Complete Backup Guide 2024: What Are Disk Images and How to Create Them

I. Overview: What is a Disk Image?

A disk image is an exact replica of a disk or a partition. It is often used for backup purposes. When you create a disk image, you take a snapshot of the entire disk or partition. This means that all disk data and structural information are included at the time of imaging. This can be very useful if you need to restore your system to a previous state, as all the data will be exactly as it was when the image was taken.

Disk images can also be used to create virtual machines. An image can be loaded into a virtual hard disk (VHD) like those used by VMware or VirtualBox, and it will behave just like a real hard drive. This is great for testing or running software that's incompatible with your host operating system.

History of disk imaging

Disk images have been around for a long time. One of the earliest disk image formats was the Compressed Image Format (CIF), developed by Microsoft in the early 1990s. CIF was used by Microsoft's DoubleSpace disk compression utility, which was bundled with MS-DOS 6.0.

In 1996, with the release of Mac OS 8.0, Apple introduced the Apple Disk Image format. Apple disk image files typically have a filename extension of ".dmg" and are still in use on macOS; they can also be opened on Windows with third-party software to access the disk images created by Apple.

The most common disk image format is ISO 9660, also known as CD-ROM or CDFS. ISO 9660 images are used to store data found on optical discs like CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs. ISO images can be created with most CD burning software and can be opened on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Advantages of Disk Images

As floppy disks and external hard drives evolved, more users resorted to creating disk images as a troubleshooting and prevention measure. Disk imaging is most commonly used for system backups and computer deployment. In this text, we will delve into both aspects:

System Backup:

A regular file backup only backs up user files when backing up computer data. These files do not include boot information and files locked by the operating system. However, a disk image contains all the files, duplicating all data information, including file attributes and fragmentation status. Therefore, disk images are typically used to back up an operating system and for a one-time System Image Recovery after a system crash or computer startup issues.

Software distribution/deployment:

For small or medium-sized businesses, one quick and easy way to distribute and install software and systems is through disk image deployment. You configure one master computer, create an image of that source machine, and then deploy that image to multiple networked devices. This means you can set up a fleet of computers all at once, saving time and effort.

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II. Disk Images vs. Disk Clones: What's the Difference?

As you may have learned from the previous article, disk images are often used for backup purposes. Aside from this, disk cloning is another way to back up data. So, what's the difference between disk imaging and disk cloning?

First, let's explain what disk cloning is.

Disk cloning is similar to imaging, in that it creates an identical copy of a disk or partition. It can be used for data backup just like an image, but it can't be used to create a virtual machine. In addition to backing up data, disk cloning is often used to upgrade a disk. If you want to move from an old HDD to a new SSD without reinstalling your system or losing data, disk cloning is the way to go.

The main difference between disk imaging and disk cloning lies in the fact that disk imaging creates an image file, while disk cloning directly copies all data to another disk. An image file is a compressed read-only file, whereas a disk clone is an exact replica of the original disk, including unused space. You can access cloned files at any time. Therefore, if you want to make an identical copy of a disk or partition for backup purposes, disk cloning is a better option.

The table above outlines the differences between disk imaging and disk cloning. If you're unfamiliar with these terms, this comparison will help you visualize which one you need to perform.

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III. User Guide: How to Create a Disk Image in Windows 10/11

Now that we've explained what a disk image is and the difference between a disk image and a clone, let's show you how to create one on Windows 10/11. For regular data like desktop documents or personal files, you can simply copy and paste them to an external drive or upload and sync them to a cloud drive for backup.

If you are creating a backup image, we recommend that you back up your system drive or entire disk to an external storage device, such as a USB. This way, in case of system failure or computer damage, you have the chance to restore all the data on the disk.

Both Windows built-in and third-party backup tools allow you to create a system image. However, if you want to create a disk image of a non-system disk, Windows won't help you out. You'll need to use a third-party backup software. In this part, we'll take creating a system image as an example, so whether you want to back up your system drive or other local disks, you can find the solution in this article.

#1. Create a disk image using built-in Windows tools

The tool Microsoft provides for users to create system images is called Backup and Restore (Windows 7). As you might guess from the name, this tool was first introduced with Windows 7. It's still available in both the most common version, Windows 10, and the latest, Windows 11. Follow the guide below to see how to use Windows Backup and Restore (Windows 7) to create a system disk image.

Preparations:

Step 1: Open the Control Panel and click on "Backup and Restore" under "System and Security" (Windows 7).

Step 2. First, set up the backup, or click “Create a system image” on the left.

Step 3: Here, you need to choose the location to save the backup. You should select your external hard drive as the backup destination. Connect the prepared USB drive to your computer.

Step 4. Click “Next,” and you will need to select the disk you wish to back up. Here, “Backup and Restore” will default to the system partition.

Step 5: In the next screen, review your backup settings. Check the location and the contents of the backup, then click “Start backup” to begin creating the Windows system image.

When it's done, you'll have an ISO image of your system on the USB drive. Keep this file around, and plug in the USB drive whenever you need to restore your system.

#2. Create a Disk Image with Backup Software - Todo Backup Tool

Another tool you can use is third-party backup software. Most backup software works similarly to Windows Backup and Restore. After the backup is complete, you'll get an image file. The image files created by different backup software have different file extensions, which means you can only restore them with the software that created the backup image.

One noticeable advantage of using a third-party backup program over the built-in Windows backup tool is that it simplifies the backup operation, making it very easy. So, even if you have never created a disk image before, a third-party app will guide you through the first steps. Here, we take Todo Backup as an example to show you how simple and convenient it is to create a disk image (for both system and data disks).

Step 1: Run Todo Backup on your computer and click “Create Backup” on the main interface. Then, click the big question-mark button to select what you want to back up.

