Hi
@gwc28 g'morning.
If you use vhdx files what is more free than File Explorer !!!!.
Simply copy the vhdx file to backup storage. Then if you need bare metal restore simply from any Windows 11 install media boot into "Repair system", then command mode copy the vhdx file to the target disk, attach the vdiskj and re-install the bootloader. No need to mess around with 3rd party stuff for this type of process.
Tip also is to keep the OS small i.e only OS / apps on the system disk -- User data such as music, office docs, e-mail, multi-media, game data etc keep on separate disks / partitions / cloud so your windows OS could be quite small -- 35 - 50 GB max.
These days I really can't understand why so many either don't use or haven't heard of using physical vhdx files - especially if multi-booting different Windows versions. It's a doddle now to set up and it does make maintenance a whole lot easier instead of having to hunt round for various 3rd party "backup / restore" which are always subject to failure as Ms updates the OS quite frequently these days and many 3rd party developers are trying to "Monetise" their offerrings by being initially free then either hobbling the product or charging for it -- e.g Macrium.
Cheers
jimbo
