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Last edited by a moderator: Dec 20, 2021

+1 for Macrium Reflect. My first test is always to boot from a new restored drive and for whatever reason I had more success with Macrium than with Acronis, maybe I've missed some secret setting, dunno...

 

macOS <cough> Keep up with the times!

I think it's called MAC ID, meaning machine ID, on both platforms.
Yes, I know the thread is about WiN.

 

Late to the party, but I do that even for different PCs. I personally use Aomei Backupper.
All those (advanced) system-backup applications have an option to restore to a different hardware. Works really well, been doing it forever.
That doesn't mean it works perfect all the times. But it's so fast and easy doesn't hurt to do it first.
The hardware-id activation as mentioned is a problem, but it's unavoidable.

 

Last edited: Dec 17, 2021

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Last edited by a moderator: Dec 20, 2021

That's right, because the Ethernet (LAN) Mac address is the only sure unique ID a PC has.
It's not the only hardware data used with protections but it's always a part of it.

 

Chiming in to give a +1 to Macrium Reflect. I've first used it to transition between an HDD to SATA SSD in 2016, and then recently started using it for real after I built a new PC with an NVMe. The same system has been running since Windows 8 released and is fully updated to the latest Win10 build and cloned twice between machines, and Macrium did the job gracefully. Everything still runs like new (mostly because I take good care of it!).

Since then, I've been making monthly backups (images) from the system. Zero things to complain about the software, it even comes with a pretty handy bootable tool that can save your ass if you can't boot anymore but needs to restore a backup or fix your boot.

 

Desktop, decent specs - I expect to get at least another five years out of the configuration.

 

Same on macOS. It's the physical address.
But that's what I've always used with keygens on both platforms.
Machine ID is Machine ID, on both WiN and Mac.
MAC ID.

 

MAC Address (what I think Digitalix is maybe thinking of) isn't the same as Machine ID / Device ID. Machine ID and Device ID are synonymous. Windows refers to it as "Device ID" if you look in About (ex. right click start button, pick system). In the registry, however, it refers to it as MachineID (see HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SQMClient). Anytime you re-install windows you get a new ID. It's a long hexadecimal string... 32 hex digits, I believe.

MAC Address refers to the unique 12 hexadecimal digit string identifying your network card (and of course how one device is recognized on a network, prior to IP being assigned). This won't change unless your network adapter physically changes.

I ran several different keygens trying to find anythign that used an ID of sorts. I found two. One was R2R keygen for Addictive drums, and it used some 12-digit hex value that looked like a MAC address but had nothing to do with MAC Address. I couldn't figure out where that came from. It referred to it as "Computer ID", and I am guessing it maybe derives it from parts of IDs on your PC, but I have no idea.

The next R2R keygen I tried was for DS Audio Thorn, and that one referred to Device ID.

 

I can also recommend Macrium Reflect. I've been using the Home version for over a year on my production laptop and it simply does the job. Incremental backup comes in really handy when you have a growing amount of data so you don't have to create the whole image of a drive from scratch every time you run it.

Besides, I use SyncBackFree for file syncing of my documents, audio collection, pictures, etc., in case something gets lost / damaged and there's no need to reconstruct the entire disk image.

https://www.2brightsparks.com/download-syncbackfree.html

 

First of all, Windows don't work well when you make an image of the whole OS and put it on another PC with another motherboard and components. Always do a clean installation. If the other PC has same chipset and components, it may work well, but one usually upgrades for a better PC, right? That means [5 or more years more advanced PC] so much will be different in your new PC it would take an expert to bring it in a completely stable working order. Actually, often just changing the motherboard will make your PC unstable unless someone knowing Windows really good takes care of it. And I mean *really good*.

How I do it is, and it's the most time saving way, I save all the registry HKLM/Software and HKCM/Software for all the audio stuff, user folder with all the "Roaming" and "Appdata" folders, "My Documents", and the sometimes invisible but incredible relevant "ProgramData" folder. You also have to put the VSTPlugins folder in the same place, of course. Then backup the whole VSTPlugins folder somewhere, too.

After doing all this, depending on which plugins you have installed, in the new OS, some plugins will still need to get registered because they take your network card's MAC serial number, or something else, like a motherboard serial, which is more rare.

I use Acronis True Image to make the image of the OS when needed, but you can just forget that if you're upgrading your PC.

I found this the best and quickest solution to when you have to upgrade your OS. So make "no-install" of your plugins first!

p.s. that's a big difference between Windows and Linux. On Linux you don't have to uninstall and install new drivers for everything because it all just works PnP most of the time, and I mean stuff you've never heard of [generally proper chipset and VGA drivers]. With Linux, it is quite a bit simpler to move on because *everything* is contained within your "Home" folder. Unlike Windows that separate settings to Appdata, Roaming, Registry, and My Documents, Linux puts all that in your Home folder, so you backup your Home folder, install new version of the OS and tell it to use your old Home folder. Easy-peasy. So much for Windows being easier to use.

