Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
To create a Windows system image in Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office, make a disk-and-partition backup, select the system and boot partitions, and save it somewhere other than the disk being backed up. Create Acronis rescue media as well, so you can restore the image if Windows will not start. The exact interface can vary by release; the steps below follow Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office documentation for ATI2022 and ATI2023. Use the guide for the version installed on your PC.
What to include in an Acronis system image
Choose Disks and partitions, not a file-and-folder backup. Acronis describes this backup type as a way to create an exact copy of a system partition or the whole system disk. For a recovery-ready image, select the Windows operating-system partition and the other system or boot partitions required by that installation. Use the full partition list to check for hidden partitions.
Save the backup to a separate destination, such as an external drive, NAS, Acronis Cloud, or another location available in the backup browser. A backup stored only on the source system disk will not help if that disk fails.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsCreate the backup
- Open Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office and go to Backup.
- Select Add backup.
- Open the backup source selector and choose Disks and partitions.
- Select the Windows system disk or the partitions needed to restore Windows. Inspect the full list, including hidden partitions, rather than selecting only the visible Windows volume.
- Choose a destination. For an external drive, connect it and select it as the backup location. Leave the drive disconnected when it is not needed, where practical, to keep the backup separate from the computer.
- Optionally configure backup options or add a comment that identifies the backup, such as the Windows version or creation date.
- Select Back up now, or schedule the backup for later.
Acronis also lists NAS and cloud storage as destinations. The best fit depends on whether the location will be available during recovery, transfer speed and network availability, storage capacity, and what you already have configured. A first cloud backup may take considerably longer than later incremental transfers.
#1 Best Overall
- Full image backup: Never lose precious files, photos, expensive applications, or software settings by backing them up to a local device through our user-friendly dashboard.
- Quick recoveries: Restore your entire system to the same or new hardware in just a few clicks.
- Protection from cyberthreats: Safeguard your backup and device files against ransomware and cryptomining attacks. Includes a FREE 30-day trial to our advanced anti-malware capabilities – complete device and backup protection from existing and emerging attacks, including Trojans, viruses, etc.
- Adapted for the work-from-home environment: Enjoy a safe online experience with protection for videoconference app (e.g. Zoom, Webex, Microsoft Teams) and vulnerability assessments.
- PHYSICAL KEY CARD DELIVERY, NO DVD / CD: Product with download code and activation instructions will be shipped to your address.
Where possible, avoid saving a system-partition backup on a dynamic disk. Acronis warns that differences in how Windows and Linux handle dynamic disks during recovery can cause problems.
Create rescue media before you need it
Rescue media lets you start the Acronis recovery environment if Windows cannot boot. Make it in advance and keep it separate from the backup drive, so the recovery tool is still available when that drive is disconnected.
Rank #2
- KEEP YOUR SYSTEM SAFE – protect your computer from data loss in case of malware, system flaws or a defect hardware
- SECURE ALL TYPES OF DATA - backup your photos, videos, documents or others - benefit from smart rules for Outlook, Firefox, IE, Chrome, Edge or Thunderbird
- MAXIMUM FLEXABILITY – create and store backups on hard drives, USB flash drives, network drives AND in the cloud
- EASY TO INSTALL AND USE - user-friendly interface, in-program tutorials and free tech support whenever you need it
- Lifetime License, For Win 11, 10
- In Acronis, open Tools > Rescue Media Builder.
- Choose the simple method to let Acronis select a suitable media type, or use the advanced path to select media type and compatibility options.
- Select an available destination, such as a USB flash drive, external HDD or SSD, optical disc, or ISO. Some workflows also support WIM.
- Check the selected device carefully before continuing. If its file system is unsupported, Acronis may offer to format it; formatting permanently erases the device’s data. Use a separate USB flash drive when possible.
Restore the image if Windows will not start
Boot the computer from the Acronis rescue media and enter the Acronis recovery environment. On a UEFI system, Acronis recommends booting the media in the same mode—UEFI or BIOS—as the system type in the backup.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
- Select the backup containing the system disk.
- Choose Recover whole disks and partitions.
- Select the system partition and any required System Reserved partition, along with other partitions needed for the installation.
- Review the partition settings and operation summary. If restoring to a disk of a different size, adjust partition settings as needed.
- Confirm that the target disk is correct before starting recovery. The operation can overwrite data on the selected target.
Should you enable sector-by-sector backup?
Usually, no. Back up sector-by-sector copies every sector, including areas beyond those containing data. Acronis says this takes longer and usually increases the image-file size. Enable it only when a specific requirement calls for a full sector-level copy.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- [4-in-1 Total Backup Solution] Scheduled Backup, Cloud Backup, PC Backup (i.e. Image Backup), File & Folder Backup. Available in both CD-ROM and Download (with instructions inside the package)
- Compatible with Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista and XP
- Backup to your NTI Cloud, OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox accounts.
- Backup entire hard disk in your PC to local, external or network disk drives.
- Create bootable USB pen drive or bootable backup hard disk drive for disaster recovery. Strong Security with 256-bit encryption. And many more features!
Rank #3
- Full image backups: Never lose precious files, photos, expensive applications, or software settings; back them up to a local device or in the Acronis cloud through our user-friendly dashboard.
- Protection from cyberthreats: Safeguard your device and backup files from existing and. emerging attacks, including ransomware, cryptomining, Trojans, viruses, etc. – all without. slowing down your device’s performance.
- Quick recoveries: Restore your entire system to the same or new hardware in just a few clicks
- Adapted for the work-from-home environment: Enjoy a safe online experience with protection. for videoconference app (e.g. Zoom, Webex, Microsoft Teams) and vulnerability assessments.
- 50GB of cloud storage: Always have an off-site copy of your data available for recovery.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
