Windows backup software

Hello, I'm looking for advice on a software that will backup my clean windows 11 install onto a usb drive and whenever I want to restore it, just pop in the usb and it can restore my pc. I bought aomei backupper about a month ago, but not satisfied with the process of backing up and restoring. Backing up was fine, but restoring requires me to be in windows with the aomei program open. I remember years back, i think it was acronis true image, I can backup a fresh windows install onto a usb/cd and just pop it in, restart pc and it'll just restore the image. I'm looking for something simple like this, not looking to back up a bunch of files, just a clean install with updated drivers and some essential softwares. Thanks for any recommendations.

Hi @Ascetik welcome to the Eleven Forums.

You’re in for a ride. So many opinions on backup software.
Before you’re possibly inundated with peoples choices. Here is a thread that may be of interest.

antspants said:

Hi @Ascetik welcome to the Eleven Forums.

You’re in for a ride. So many opinions on backup software.
Before you’re possibly inundated with peoples choices. Here is a thread that may be of interest.

Poll on Backup software

A poll to see which imaging programs people use. You can select up to three options (eg some people use more than one program or use a regular imaging program plus a cloud based one).

www.elevenforum.com

Click to expand...

Hi, thanks for the welcome. I see Macrium is very popular and is highly recommended. Is it simple to backup and restore like i described in my first post? Thanks.

Just to add. I would possibly cosider an external SSD. You can buy them or create your own by buying an affordable SSD and an external casing. I would suggest that an SSD would be more reliable than a large capacity USB.

Welcome to the forum. I use Macrium for backups and restores. There are several sources of backup software out there. With most backup software, you need to make a rescue CD or usb, in which you boot your pc from the rescue disk to do a restore. The main reason to do a restore is if you're replacing a failed hard drive or SSD.

Ascetik said:

Hi, thanks for the welcome. I see Macrium is very popular and is highly recommended. Is it simple to backup and restore like i described in my first post? Thanks.

Click to expand...

I have never used it past a first attempt. Personally I find it too complicated especially with the issues read in here. BUT others swear by it. I am sorry but you’ll have to wait for someone else to answer that (And they will)

I would also suggest you search “Macrium” in the search function at the top right of the forum page. Many, many results.

I personally use Windows 7 backup & restore (In the control panel) It is apparently being depreciated (for so many years) and I swear by it, I have used it since Windows 7. Others will tell you it fails them and I don’t argue with that. It has just never happened to me, except once when the drive that my backup was on failed/died.
I also use AOMEI on an external SSD as a backup just in case.

I find Macrium to be the most reliable. It takes a while to learn to use it and there are many threads here to help you learn. I also use Easeus Todo because I think you should have more than one backup plan. Make sure you make a rescue usb and try it to make sure it works. Don't hesitate to ask for help here because this is the best forum to get it. I hope you find something that works for you.

Ascetik said:

Hi, thanks for the welcome. I see Macrium is very popular and is highly recommended. Is it simple to backup and restore like i described in my first post? Thanks.

Click to expand...

I'm a macrium user. Used the free product for years, and then bought a 4 pack of licenses when version 8 came out. I've also owned and used Acronis, and Paragon backup and restore in the past, so I have experience in other apps as well.

I find Macrium very easy. I just do occasionally full images of my drive to an external USB drive. For restores, from within the macrium application, I created a rescue USB key. I have the ability to boot from that USB key and can opt to do a backup of the system or can restore the system. You simply boot up into the Macrium application. from there you just run the app like normal. I've had no problems restoring windows 10, windows 11, linux machines, and boxes that dual boot windows and linux. I use the same recovery USB key for all of my PC's, and have never run into any driver problems...so the same USB key works for everything.

Whatever you do, it's your decision and your own responsibility.
When I read this:

Ascetik said:

I bought aomei backupper about a month ago, but not satisfied with the process of backing up and restoring. Backing up was fine, but restoring requires me to be in windows with the aomei program open.

Click to expand...

I recommend this: Do not use a PC and buy a Playstation!

I have tested the major Backup & Recovery Tools and they all do a good job.
But if you are really in trouble, they all fail!

Without an Emergency-Recovery-stick you are lost! And you are lost, if you don't know how to use it, because you think that's too much for you. However, if you know how to create an ESP-Partition just for your Recovery-Programm, it's not so likely that you need a Recovery-Stick.

Ascetik said:

Hello, I'm looking for advice on a software that will backup my clean windows 11 install onto a usb drive and whenever I want to restore it, just pop in the usb and it can restore my pc. I bought aomei backupper about a month ago, but not satisfied with the process of backing up and restoring. Backing up was fine, but restoring requires me to be in windows with the aomei program open. I remember years back, i think it was acronis true image, I can backup a fresh windows install onto a usb/cd and just pop it in, restart pc and it'll just restore the image. I'm looking for something simple like this, not looking to back up a bunch of files, just a clean install with updated drivers and some essential softwares. Thanks for any recommendations.

Click to expand...

Jeez - lots of replies and none get to root of your problem!!!

You are misunderstanding how AOMEI works.

You cannot restore from Windows - you have to boot into a usb flash drive created from the Tools menu.

Virtually all image tools are identical in this respect.

Some allow you to create a boot entry to boot into the required pre-windows. AOMEI paid version has this feature.

You can also do this manually with versions that do not have this feature by copying contents of flash drive to a small separate partition and adding a boot entry using too like easybcd.

With regards to your backup - image backups in AOMEI will backup everything on selected the drive. If you want to only restore some of it, you would need to store data on separate drive.