Step 2. To back up your Windows operating system, click "OS" to start the backup task.

Step 3: Windows and all system-related files and partitions are selected automatically, so you don't need to choose them manually. Next, click on the area as shown below to choose where you want to save your System Image Backup.

Step 4. The backup location can be another local drive on your computer, an external hard drive, a network, the cloud, or a NAS. Typically, we recommend using an external physical drive or the cloud to store your system image files.

Step 5. If interested, click the Options button to customize settings like enabling daily, weekly, monthly or event-based automatic backup schedules, and performing differential and incremental backups. Click "Backup Now" and the Windows system backup process will begin. Completed tasks will be displayed as cards on the left.

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IV. How to Create a Disk Image on a Mac

If you're a Mac user who also wants to create disk images, there's a built-in Mac utility called Disk Utility. In this section, we'll focus on how to create a disk image on a Mac. Follow the step-by-step guide below to see how to use Disk Utility on your Mac.

Step 1: Open Disk Utility on your Mac and start it up. Click File > New Image > Blank Image.

Step 2: Type in a name for the disk image, add a description if you want, and choose where to save it. This is the name that will appear in the Finder before you mount the disk image file to open it.

Step 3. Next, enter a name for the disk image in the Name field.

Step 4: Enter the size of the disk image in the Size window.

Step 5: Choose your disk format here; click the “Format” pop-up menu:

• If the disk will be used for Mac: Choose “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)” or “Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive, Journaled).” • If the disk will be used for both Windows and Mac, and it's 32 GB or smaller: Choose “MS-DOS (FAT).” • If the disk will be used for both Windows and Mac, and it's larger than 32 GB: Choose “ExFAT.” • You can also choose to encrypt the disk image on a Mac.

Then you can proceed to partition and format the disk image as instructed.

Step 1. Click on the "Partition" menu and select a partition layout.

Step 2. Click on the "Image Format" menu, and choose one of the following options. We'll explain what each one does below.

• Sparse bundle: Similar to a sparse image, but the directory data is stored differently. Uses the .sparsebundle file extension.
• Sparse disk image: Creates an expandable file that grows and shrinks as needed. Doesn't use extra space. Uses the .sparseimage file extension.
• Read/write: Can add files to the disk image after creation. Uses the .dmg file extension.
• DVD/CD master: Resizes the image to 177 MB (for an 8-cm CD). Uses the .cdr file extension.

Step 3: Save your settings and click “Finish”.

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A Guide on How to Clone Mac Hard Drive

This article introduces Mac cloning software to clone Mac hard drive to SSD without re-installing the operating system and applications. It's a secure, complete, and user-friendly way to upgrade or replace your Mac hard drive with a new HDD/SSD and create a bootable Mac disk.

Ⅴ. Recommended Disk Imaging Tools: The Best Disk Imaging Backup Software

Disk imaging is incredibly useful and has been widely employed for computer disk backups. So, what disk imaging backup software can you use to better protect your disk data? Here are some disk imaging backup tools for Windows that can help you create disk images effortlessly and conveniently.

#1. Todo Backup - Best Windows Disk Imaging Backup Software

Tool Todo Backup is a disk imaging software that offers disk/file/system backup, disk recovery, disk cloning, and partition cloning features to ensure data safety. It allows you to create a disk image on your Windows computer with just a few simple steps. One reason users choose Tool Todo Backup is its user-friendliness. According to review articles and user feedback, Tool Todo Backup has a straightforward interface that makes learning to use the software a breeze. Another reason we recommend this tool is its ability to restore backup files within minutes while maintaining file paths. So, if you create a system disk image using Tool Todo Backup, when restoring it on another computer, all file paths will be preserved.

#2. Acronis True Image Cyber Protection Home Edition

Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office (previously called Acronis True Image) is software that combines disk imaging with file backup tools. It works on several operating systems and also includes anti-malware features. As an industry leader, Acronis was one of the first to offer cloud backup. They host their own cloud servers and have developed both mobile and PC software so users can access their backups from anywhere. However, this comes at a premium, as Acronis Cyber Protect is much more expensive than many similar programs.

#3. Paragon Backup and Recovery Free Edition

The only backup software from the list that lacks online backup capabilities is Paragon Backup and Recovery Free. However, Paragon Backup and Recovery outshines its competitors when it comes to user guides. You can quickly get the hang of Paragon Backup and Recovery, even if you're a beginner, thanks to its comprehensive user manual.

#4. Windows Backup and Restore (Windows 7)

Windows Backup and Restore, introduced in Windows 7, is a built-in tool that lets users create system images and system recovery disks. In Windows 10 and 11, Backup and Restore is more of an optional choice for backup purposes.

The upside of Windows Backup and Restore is that it's entirely free and can meet basic backup needs. However, its limitations are also noticeable. It only supports backing up a limited type of files and data, and lacks other backup options like incremental or differential backup.

Translating from English to Chinese involves taking content expressed in American English and rendering it in Chinese, be it sentences, paragraphs, articles, or any textual form. For example, the translation of this famous American English quote by Forrest Gump: "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get." Into Mandarin Chinese would be: "生活就像一盒巧克力，你永远不知道你会得到什么。" (Shēng huó jiù xiàng yī hé qiǎo kǒu lì, nǐ yǒng yuǎn bù zhī dào ni会 dé dào shén me.)

Bottom line

Disk imaging is quite useful for disk backup and recovery. This article mainly discusses what a disk image is and how to create a disk image on Windows and Mac. If you want to use disk imaging software to back up your disk data, here we recommend 4 best disk imaging backup software for Windows - Todo Backup, Acronis True Image, Paragon Backup and Recovery Free, and Windows Backup and Restore. You can choose the suitable one according to your needs.