Full Backup Solution

ninjag · 2025-09-06T12:49:52+0100

After a number of issues with my computer, I really need to get a proper backup solution in place.

Current backup solutions in place:

SyncBak: for backing up a second internal hard drive with personal stuff and photos.
Windows Restore: to protect against OS corruption.

However, I don't have anything in place to protect against the primary hard drive or motherboard physcially failing.

I've heard about creating a system image to duplicate the entire drive, but I have a few questions and would really appreciate any insight or alternative advice with this please.

1. Will it also backup all the programs and what's in them, such as email drafts saved, login creditentials etc such as Steam, VR setups etc?
2. Will this system image work if I have to change the motherboard, as presumably many of the drivers are specific to the motherboard?

Many thanks in advance

bledd · 2025-09-06T19:29:02+0100

Veeam Agent for Windows. You have to sign up for it, but it's free

ninjag · 2025-09-06T20:45:55+0100

bledd said:
Veeam Agent for Windows. You have to sign up for it, but it's free

Thanks. Will the two issues I've listed be an issue?

Quartz · 2025-09-06T21:42:54+0100

ninjag said:
However, I don't have anything in place to protect against the primary hard drive or motherboard physcially failing

Windows Backup should work fine.

ninjag · 2025-09-06T21:49:28+0100

Quartz said:
Windows Backup should work fine.

Thanks. I'm guessing Windows 11 provides basic motherboard drivers. I just wasn't sure if doing so from a backup based on a different motherboard would confuse and corrupt it all? Or are the Win 11 basic motherboard drivers generic and work across all brands and models?

Quartz · 2025-09-06T21:51:30+0100

ninjag said:
Thanks. I'm guessing Windows 11 provides basic motherboard drivers. I just wasn't sure if doing so from a backup based on a different motherboard would confuse and corrupt it all? Or are the Win 11 basic motherboard drivers generic and work across all brands and models?

Windows should automagically sort itself out, though it would be prudent to have a USB stick with drivers.

ninjag · 2025-09-07T00:09:54+0100

Quartz said:
Windows should automagically sort itself out, though it would be prudent to have a USB stick with drivers.

Good idea. I've been looking into the Windows built in one, but I think I came across a Microsoft online forum type mod saying that it was a depreciated service and it would be better to use a third party one. I think I'll look into this Veeam Agent one.

Thanks all, appreciated.

mrk · 2025-09-07T03:32:17+0100

Windows 11 backup and restore has been updated as time has gone on, it does the job just fine.

I only use its system image creation part though to create a VHD image during my monthly backup run of the whole OS drive. The VHD can then be browsed like an Explorer folder later if you want to pull off single files etc, otherwise Windows backup can use the VHD to restore the fill drive image in the event of a disaster, this incudes boot sector and so on. It is effectively a clone of the whole drive and whatever else you select. It takes around an hour or less to create a backup of my 2TB drive which is half full and the way I do it is create the VHD to another internal SSD, then back up that SSD to an external backups SSD each month using FreeFileSync so only new and changed files are backed up, with removed files deleted off the backup automatically.

edscdk · 2025-09-07T07:28:36+0100

Make sure the disk is not encrypted, I'd just copy paste the data to an external USB drive.. At lest you know that it all copied over, so many times I've seen automatic backups only copy part of the data or stop working and no one noticed.. And do you really need a system backup? A clean install only take 5 mins once you have the usb

AthlonXP1800 · 2025-09-07T09:17:48+0100

Best Free Windows Backup Software for PCs and Servers in 2025 - Hasleo Backup Suite

Hasleo Backup Suite Free is a completely free Windows backup software for Windows 11/10/8/7/Vista and Windows Server that can help you back up and restore the Windows OSs, disks, partitions and files(folders) to protect the security of your Windows and personal data. It is the best free backup...

www.easyuefi.com

Hasleo Backup Suite V5.4 is free backup app will let you backup with system clone that will work on new motherboard without need to reinstall Windows, apps and drivers.

dmsims · 2025-09-07T09:31:26+0100

A proper backup solution should include offsite as well

ninjag · 2025-09-07T13:18:34+0100

Thanks all, really appreciate all this as it's an area I have very little knowledge in.

mrk said:
Windows 11 backup and restore has been updated as time has gone on, it does the job just fine.

I only use its system image creation part though to create a VHD image during my monthly backup run of the whole OS drive. The VHD can then be browsed like an Explorer folder later if you want to pull off single files etc, otherwise Windows backup can use the VHD to restore the fill drive image in the event of a disaster, this incudes boot sector and so on. It is effectively a clone of the whole drive and whatever else you select. It takes around an hour or less to create a backup of my 2TB drive which is half full and the way I do it is create the VHD to another internal SSD, then back up that SSD to an external backups SSD each month using FreeFileSync so only new and changed files are backed up, with removed files deleted off the backup automatically.

Thanks for this, very reassuing. An internal and then to external is what I had in mind, the first being for speed and the latter as a redundancy. Presumably I could use my SyncBack for the external just as you use FreeFileSync?

edscdk said:
Make sure the disk is not encrypted, I'd just copy paste the data to an external USB drive.. At lest you know that it all copied over, so many times I've seen automatic backups only copy part of the data or stop working and no one noticed.. And do you really need a system backup? A clean install only take 5 mins once you have the usb

I don't think anything is encrypted, I've certainly not done so.

AthlonXP1800 said:
Best Free Windows Backup Software for PCs and Servers in 2025 - Hasleo Backup Suite

Hasleo Backup Suite Free is a completely free Windows backup software for Windows 11/10/8/7/Vista and Windows Server that can help you back up and restore the Windows OSs, disks, partitions and files(folders) to protect the security of your Windows and personal data. It is the best free backup...

www.easyuefi.com

Hasleo Backup Suite V5.4 is free backup app will let you backup with system clone that will work on new motherboard without need to reinstall Windows, apps and drivers.

Awesome thanks, I'll have a look at this.

dmsims said:
A proper backup solution should include offsite as well

I've currently got two external drives that I keep offsite for my current personal stuff and family photos, althuogh I don't keep them as up-to-date as I should. I did look into using my website hosting server, but they freaked out after the first backup because of the amount of data lol I'm not overly keen to use the cloud.

mrk · 2025-09-07T14:14:46+0100

ninjag said:
Thanks for this, very reassuing. An internal and then to external is what I had in mind, the first being for speed and the latter as a redundancy. Presumably I could use my SyncBack for the external just as you use FreeFileSync?

Yup, I've used other sync tools before settling on FFS which has a UI and features that I liked a bit more.

Bear in mind too that off site backup can be expensive vs keeping a locally secured drive. You can put an 8TB SSD in a fire proof box for example when not being used.

With the way things are online these days, data breaches and stuff, I've always preferred local external drive backups in this two stage process.