Any free 1 click clone programs for system backup?
 

I have been using the Win 7 backup for a couple of months. Apparently it does a drive image but not a complete clone saving all files , etc. I use to use a program called "drive image" about 15 years ago and then after that I have a "ghost" simple 1 executable file on a floppy that worked great. Both these programs did exact clones of your system. If you had a problem you just swapped the backup to the boot drive then F disced and formated the problem drive. You could then clone to that one and unplug it and always had an absolutely complete clone just in case.

Anyway , more recently , like maybe the last 10 years or less , I used a Mxtor utility to do clones of the system HD. A few times I ran into issues if i used it on non Maxtor drives.

Bottom line , I am looking for a free clone program that does a true clone , not an image that also requires a system restore disc . I want to make an exact , all system files included clone. Anybody know a program for that now?

No help here? Nobody cloning their OSD for a bomb proof backup??

I'm using a different product that isn't free (Shadow Protect or Acronis depending on machine) If it blows up I may restore or do a clean install. Next build I'll get somewhat finished and backup just in case.

Clonezilla will do what you want but you'll need a CD to boot from to restore. If you want, ypoiu can run clonezilla to another HDD and have a swappable restore.

That's what I'm doing now. I want to go back to what I did in the past for the total cloned drive I can just plug in and out.

I've gotten 3 serious viruses in the past 3 or 4 years. Now 3 isn't bad but where I got them is rediculous.

1) Irish sayings site on St Patricks Day
2) Leagal eagle web page looking for a New Jersey lawyer
3) Java update.

There was a time when you could avoid viruses pretty much by just staying away from porn sites. Not anymore. Its obvious you can't avoid all the crap out there now so I want to be able to just swap in a clean OSD and just repetition (Fdisk) and format the infected drive then clone it back to life.

I'll post whatever I decide on as its a good strategy (having a cloned backup) others may want to follow.

Oh , BTW , I know a clone has everything but a "restore" just has certain critical stuff but not every single file. Is that correct?

In an ideal world I would have all of my data one drive with data backups and all my apps/OS on another drive. I would do a weekly / monthly full + incremental on data and I would do a weekly full image of apps * OS so I can do a "bare metal recovery" if need be.

Office systems / servers I do differently, prefering a full nightly backup that can do "bare metal recovery". You never know.

I did a fresh install win7 updated the OS and installed most of the programs I use all the time.Then I used acronis to back the entire image to DVD.I haven't had to use it yet.You can never be too safe.I also keep a backup using the win7 built in tool in case for any reason the acronis fails.Last resort is just reinstall win7 and spend a couple hours updating and re downloading and installing.Good luck I know for me installing windows and getting it back to where I want it to be is always a pain.I have a separate hard drive I put anything I want to keep on files wise not programs.I try and not clutter the OS install hard drive.

I got a program from Maxtor/Seagate and another from Western Digital . As long As I buy one of those three brands I should be all set. Downloaded both from their respective home pages/downloads.

I plan to buy the exact drive I am using for my OSD which is a Seagate. Makes sense to use the exact drive so no resizing patitions , etc , just an exact clone.