Best way to backup my Windows SSD?

[geekcryptogal]

I was thinking it would be useful after installing a fresh clean copy of Windows 10 to then backup that SSD image.  Then make regular image backups so I can roll back to any configuration.

What would be the best software to do this? Should I buy like a 2-3TB external USB 3.0 hard drive and backup the images to that drive with something like Clonezilla?  Or is there better software or better idea?

I was thinking by having many backup images for various scenarios I could keep everything isolated from each other in case I got hacked or malicious software was installed.  Perhaps a different backup image for each type of currency I mine.. to really isolate.

Of course I wouldn't plug in my hardware wallet to the rig nor my general purpose pc I use at home.. I'd have a separate dedicated computer for that.. either another hard drive I boot up (I have removable hard drive), an old phone, etc.

Really concerned about security and going to take as many measures as I can, to avoid any potential problems.

I know there is going to be an enormous increase in crypto crime this year, after the value of the virtual currency has increased so dramatically.

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[Bimmber]

Best software you can get:

https://www.acronis.com/en-gb/personal/computer-backup/

Use torrents...

[Permonik]

Indeed, it is Acronis. Nothing is better...

[Bakhtra]

Use macrium. I use it for all my mining rig, I mean I just install windows once till full update + miner and then making image and use it for all my other rig.

[m1n1ngP4d4w4n]

You can use Clonezilla, it's free and work very well !

[geekcryptogal]

Thanks for the suggestions guys! I'll look into those.

Use macrium. I use it for all my mining rig, I mean I just install windows once till full update + miner and then making image and use it for all my other rig.

Do you create a new image (restored from fresh base install), when testing out a new alt coin?   I mean they announce here, give a link and you install their wallet etc.. I mean it could be malware no?   I am worried about it and that's why I was thinking of having a separate image for each currency to be mined.  I could restore the image I want on a nother machine on another SSD to keep the rig up and running,t hen swap the ssd.

I wouldn't ever browse the web, nor setup any email accounts on the rig.. It'd jsut be windows + current coin i'm mining.

This makes sense?

[geekcryptogal]

Use macrium. I use it for all my mining rig, I mean I just install windows once till full update + miner and then making image and use it for all my other rig.

Hey I bought a used copy of Windows 10 Professional off ebay for $50.  Includes CD and original sticker off the computer.  Should have it in a few days.  This will be my first rig -- starting with 3 cards then will buy three more soon.

I didn't think about the future, and multiple rigs, but I was wondering how you use the same copy of windows 10 (same image) on multiple computers.  Doesn't microsoft make you activate each computer individually?  I know they hvae required that since Windows XP.. haven't used WIndows in a while though.   So I don't know.  (I used windows ever since WIndows 386 -- 1989 --  all they way up to Windows 7, then switched OS.)

[Bakhtra]

Use macrium. I use it for all my mining rig, I mean I just install windows once till full update + miner and then making image and use it for all my other rig.

Hey I bought a used copy of Windows 10 Professional off ebay for $50.  Includes CD and original sticker off the computer.  Should have it in a few days.  This will be my first rig -- starting with 3 cards then will buy three more soon.

I didn't think about the future, and multiple rigs, but I was wondering how you use the same copy of windows 10 (same image) on multiple computers.  Doesn't microsoft make you activate each computer individually?  I know they hvae required that since Windows XP.. haven't used WIndows in a while though.   So I don't know.  (I used windows ever since WIndows 386 -- 1989 --  all they way up to Windows 7, then switched OS.)

If motherboard and everything else most same, just clone it no need to reactivate. Though most people used to crack it using toolkit. Even if they actually come to your house and ask for license, you have it right?

[geekcryptogal]

I could get another of the same motherboard.  But graphics cards are hard to get.  Been buying one at a time at a newegg, whatever is available.. so a mixture of brands of the same 1070 ti cards.

[NetopyrMan]

norton ghost .... but around version 12 ... you can run it on running system ... x64/x86 versions

[Kapz786]

I've had good experience with Acronius as well. Clonezilla not so much

[gregfromo]

You might try AOMEI Backupper, https://www.backup-utility.com/download-for-win7.html 
https://www.backup-utility.com/download-iso.html

[geekcryptogal]

macrium +1

Is the macrium free version good enough or should I get the home version?  Which do you use?  If I bought the home version, do they do some clever licensing to force you to keep buying newer versions each year?  (kind of like VMware does with Fusion.. it's so annoying).

I installed the Free version.  Making the recovery media now (Windows PE).

Do you boot Windows PE then do the backup, or do you use the live cloning?  Only thing I fear about live cloning is that malware could access the backup drive and mess with the backup images.. thinking it's best to clone by booting the recovery media.

[car1999]

it's useful, i'll try macrium.

[notsure85]

veeam endpoint backup


its free and reliable.
Byproduct of their datacenter hypervisor backup software.
Been using veeam products for years professionally and in private. Never failed me when I needed it.

[ferall]

Macrium for sure.