From what I've read here, I'm starting to believe that there are a lot of folks who just don't understand what a full backup is. Eh?
I'm pretty sure that some folks have a main hard drive that is all ONE partition. So a full backup would be a bit for bit copy of that entire drive, with the resultant Image File written to another drive.
In my own case, when I install Windows 11, the installer will create one large partition for Windows, and either one or two smaller partitions for it's own use. That leaves me with a C: partition that is way larger than required for my everyday use. So, I use a Hard Drive partitioning program to split that large partition into TWO partitions...one for the OS and one for my data files and quick backups of the C: partition.
My backup program, Ghost, will take about 15 minutes, give or take a few minutes, to create a Backup Image File of my C: partition, using FAST Compression. I will keep several backups of C: on my Backup Storage drive.
Using Ghost, run from a bootable USB Flash Drive, it will back up every tiny bit of info from the C: partition on my SSD. And, I mean Everything!
That includes the boot sector, MBR, and every bit of the ones and zeros that make up Windows and all my software.
This is important, because if my main SSD dies, like the first SSD I ever had, I can restore my latest Backup Image File to a brand new drive, and be back in business, with absolutely NO loss.
It bothers me, that so many people don't seem to fully understand the mechanics of doing backups. And this is such a poor place for "Backups 101"
I'm still using "Ghost" which I first met in 1997. It's been updated a few times since then, but I'm still running the last of the DOS based versions. (Ghost 11.5) It will backup a partition, or an entire disk. No separate file backups and no Incrementals. This version of Ghost will not run from within Windows, but only from a DOS boot disk. No problem, , , I have many of those.
I developed my own way to do a Clean Install of Windows 11/Pro/64, to another PC.
I can do a Disk to Disk clone, off of my main PC, and then put the clone into another PC. Windows, when first booted up, will ask me to wait, install a few drivers, and then come up like it was originally installed on that PC, but with all my favorite programs already in place. I've used this technique twice lately, to install Windows 11/Pro/64 to two very old Dell laptops. It beats the heck out of doing the install from a Flash Drive, and then having to install a dozen or more programs, tweaks, tune up tips, etc.
The PC I'm on now, was originally a CLONE of my Main PC, in another room. The only thing that the two PC's have in common, is their AMD processors. However, at least one of my recent transplants has been between My Main PC, with an AMD cpu, and a laptop with an Intel cpu.
Windows 11 is very versatile!
Cheers Mates!
TM
Do I have to make an image disk too??
