Best Backup software available for free?

[WatEagle]

Hi folks, I'm willing to install windows 11 on my laptop to see how it performs and if i like it (already tested via vm) and I was wondering what program to use to make a solid backup of my current w10 installation.
I currently use aomei backupper with full license, but i never had a chance to use it for real, so I'm wondering what's the best type of backup to use in this specific occasion. I would like to get back the same w10 installation, like nothing ever happened in the case I don't like it.
Do you have any advice about better programs, or should I stick with it?

 

[micropage7]

aomei is pretty solid and if you have full license it will be good for backup

 

[WatEagle]

aomei is pretty solid and if you have full license it will be good for backup

Ook, these are the options
- system backup
- disk backup
- partition backup
What's the best for my needs?

 

[xrobwx71]

System backup. That way, in the event you want to go back to Win 10 as it was when you left it, you can do so from a system backup and be back to W10 like you never left it in 10 minutes give or take.

 

[Bill_Bright]

"Best" is a subjective word and means something different to different people. Frankly, I have found the backup program built into W10 (and now W11) works just fine. Is it the fastest? No. Does it have the most features? No. Does it work. Yes.

That said, if you have a full license for Aomei, that will work too.

But regardless the back up solution you (or anyone) uses, it is critical to learn how to use it BEFORE the "need" to use it occurs.

I personally don't care about full image backups, or even backing up all my installed programs. It may take a couple days, but I can easily re-install from scratch the OS, drivers and my favorite programs.

What I care about is all my documents, years of tax information, family photos of deceased family members, my password manager's database, years of emails and other "personal" files. So I ensure I have multiple current copies of all those files - with at least one current copy at all times stored off site (this is critical!!!)

My point is, you need to define what you want your backup to do. You ask what is the best for your needs, you really haven't defined your needs.

I see no need for partition backup if you already have a disk and system backup. If you partition becomes corrupt, I sure would not trust the integrity of that partition if I didn't ensure the system and disk were not corrupt.

Except for the entire boot drive, if you want a backup copy of a partition, just copy and paste the entire partition to a backup drive. Done.

Also, I will note if you are planning on upgrading a current copy of W10 to W11, the upgrade process creates a rollback option that, according to 3 people I know and trust who tried it, works. You just need to make sure you have a nice supply of free disk space on the boot drive, and you need to make up your mind before 30 days passes or the rollback option will automatically be deleted to free up disk space.

 

[NoiseBox]

it is critical to learn how to use it BEFORE the "need" to use it occurs.

Way back when, we had a client that used Novell as a server OS and the built-in backup software. Well, due to a mis-configuration, the backup only backed up the tree structure (folders) and not the files contained within.
And they only found out about it when they needed to restore those files....a hard lesson to learn.

 

[GerKNG]

Macrium Reflect.
i use it since years and restored and cloned a lot of drives and it had a 100% success rate.

 

[WatEagle]

System backup. That way, in the event you want to go back to Win 10 as it was when you left it, you can do so from a system backup and be back to W10 like you never left it in 10 minutes give or take.

Nice, I'll use that

But regardless the back up solution you (or anyone) uses, it is critical to learn how to use it BEFORE the "need" to use it occurs

I always do routine scans, but since this time I don't want to redo a clean install, restore files and than reinstall programs and debloat w10, I want the hassle free option

Macrium Reflect.

I could also do a backup with it, just to be sure

 

[GerKNG]

I could also do a backup with it, just to be sure

Yes

 

[Bill_Bright]

I don't want to redo a clean install, restore files and than reinstall programs and debloat w10, I want the hassle free option

Who does? I don't know anyone who wants to do any of that. But $h!t happens and sometimes we just have to restore from backup or, if not prepared, do a full rebuild from scratch.

Drives fail. Systems are hacked, compromised and infected. Mother Nature has temper tantrums and sends lightning bolts and flood waters at you. Drunk drivers take out power polls sending extreme surges and spikes through the mains. Kids play with matches. Scumbags looking for drug money, or disgruntled employees steal or destroy computers. Users make stupid mistakes.

I know of no option that is "hassle free". But regardless, practice runs to learn how and become familiar with the recovery process sure do make it a whole lot easier (and quicker) with fewer and smaller hassles.

Point being - making backups is simple. It is the other 99% of the "backup and recovery" process that matters most.

 

[AsRock]

As @Bill_Bright said it's subjective as Synctoys does the job for what i need.