What is a Disk Imaging Software?
A disk image is an accurate copy of a storage device, e.g., a hard drive or a memory stick, that saves the content/data and its whole structure. Such a document is a single ISO image file. Disk images might be compiled in the form of a virtual hard disk (VHD), system backup, disk cloning, CD or DVD burning, the system’s portable version, etc. Disk image software could be convenient for personal and business use; for example, you want to replace an old hard drive with dozens of applications, systems settings with a new drive.
Disk imaging provides the user with a replica of data and computer systems needed in case of a catastrophic disk crash where the user needs to recover systems or data. The primary use of disk imaging software is to provide quick and easy back-ups of computer software and data stored on hard disks.
Importance of Disk Imaging Software
List of Best Disk Imaging Software
When you start looking for the best disk imaging software, it is easy to get overwhelmed with the list of options available. Here is the handpicked list of disk imaging software to choose as per your requirement:
1. Paragon Hard Disk Manager
Hard Disk Manager software is an excellent choice if you require to control your disk space and change it. This program also does an excellent job of creating disk images and system backups. Allows users to manage their disks’ size, change them, adjust the amount of memory, and create new additional partitions – a very convenient feature if you have problems with free disk space. Also, the program has excellent functionality and good speed.
Key Features
- Image Backup Space control
- Compression & File Splitting
- File Exclusion & Encryption
- File and system recovery
- Understandable interface and a detailed set of functions
To know more about Paragon Hard Disk Manager Software features and product options, click here to continue.
2. Macrium Reflect
Macrium Reflect software is the best option if you require an excellent application for creating disk images, backing up data, and cloning data. The program also supports backup on local, network, and USB drives. The program shows good speed when cloning files, creating disk images and restoring backup data. Using Macrium Reflect software, you can backup whole partitions or individual folders and files into a single compressed mountable archive file. Users can create an exact image of partitions on a hard disk for easy hard disk upgrade or system recovery.
Key Features
- The main window is simple and straightforward to understand
- Direct disk cloning
- Ransomware protection
- Creates a reliable and accurate image of a hard disk or the partitions on the drive
- Non-booting System Restore
To know more about Macrium Reflect Disk Imaging Software features and product options, click here to continue.
3. AOMEI Backupper
Backup, sync, restore, and clone a Windows system with a straightforward backup tool by AOMEI. An all-in-one data recovery solution for computers that performs all types of backups (automatic, full, incremental, differential). It also provides real-time file/folder synchronization from the source to the target path, whether you need HDD to SSD, HDD to HDD, SSD to SSD, or any data migration task.
AOMEI Backupper software is a full-scale backup program. Provides basic and advanced features to ensure Windows PC and Windows Server systems and data safety. AOMEI Backupper works on Windows 10, Windows 8.1/8, Windows 7, Vista, and XP.
Key Features
- Event triggering for automatic backup
- Files & Folders Synchronization
- NAS Knowledge Base
- Dissimilar Hardware Restore
- Multiple system support and web access/restoration
To know more about AOMEI Backupper Disk Imaging Software features and product options, click here to continue.
4. R-Drive Image
R-Drive Image provides quick and high-quality disk imaging. The disk image file/data contains an accurate byte copy of the hard disk or partition. It can be created with different degrees of compression in the background. During standard operation, your PC.R-Drive Image has all the necessary functionality and capabilities required for applications of this type. These drive image files can be stored in various places, including various removable media such as CD-R(W)/DVD, Zip or Jazz disks, etc.
Key Features
- Access to individual files and folders stored in an image file
- Multiple backup media format support
- Time and space-saving
- Separate files can be restored from images
- Images can be generated for storage devices with removable media
To know more about R-Drive Image Software features and product options, click here to continue.
5. Acronis True Image
Acronis True Image is a popular application for creating disk cloning, disk images with broad functionality, and a user-friendly interface. The app is continuously updated and adapted to market realities, expanding its potential and complementing it with new features. This program is well-designed; it works quickly and does not overload the computer when creating copies or disk images.
Acronis True Image is leading backup software, disaster recovery, and secure data access provider to consumers, enterprises, and small-medium businesses. Acronis solutions include physical, virtual, cloud server backup software, secure file sharing, storage management, and system deployment.
Key Features
- Detection of crypto mining malware
- Back up all the contents of a hard drive to a single compressed file
- Creates a differential or incremental image
- Cloud storage option
To know more about Acronis True Image Software features and product options, click here to continue.
6. Iperius Drive Image Backup
Iperius Drive Image Backup is an application that allows you to forget about the problems linked with the system’s data loss. Iperius Backup allows you to create a disk image of the system or data that will automatically restore it with few clicks and minimal data/file loss. The application can also perform automatic backups of the individual files or system and save it on the device and the cloud resources, with 256-bit encryption.
Iperius Backup Software creates the drive image in the Windows standard format in VHDX or VHD files. These files can be opened to recover individual data, mounted as a standard hard drive, and restore the entire system after a crash.
