Looking for free software to create a disk image for Windows 10 or 11? Try AOMEI Backupper or the built-in Windows backup utility to create an image backup of your hard drive.
A disk image is an exact copy of a disk including all the files and the file system, boot sector, other metadata, etc. Creating a disk image makes a full backup of the hard drive with Windows 10/11 installed, and saves it as a single file that can be stored on internal/external drives or network locations.
There are some specific reasons why you might want to create a disk image:
✔ Data backup and recovery: Creating an image ensures that the original data on the disk is preserved. With a bit-by-bit copy, you can extract the desired data from the disk image anytime you need.
✔ Reducing downtime: A disk image serves as a backup in case of hardware failure or disaster recovery scenarios. By regularly creating disk images, you can restore computer to earlier state even after a severe failure.
✔ System deployment and cloning: Disk images are often used to deploy or clone a pre-configured OS and APP setup across hard drives or even computers/servers. For example, when you want to upgrade HDD to SSD, you can directly restore the disk image to the new drive without reinstalling.
In this part, you will learn how to make a disk image in Windows 10/11 with 2 free tools.
To image the entire disk including Windows OS, settings, etc., you need to use specified disk imaging utilities.
The best free Windows disk imaging software - AOMEI Backupper Standard can image hard disk in Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, including hidden partitions effortlessly. AOMEI Backupper supports:
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📁Many file systems |
NTFS, FAT32, FAT16, EXT2, EXT3, etc. |
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💾Various storage devices |
External hard disks, solid state drives (SSD), USB flash drives, thumb drives, network attached storage (NAS), hardware RAID, dynamic disks, discs (CD/DVD), etc. |
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🔰Complete backup options |
It is not only a disk image creator of Windows 10, but also an effective backup tool for files/folders, partitions and operating system. |
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💿Bootable media creation |
It enables you to create a bootable media which can boot your computer into WinPE and perform offline system restore. |
Hit the button below to download the free disk image creator:
A free and reliable Windows backup software to protect your system, disks, and files with flexible backup, restore, and cloning features.
For the concise design of AOMEI Backupper, even a computer novice can create a hard disk image in Windows 10 without needing any help. And this is a guarantee for data security in Windows 10 or when you want to upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11 without losing files. Let’s see how it works:
1. To create image backup from a disk, launch the main interface and select Disk Backup under Backup tab.
💡 Note: If you want to create a system image (only OS) in Windows 10, then System Backup is what you need.
2. Click Select Source. In the next window, choose the disk to be backed up and click OK.
3. Select a location to store the disk image file. Although it supports backing up to a critical volume, it’s recommended to keep the backup off-site.
4. View the backup settings. If no problems, click Start Backup to execute the backup. The process won’t affect your current operation.
▪ Options: Email notification, compression level, intelligent sector or sector-by-sector backup, etc.
▪ Schedule: Set the backup task to run automatically based on the Daily, Weekly, Monthly, One Time, and Event triggers modes.
▪ Backup Scheme: Choose full/incremental/differential backup, and create a retention policy for automatic backup cleanup (you need to upgrade to advanced editions to enjoy this feature).
The built-in Backup and Restore, which is inherited from Windows 7, can also help you create a disk image in Windows 10/11. Learn how to use it as follows:
1. Search for "backup" and open Backup settings from the result, then click Go to Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
2. In the pop-up window, click Create a system image to get started.
3. Choose a destination for the disk image, such as external hard drive.
4. It will auto select all the drives required by Windows 10 to run. If you want to create an image of the entire hard disk, just tick all the drives displayed and click Next.
5. Click Start backup to create the disk image.
The operation is not complicated. However, due to the longevity of this tool, you may receive errors during disk image creation, such as:
Therefore, it's recommended to use robust and up-to-date disk imaging program for better efficiency.
Backing up Windows 10 isn’t a one-size-fits-all task. Depending on your goals, you’ll need a slightly different approach. Below are targeted guides to help you choose the right backup method based on your specific situation.
👉 Backup C Drive in Windows 10 (Best for System Protection)
If your primary concern is safeguarding your operating system, applications, and essential files, backing up the C drive is the most direct solution. This method creates a full image of your system partition, allowing you to restore everything exactly as it was in case of system crashes, boot failures, or malware attacks.
👉 Windows 10 Backup to Network Drive (Best for Centralized Storage)
For users who prefer storing backups off their local machine, backing up Windows 10 to a network drive offers flexibility and added security. This approach is especially useful in home offices or business environments where multiple devices share a centralized storage system.
👉 Backup Files to External Hard Drive (Best for Personal Data Safety)
If your goal is to protect important documents, photos, videos, and other personal files, backing up to an external hard drive is one of the simplest and most reliable options. It allows you to keep a physical copy of your data that’s easy to access and restore when needed.
👉 Bare Metal Recovery Backup (Best for Complete Disaster Recovery)
When you need the highest level of protection, a bare metal recovery backup is the way to go. This method allows you to restore your entire system—including OS, settings, applications, and files—to a completely new or blank hard drive, without needing a pre-installed operating system.
1. What is the built-in backup tool for Windows 10?
The built-in backup tools for Windows 10 include Backup and Restore (Windows 7) and File History.
2. How do I schedule automatic backups in Windows 10?
To schedule automatic backups in Windows 10, you can use the schedule option in your backup tool. AOMEI Backupper supports daily, weekly, monthly, one time, and event-triggered backups, while Backup and Restore (Windows 7) doesn’t support scheduling when creating a system image.
3. What do I do if Windows 10 backup fails?
If a Windows 10 backup fails, you can troubleshoot using these steps:
You have learned two ways to create a disk image in Windows 10/11. Compared with Backup and Restore, AOMEI Backupper offers easier steps and more comprehensive backup features. You can use it to run automatic computer backup to external hard drive. Why not try it now?