Facilitates easy disk cloning for upgrades or migrations.
□ Known Issues: Some users have reported that the backup feature can be less reliable compared to dedicated backup software, particularly after system updates.

 

Paid Proprietary Solutions

 

Macrium Reflect 8.1 and 10.x

Macrium Reflect 8.1.8185 LTSC - Availability?  https://updates.macrium.com/reflect/v8/v8.1.8185/details8.1.8185.htm and https://www.macrium.com/products/business/ltsc

Will there be a Macrium Reflect X v10.0.8313.0 LTSC Edition?

□ Incremental Backups: Efficiently backs up only changed data after the initial full backup.
□ Rapid Delta Restore: Speeds up the restoration process by only restoring changed blocks.
□ Known Issues: Some users have reported issues with restoring images created on different hardware, particularly after major Windows updates.

 

Backblaze

□ Unlimited Backup: Provides unlimited cloud backup for a flat fee.
□ File Versioning: Retains older versions of files for easy recovery.
□ Known Issues: Users have reported occasional issues with file recovery speeds and difficulties in restoring specific file versions.

 

Carbonite

□ Automatic Backups: Automatically backs up files without user intervention.
□ Remote Access: Access backed-up files from any device with internet connectivity.
□ Known Issues: Some users have noted that the software can be slow to back up large files, and there have been reports of issues with restoring files after Windows updates.

 

NovaBACKUP

□ Local and Cloud Options: Offers both local and cloud backup solutions.
□ Business-Focused Features: Tailored for small businesses, including server backup capabilities.
□ Known Issues: Users have reported that the interface can be less intuitive, and some have experienced failures during recovery processes after Windows updates.

 

Zinstall

□ Full System Migration: Specializes in migrating entire systems, including applications and settings.
□ Cross-Version Compatibility: Can transfer data between different Windows versions seamlessly.
□ Known Issues: Some users have encountered issues with compatibility and performance, particularly when restoring to different hardware.

 

CloudBerry Backup (MSP360)

□ Multi-Cloud Support: Integrates with various cloud storage providers for flexibility.
□ Advanced Scheduling: Offers detailed scheduling options for backups.
□ Known Issues: Users have reported occasional issues with backup scheduling and restoration processes, especially after major Windows updates.

 

Ashampoo

□ User-Friendly Interface: Known for its intuitive design and ease of use.
□ Integrated Tools: Includes additional tools for disk management and optimization.
□ Known Issues: Some users have experienced issues with backup integrity and restoration failures, particularly after Windows updates.

 

Hasleo

□ Disk Imaging: Focuses on creating disk images with a straightforward interface.
□ Bootable Media Creation: Easily creates bootable media for recovery purposes.
□ Known Issues: Users have reported occasional compatibility issues with certain hardware configurations.

 

Veeam

□ Enterprise Features: Advanced features for enterprise-level backup and recovery.
□ Virtual Machine Support: Strong capabilities for backing up virtual machines.
□ Known Issues: Complexity in setup and configuration can be a barrier for less experienced users, and some have reported issues with compatibility after Windows updates.

 

Acronis True Image

□ Full Disk Imaging: Comprehensive disk imaging and cloning capabilities.
□ Active Protection: Includes ransomware protection and active disk monitoring.
□ Known Issues: Some users have reported performance slowdowns and high resource usage during backups, particularly on older systems.

 

Paragon Backup & Recovery

□ Flexible Backup Options: Offers various backup methods, including differential and incremental.
□ Recovery Media Builder: Simplifies the creation of recovery media.
□ Known Issues: Users have noted that the interface can be less intuitive, and there have been reports of failures during recovery processes after Windows updates.

 

Aomei Backupper (Paid Version)

□ Universal Restore: Allows restoration to dissimilar hardware configurations.
□ Advanced Backup Options: Includes sector-by-sector backup and differential backups.
□ Known Issues: Some users have reported incremental backups failing after Windows updates, raising concerns about data integrity.

 

R-Drive Image 7

□ Multiple Destination Replication: Can replicate backups to multiple destinations simultaneously.
□ Ransomware Protection: Actively protects against ransomware attacks.
□ Known Issues: Users have reported performance-related issues during large backup operations and compatibility problems with certain hardware configurations.

 

ShadowProtect

□ Rapid Recovery: Known for fast recovery times and reliable backup solutions.
□ Virtual Machine Support: Provides backup and recovery for virtual machines.
□ Known Issues: Some users have experienced issues with backup integrity and restoration failures, especially after major Windows updates.

 

Opinion

 

A minimum Operating System Backup and Restore software solution should support "disaster recovery" for;

 

□ Bootable media with disk cloning (and resizing) and partition BIOS-MBR/GPT-UEFI abilities ...

□ Restoration on different bare metal hardware if you intend to migrate to different machines.

□ Intuitive User-Friendly Interface

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Additionally, incremental backups for daily backups (if wanted), scheduling and encryption of your data for security. If the creation of bootable media supports USB4 and Thunderbolt 3-4-5 is included, all the better for data transfer performance.

 

 

On an ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 OLED H7604JI.303 Macrium Reflect v8.1.7378 created a 50GB FULL image backup file of Windows 11 22H2 around 30 seconds averaging 14.1 Gb/s transfer rate. What has your experience been, recommendations and thoughts on using backup and restore software?

 

[Carolus]

Thank you very much for this list.

I make my backup's (and restore if necessary) always with bootable media disk because in this case, you are sure that Windows is completely offline, without the OS is blocking some sectors.

Before backup, I clean always Windows with a soft like cleanmgr+ and Privacy Eraser for example, to reduce the since end clean before some old and temp. folders.

 

During years, I used Acronis but since 7 or 8 years, I use Macrium and had never difficulties with it (always on same material).

 

One time, by a friend, I clone is W11 from a old ssd to a newer and biger. Curiously, I had problems with Macrium and Acronis. It was finally Paragon Hard Disk Manager who got me out of there. (All this bootable media disks were on a special usb key with Ventoy, so it was easy)

 

Even with a backup, I have always on my mind this in worst case scenario, it can be necessary for a fresh and clean re-install of Windows and be prepared of this eventuallity with the latest Windows Iso on a Ventoy our Rufus usb key.

[pc71520]

Macrium Reflect , here, too.