Key Features
- Individual files restore option
- Iperius is an efficient and straightforward software to protect PCs and Servers fully
- Allows to keep several disk images
- Complete BitLocker support (backup and restore)
To know more about Iperius Drive Image Backup Software features and product options, click here to continue.
7. SmartDeploy
SmartDeploy is an excellent application and different in functionality from other programs. The program uses a modern approach to creating images and disk cloning, which improves the speed and quality of these functions. The program concentrates more on narrow specialization and does not attempt to cover all the features of applications of this type. This program is intended more for general office use.
Key Features
- Compliance management and customization reporting
- Provides real-time reporting and real-time updates
- Creates a single image for Windows devices and stores it on the cloud
- It uses wizards to simplify its management
To know more about SmartDeloy Disk Imaging Software features and product options, click here to continue.
8. EaseUS Todo Backup
EaseUS Todo Backup is software that manages tasks reliably and quickly. The program copes with its primary functions – the creation of disk images and backup copies. When generating a disk image, you can use different disk partitioning methods: GPT and (MBR). This software application is ideal for those seeking disk imaging soft for mac, os, given that its primary functionality remains consistently high.
EaseUS data backup makes you reliable data protection with disk imaging technology. Create backup tasks on schedule, automatically run to create copies, and restore everything instantly, free data backup and reinstalling the software, backup your system, file, and partition.
Key Features
- Windows and Mac compatibility
- Email notification, pre/post-command, offsite copy, file exclusion
- Restores everything fast from backup copies, ensuring your data is always available
- Schedule backup upon time & event
To know more about EaseUp Todo Backup Software features and product options, click here to continue.
9. ManageEngine OS Deployer
ManageEngine OS Deployer allows you can automate the disk imaging and deployment process, save you both time and effort, and eliminate possible errors from the manual deployment of OSs, drivers, and configurations. ManageEngine OS Deployer generates an exact disk image of the given system, including configuration files, standard format, the operating system, and all applications that can be deployed to multiple systems simultaneously, making it ideal for rapid bare-metal provisioning.
Key Features
- Provides deployment templates for various departments/roles that enable easy deployment
- Allows automatically provision of dissimilar hardware using a single image
- Centralized disk image capturing
- Also allows flexible OS deployment options, including Scheduled Deployment, Manual Deployment, Event-Driven Deployment
To know more about ManageEngine OS Deployer Disk Imaging Software features and product options, click here to continue.
10. Active@ Disk Image
Active@ Disk Image software creates a replica of any PC disk (USB, CD, HDD, SSD, Blu-ray, DVD, etc.) and stores it in a folder. The disk images may be used for backups, PC upgrades, or disk duplication purposes. In case of computer failure or corruption, a backup image may be used to recover your computer system or find and restore any necessary files from within an image.
Key Features
- Create incremental images to reduce backup size
- Schedule disk image to run at a specific time for convenience and automation
- Mount images as virtual drives for secure backup browsing
- Automatic image verification after creating and use various levels of data compression
To know more about Active@ Disk Image Software features and product options, click here to continue.
Types of Disk Imaging
- File backup: Used to make restoration possible. A vital function when a user has to take care of some folders/parts/files’ security, but not the entire disk. This option is usually found in disk imaging programs, which is not surprising because it is similar to what is needed to create disk images, but on a smaller scale.
- Boot disk option: Allows creating a device to boot a disk image. Since the disk image usually takes up a lot of space, it is generally saved on external resources for data security and convenience. This program enables users to create a “boot disk” out of external devices, which, when connected automatically, will allow them to restore data.
- Cloud backup: Enables uploading data/files to cloud resources. Since a disk image usually needs a lot of space, it is common to store it on third party resources for the practicality’s purpose. It is also essential that data be saved even if the system is physically malfunctioning to move it to another device/system. Some disk imaging software tools offer access to own cloud servers for an additional payment.
- Encryption: While creating a disk image is using encryption methods to protect data from intruders. It is made possible via a password that is added to access a disk. This function is also essential when there is an option for transferring data to external resources so that no one could interfere during the process.
- Scheduling: Intended for creating updated versions of disk images regularly, or according to user’s preferences. To get the latest versions of a disk, you can set creating or updating (for existing image). A user specifies the date or day of the week when the program will automatically update. The task is to decrease the chance of data loss to a minimum.
Conclusion
With the uprise of virus and hacking technologies and the overall broadening of PC functionality, security concerns have become even more critical. Various viruses can damage or destroy your system, which can lead to its malfunction or complete collapse. During such situations, we can use disk imaging software that will provide restoring data/files, with all the settings and programs stored, with minimal data failure or even without it. Disk imaging software also enables you to create media storage that can later be applied to unpack, extract, and restore a backup, even if the system or computer does not boot from its disk. Usually, they are CDs or flash drives.
