Backing up my OS

[frankcastle]

Hey guys, so I have a few questions about backing up my OS and internal HD onto an external I just bought, hoping you guys can help me.

1. If I want an EXACT replica of my OS as it is now (meaning, my desktop, my folders, my files and their locations, my settings etc. look identical on boot off the external HDD), do i need backup of my system or just a "mirror"?
2. I have a TON of cracked music production software, including my DAW, as well as a whole myriad of 3rd party VST plugins (as well as the licenses to keep them activated) and I'm unsure after I either backup my system or create a "mirror" if it will all still work or not. This is my main concern.
3. After connecting my external to my "new" PC (not bought yet, just asking for future knowledge), will the computer boot up just as it does on my laptop or will it be like a fresh install of Windows?

Apologies if some of this sounds stupid, don't have much experience backing stuff up and using external drives.
I'm currently on a laptop that's about 4-5 years old, but still runs rather smoothly. Has Windows 10.

Any help you guys could give would be awesome!

 

[qbeam]

I use Macrium Reflect Free. (Google it)
With this software you can make a complete image of your hard drive onto your backup drive. (it's best to do an image as it will be one big file on your external drive).
If/when your system does crash, boot to a USB drive you've made using Macrium, restore from your external drive and you are back in business.
It takes me about 20 minutes to back up 50 GB of data to my external USB 3.0 drive, and about 10 minutes to restore from it back to my regular HD.

 

[frankcastle]

I use Macrium Reflect Free. (Google it)
With this software you can make a complete image of your hard drive onto your backup drive. (it's best to do an image as it will be one big file on your external drive).
If/when your system does crash, boot to a USB drive you've made using Macrium, restore from your external drive and you are back in business.
It takes me about 20 minutes to back up 50 GB of data to my external USB 3.0 drive, and about 10 minutes to restore from it back to my regular HD.

Ok, awesome thank you. I read some good stuff about Macrium.
When you say boot to a USB drive using Macrium, could you elaborate?

 

[qbeam]

Ok, awesome thank you. I read some good stuff about Macrium.
When you say boot to a USB drive using Macrium, could you elaborate?

Sure, after you install Macrium, click on the "Create bootable Rescue Media" button in the upper left corner. Put a USB drive in your computer. Select this USB as the drive you want to put Macrium on and let it do its thing. Reboot your PC and you'll have a linux USB with Macrium on it to make a bare metal backup image of your computer. Easy!!

Your computer might have different ways to boot off USB, if it's DELL, you might have to press F12 to select a boot menu. Other computers might require F2. See what your computer requires and select USB as your boot device and go from there.

QBeam

 

[frankcastle]

Sure, after you install Macrium, click on the "Create bootable Rescue Media" button in the upper left corner. Put a USB drive in your computer. Select this USB as the drive you want to put Macrium on and let it do its thing. Reboot your PC and you'll have a linux USB with Macrium on it to make a bare metal backup image of your computer. Easy!!

Your computer might have different ways to boot off USB, if it's DELL, you might have to press F12 to select a boot menu. Other computers might require F2. See what your computer requires and select USB as your boot device and go from there.

QBeam

You're a legend. Thanks man.

 

[Mr. Spacely]

I use Macrium Reflect Free. (Google it)
With this software you can make a complete image of your hard drive onto your backup drive. (it's best to do an image as it will be one big file on your external drive).
If/when your system does crash, boot to a USB drive you've made using Macrium, restore from your external drive and you are back in business.
It takes me about 20 minutes to back up 50 GB of data to my external USB 3.0 drive, and about 10 minutes to restore from it back to my regular HD.

Why don't You upoad it here @qbeam ?

 

[qbeam]

Why don't You upoad it here @qbeam ?

You can google the free version. It's freely available.

 

[SiteWizard]

lol, i alway's use the windows back it up program that is inbuild
i have placed my Backup also on a extern drive ,
and yes it took some time (lol) 2 hours to for the total system ...

ok there are maybe faster programs, but when you first google it and then look here if we have it / them
you never know

 

[vipnexxt]

Acronis True Image 2019. You can get this software from our website (teamos).
What you are looking for video:

 

[frankcastle]

So someone who does music said to go to Micro Center, because they are the only ones who can do a proper, full clone or image of your computer. They said that they are hidden drives we cant see to copy that could prevent some stuff from working, anyone have any experience with that or anything to say about that?

 

[Uncle Mac]

So someone who does music said to go to Micro Center, because they are the only ones who can do a proper, full clone or image of your computer. They said that they are hidden drives we cant see to copy that could prevent some stuff from working, anyone have any experience with that or anything to say about that?

Then go to Micro Center if you must.. Or use whats been suggest here >>> Acronis True Image >>>>>>>>>>Macrium Reflect Free>>>>>>>>>>>GOOGLE
I know for a fact Acronis will clone everything.. This will be closing soon..