How to Create a Computer Hard Drive Backup Image

You'll be glad you backed up your hard drive if it fails.

Creating backup images of your hard drive is useful in case of future hard-drive failure. A backup image is a complete copy of all files, folders and structure of your disc. It compresses all the data into a single archive for ease of storage and transfer. You will need another location, equal to or larger than the size of your hard drive, to store the backup image. There are many options when backing up your hard drive.

Instructions

Creating a disk image with DriveImage XML (Freeware)

1. Download DriveImage XML from the Runtime website (see Resources).

2. Double-click the downloaded installer to begin setup.

3. Click "Start," "All Programs" then "DriveImage XML" to open the application.

4. Click "Backup" on the left-side menu. Select the drive you want to back up to a disk image. Then click "Next."

5. Click "Next" to confirm the drive backup wizard. Specify a location for your disk image to be stored, click the folder icon next to "Directory" and choose a destination folder either on your computer or another network location. Click "Compressed" if you want to compress the image, then click "Next."

6. Wait for DriveImage XML to finish making your disc image then click "Finish" and close DriveImage XML. You have now created a computer hard-drive disk image.

Creating a disk image with R-Drive Image (Shareware)

1. Download R-Drive Image from the R-Tools website (see Resources).

2. Double-click the downloaded installer to begin setup.

3. Click "Start," "All Programs" then "R-Drive Image" to open the application.

4. Click "Create an Image" then click "Next."

5. Select the drive or partition you want to create a disk image for then click "Next."

6. Choose a destination folder for your disk image to go, this can be on your computer or somewhere on your local network. Click "Next" and "Next" again.

7. Change the "Compression Ratio" slider if you want to compress the file. You can choose from "Faster Speed" or "Smaller Size." Click "Next" then "Next" again to begin creating your hard disc image. Wait for R-Drive Image to create your disk image.

Creating a disk image with Macrium Reflect (Freeware)

1. Download Macrium Reflect from the Macrium Reflect website (see Resources).

2. Double-click the downloaded installer to begin setup.

3. Click "Start," "All Programs" then "Macrium Reflect" to open the application.

4. Click "Create a backup image" then click "Full" and choose "Next."

5. Choose your hard drive from the list then click "Next."

6. Click "Local Hard Disk," "Network" or "CD/DVD Burner" from the options to designate a location for your image to be stored. Click "Next" then "Finish."

7. Click "Run this backup now" then click "OK" to begin backing up your hard drive to a disk image.

References

• R-Drive Manual: R-Drive Manual PDF
• Macrium Software: How to create a disk image

Resources

• Runtime Software: DriveImage XML
• R-Tools: R-Drive Image
• Macrium Software: Macrium Reflect