5 Best Free Windows 10 Imaging Software [Updated 2024]

What Is Windows Imaging Software?

Imaging software falls under the category of backup software. It enables you to create backups of everything on your PC, including the operating system, personal data, files, and more, to be reused in case the original content is lost or damaged. This software also facilitates making a backup image of an SSD, proving to be practical and convenient for users.

Moreover, imaging software can assist in restoring an image to the original drive or a new one. The files created by imaging software can be compressed to save storage space. An image can be stored on the same drive that was imaged; however, for added safety in case of a catastrophic failure of the source drive, it's recommended to store the image on a separate drive.

Why Do You Need Windows 10 Imaging Software?

The rapid evolution of computers has bestowed countless conveniences upon us; however, it has also presented challenges for computer users, such as system crashes or ransomware attacks, which can result in significant data loss or damage to the machines.

In such situations, it becomes essential to safeguard our data on a computer. Imaging software proves invaluable in preventing data loss or damage and the need to reinstall the operating system and other applications. Windows 10 imaging software enables users to backup and restore data on their computers conveniently.

Imaging software can aid in preventing data loss or damage resulting from a ransomware attack, system malfunction, or system collapse.

Top 5 Imaging Software for Windows 10 Computer Backup

As the saying goes, "Nobody is perfect," and this applies to imaging backup software as well. There will inevitably be some limitations in their backup capabilities. To assist you, I have compiled a list of the top five best free imaging software options available. Here they are:

1. Top Tool: Todo Backup Free

Todo Backup Free is a comprehensive and user-friendly backup software. It lets you create system backups, disk backups, file backups, and more, even if you're not tech-savvy. This free backup software comes with plenty of features to cover all your backup needs.

Available platforms: Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP/Vista

Highlighted features:

• User-friendly interface. Backing up your computer is a breeze with just a few straightforward steps.
• Multiple storage pathways. This feature enables you to store your backups in various locations, including local drives, NAS devices, secure zones, and cloud storage.
• Packed with advanced functions. It can comprehensively back up all aspects of your computer, including the operating system, software applications, files, and partitions.
• Versatile backup modes. You have the option to create different types of backups, such as full, incremental, and differential backups, using this backup utility.

How to backup data on your computer using this free imaging software.

Step 1. Choose Backup Contents

On the main window, click the big question mark button to select backup contents. You can choose to back up individual files, entire disk or partition, operating system and emails.

Step 2. Choose Security Zone as Backup Destination

When choosing a backup location, you'll see the option for a Security Zone. Click on it and use it as your backup destination.

However, if you're the first to use the Security Zone feature, Todo Backup will prompt you to create one. Click "Create Security Zone".

Select a partition with enough free space for your backups, then click "Continue".

You can adjust the partition size for the secure zone. Click "Create" to complete the process.

Step 3. Execute the backup task

Click "Backup Now" to initiate the backup process. Your backups of the operating system, files, drives, and emails in the Secure Zone will be fully protected from being accessed or corrupted by viruses, ransomware, and trojans.

Top 2. Iperius Backup

Iperius Backup is a backup software equipped with functionalities such as disk imaging, file copying, and incremental and differential backups. This software enables users to create backups to cloud services, including OneDrive and Google Drive, making it an excellent backup solution for businesses. However, it is important to note that Iperius Backup is exclusive to the Windows operating system.

Available platform: Windows 10/8/7

Highlighted features:

• It can help copy an entire disk image.
• It can create incremental and differential backups.
• It has centralized management (Iperius Console).
• It can automatically back up to cloud storage.

Top 3. Active Disk Image

Active Disk Image is a free disk imaging software that allows you to create clones of disk images and partitions. Its user interface is straightforward to navigate, albeit slightly outdated.

Available platform: Windows 10/8.1/8/7/XP

Highlighted features:

• It features a scheduled backup option.
• It supports incremental and differential backups, but you'll need to upgrade to the Standard version for approximately $39.
• It provides a log report that lists detailed actions taken during the backup process.
• It enables cloning of disk images and partitions.

Top 4. Barracuda Intronis Backup

Barracuda Intronis Backup is a cloud-based service combined with software for managing backups and restoration. It provides an extensive range of backup solutions, catering well to small and mid-sized businesses. You can initiate a 14-day free trial to test the software before committing.

Available platforms: Windows/Mac/Linux

Highlighted features:

• It offers four backup options.
• It possesses a system for creating both local and remote backups.
• It can create an image of a disk or a server.
• It provides cloud storage space for backup plans.

Top 5. Clonezilla

Clonezilla is an open-source disk cloning software that enables users to backup and restore their systems. It facilitates bare-metal recovery, which means it can recreate an exact copy of your system onto new hardware. Clonezilla comes in three editions: Clonezilla Live, Clonezilla Lite Server, and Clonezilla SE (Server Edition).

Available platforms: Windows/Mac/Linux

Highlighted features:

• It can assist in creating system backups.
• It enables bare-metal recovery.
• It can clone up to 40 computers simultaneously (using Clonezilla Lite Server or Clonezilla SE).

Tools Todo Backup: Highly Recommended Windows 10 Imaging Software

There is no disputing the fact that Todo Backup ranks among the top free imaging software options. Its user-friendly interface enables effortless creation and restoration of backups, ensuring that you can promptly safeguard your computer data in case of a system failure. With just a few clicks, it can create an image of your computer, and it also offers the convenience of automatically backing up SSD to HDD. It caters equally well to both free users and home users.

In short, Todo Backup is undoubtedly a great imaging tool for Windows 10.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. What does imaging mean in the context of a computer?

Computer imaging refers to the process of creating a digital replica or image of an operating system (OS) installed on a computer. This imaging process is crucial for the deployment and management of OSes. By using PC imaging software, you can capture an exact copy of the OS, including all its applications, settings, and data, which can then be easily duplicated onto multiple computers or used as a backup for restoration purposes. This helps in streamlining the setup and maintenance of computer systems in various environments, such as corporate networks or educational institutions.

2. What are the drawbacks of using imaging software?

Imaging takes a lot of time.

Imaging refers to the process of creating a digital copy or representation of a large amount of data from one location to another, typically for the purpose of backup, preservation, or migration. This involves capturing the entire contents of a storage device, such as a hard drive, and storing it in a format that can be easily transferred and accessed later. The goal is to create an archive that accurately reflects the original data, ensuring its integrity and availability for future use.

An image is a huge file.

The imaging file contains all the data from the target computer or every single file.

3. Does Windows 10 come with imaging software?

There are some tried-and-true imaging tools available in Windows 10, such as File History and Backup & Restore (Windows 7). You can utilize the backup utility to create a backup of your entire system and restore it if faced with a system crash or hard disk failure.

What is the distinction between cloning and imaging?

Cloning involves copying the complete data from one drive to another, resulting in a precise and straightforward duplicate. In contrast, imaging is the process of creating an archived copy of a drive's entire contents as a compressed file, which is then stored on a different drive.