Need to find a decent backup, restore and cloning software

ICIT2LOL · 2026-07-16T00:03:35-0400

OK last week I wrecked my Asus Vivobook by stupidly messing around trying to loosen up some RAM, as it was suggested that a slowing machine could be made a little faster by doing that.
To cut a very long story short (and a few hours chatting to AI) , I or it ended up with a Code 0xc0000225 and taking it to the techs in town was told that the drive ws probably failing and it was going to cost me around $600-$800 for a fix if they could even do one. I thought at he tme thye didn't seem to be overly helpful if you get what I mean, and on the way home I decided to just buy a new Vivobook which I have.
Now while I am waiting I tried to get data and personal stuff off the backups I had made with AOMEI and horror of horrors, the filing system in that software demanded that I pay for the software before I could retrieve the stuff I wanted even when using the trial version, it still insists on the money.
My other machines are also backed up using that software, and it now annoys the living heck out of me that if I tried to retrieve those machines' data etc AOMEI would still hold out their greedy hand.
So has anyone got any suggestions fr a software for backup, cloning etc that is free or reasonably priced as I don't mind paying something but not the prices that AOMEI was asking for.

KevTech · 2026-07-16T00:08:24-0400

ICIT2LOL said:
So has anyone got any suggestions fr a software for backup, cloning etc that is free or reasonably priced as I don't mind paying something but not the prices that AOMEI was asking for.

Best Free Backup Software for Windows 11/10/8/7/Vista in 2026 - Hasleo Backup Suite

Hasleo Backup Suite Free is the best free Windows backup software in 2026. As an all-in-one solution, it supports Windows 11/10/8/7 and helps you back up and restore Windows OS, disks, partitions and files easily.

www.easyuefi.com

Bryan · 2026-07-16T00:16:04-0400

Did you install AOMEI Backupper Free to your new laptop and then tried to install your backup to it?

Fishmill · 2026-07-16T00:23:14-0400

Do you demand that a single application back up both personal data and your "system", or are you willing to consider separate applications for each task? For most people, personal data is far far more important and there are several software packages that back up data for free. They aren't complex and don't involve "imaging" or "cloning". If worse comes to worse, you should be able to reinstall your OS and applications from scratch regardless.....not that anyone looks forward to that.

dalchina · 2026-07-16T01:04:36-0400

Assuming you used the free edition of Aomei Backupper it appears you should be able to restore data with the free version:

AOMEI Backupper Edition Comparison

This edition comparison contains AOMEI Backupper all editions, and compare them from price, range of application, features, etc. to help you choose.

www.aomeitech.com

(and expand relevant sections)

It may be that you just have to use a slightly different approach with the free version.. here's a hint:

However the very act of imaging can - at least with Macrium Reflect- detect early disk failure, if you don't have any other way of monitoring your disks' health set up - e.g. Crystal Diskinfo (free) running continuously, set to alert you.

And imaging can save you a clean install, and even help with moving to a different system disk or PC.

IanMosley · 2026-07-16T01:10:22-0400

Fishmill said:
Do you demand that a single application back up both personal data and your "system", or are you willing to consider separate applications for each task?

I use Macrium Reflect for my 'system backups' - a combination of partition images & file & folder backups.

However, for my personal data I use use 'Live File Backup' - more details can be found here

SIW2 · 2026-07-16T01:11:09-0400

the backups I had made with AOMEI and horror of horrors, the filing system in that software demanded that I pay for the software before I could retrieve the stuff I wanted even when using the trial version

Not sure what you are trying to do. If you want to restore the image you can use the current free version.

if you want to mount the images use

free version v6.9.1

dalchina · 2026-07-16T01:12:22-0400

Please see the hint in my post #5.

And if you need a Pro version you might still be able to get this giveaway:

AOMEI Backupper Professional Giveaway July 2026

AOMEI Backupper Professional giveaway 2026, save 100% on the full version of the top rated backup/recovery and disk clone software

www.geekbyter.com

idgat · 2026-07-16T01:42:34-0400

ICIT2LOL said:
(AOMEI Backupper) .... the filing system in that software demanded that I pay for the software before I could retrieve the stuff I wanted even when using the trial version, it still insists on the money.

The free version of AOMEI Backupper has NEVER allowed access to individual data. Best way has always been to do a "whole" restore (even if just to a spare (eternal) drive) and recover personal data from that (copy > paste). Has worked well for me.

Alternatively, backup just your personal data, and program settings that are accessible (e.g. .ini and .dat files, et al), in native format using freeware such as SyncBackFree. Overnight scheduling available.

dalchina · 2026-07-16T02:13:24-0400

Whilst I've never personally tried it.. the edition comparison sheet shows this:

siliconbeaver · 2026-07-16T02:27:09-0400

besides those fancy copies, I still use ghost11.5, an MS-DOS software since the time. can boot/run from a 4MB USB drive.

it works pretty well for both OS partition and data partition except ESP sector (100 MB). it also works for whole disk backup or image.

It’s available at

Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Texts, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine

archive.org

Symantec Ghost 11.5.1.2266

Steve C · 2026-07-16T02:35:47-0400

Pay for Reflect X !

suparoo · 2026-07-16T02:44:19-0400

dalchina said:
Please see the hint in my post #5.

And if you need a Pro version you might still be able to get this giveaway:

AOMEI Backupper Professional Giveaway July 2026

AOMEI Backupper Professional giveaway 2026, save 100% on the full version of the top rated backup/recovery and disk clone software

www.geekbyter.com

That FREE Giveaway is still downloadable, it comes with a License for 12 months only though.

Terence · 2026-07-16T03:00:04-0400

I use O&O Diskimage.

dalchina · 2026-07-16T03:09:22-0400

Giveaways of the last version are often available. German rather than Chinese (Aomei, Easeus, Hasleo) if that's a concern..

SIW2 · 2026-07-16T03:30:50-0400

The giveaways at the moment are the premium edition. I couldnt get it to work.

O&O DiskImage 21 Premium Giveaway - Windows 10 Help Forums

This is the German page, can't seem to find the english page. Anyway just enter a email and get a lifetime license for v21. O&O DiskImage 21 Premium - O&O Software GmbH The current version is v22.

www.tenforums.com

I liked the earlier pro versions

FDretired · 2026-07-16T04:18:30-0400

AOMEI Backupper "free" for one year only!

kelper · 2026-07-16T04:30:43-0400

@ICIT2LOL

Let's try and fix your old laptop. That error code suggests that Windows can't boot due to a corrupted BCD. This does not mean the hard drive is failing since you admit you probably messed up something (we have all done that!).

What happens when you power up?

LitDev · 2026-07-16T04:44:35-0400

I use Macrium free for occasional images and clones and my own open-source (GitHub - litdev1/RoboSync: Backup sync program using Windows ROBOCOPY) for daily (and occasional long term) sync backups to various large USB drives. I prefer a simple file sync as I know the files are my current state and easily recoverable in part or full at any time in the future without any additional software dependencies.

Need to find a decent backup, restore and cloning software

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