Cheers!

 

Last edited: Dec 16, 2021

Well, wow !
I didn't expect this amount of answers, and there's so much big people here, I'm like a kid lmao.
I first want to thank you, all, each person who took some time on this topic.

I get it, for the "Back-up Softwares", the ones that leads with you reviews are Acronis, Macrium, AOMEI.
@BEAT16 (thanks for the anwser) I take note for the burning of data on CD, I wouldn't think about it but it seems like a really good additional security. Really good advice.

I took note of every advice, it's always very useful. (Even the MAC adress story lmao)

I realize that I may didn't say enough details on my plan/wish.
To be clear, I don't necessarly want to backup the OS, as I know that it could be problematic on most cases because of Windows stability.
Like you could see on my first post, my real fear is the gigantic amount of VSTs as programs.
Tbh I've already start a sorting strategy, at least as much as I can, because I build some insane collection of everything, its almost a disease.
My strategy is to sort every plugin that I have and delete de ones I don't really want, (so I'm able to delete like 5% of my VSTs lol) and the ones that I want to keep, I take the installer stuff and cut/paste on my 8To external drive. I also take note of every single VSTs name on my Notion Workspace (extremely versatile productivity software) with name of the manufacturer and name of the VST, just in case I have to reinstall all of them and check the one I really use to download only the necessary stuff.
For my VST main installation process, I always install them on a custom location, on my D:\ because it has more space more usefull as a future external drive when my Laptop will die (easier than my SSD to make it as an external drive). My VSTPlugins folder is in this custom location.
To be precise, my custom location, called "VST" on my D:\, is filled by my "VSTPlugins" folder, my "Kontakt Libs" folder, my "Docs" folder (where I store the plugins when they offers to install somewhere else than to Program Files. TLDR: Folder to make some plugins portable.) and my "SAGE" and "STEAM" folders for Omnisphere.
But at first, even if I want to make my VSTs portable the hard way, install them on "Docs" and not "Program Files" there's always some files installed everywhere to Program Files, Program Data, AppData, Documents, Common Files etc. I guess that's normal with Windows but pretty frustrating. I have all my DLL stored in the "VSTPlugins" folder under "VST" under D:\ but even this, I wanted to store it externally but I'm pretty sure that it'll be useless. Copying DLL on another PC will not make my VST work without installation, and data on Program Files etc.
So like I said I store all my VSTs installer externally, but as you may guess it's really space consuming. My 8To External Drive is already full with almost 4To of Kontakt libs (still waiting for the Rollerball's legendary tutorial on how to properly make a custom minified version of a bank <3), some games and all the VST stuff saved.

My wish was more to find a solution to save some programs (here; VSTs) and only have to launch the image on another PC to install all of them in one time. Like a multi installer. I know it sounds like a fantasy, that's why I asked, I don't even know if this technology exists.
For the Plugin Registration issue, is there a way, or again a software, to collect all the keys maybe ? Because I know you can re-DL a plugin, but I always fear that at the moment I'll want it, maybe it'll be unavailable anywhere, or if I find it, I must download everything just for an included keygen. Like, having to download a ~30Go VST just for a ~20Ko Keygen. And having to do it for many many plugins. That's my fear too. I know we always can DL, but it's time consuming, and drive space consuming. That's why I want to keep all my installers just in case but oh boy what a space it takes...

It's always a pain to reinstall all of your softwares when starting with a new system. So reinstalling plugins is even more a pain lmao.

A tiny part of me is thinking that a fresh start may help to sort VSTs and stuff that I don't really need, that's right.
But the remaining part is thinking that being able to select what you want to save like only your programs and reinstall them in one click somewhere else.
I also for sure will take your advices on backups mostly for my personal files, as it's the more important obviously. I'll try your recommended softwares but don't really need a bootable option I guess. Maybe a separate USB with my OS installation with Rufus (I think I have one somewhere in my room) to boot on it and my backup image will contain mostly my data, documents, DAW projects, presets and al.
I wonder if some of these software could be setup to backup a precise tree of folders, everytime we launch it. Like, I point on every folder location I want, it saves the locations and always save them automaticaly. ?

@Digitalix Thanks a lot for your advices, I'll note all the paths you gave to me, thanks, will be very useful.

Thanks again to litteraly everyone here, thanks for sharing you thoughts and reviews.

Wish y'all the best day, mates !
Cheers !

 

MiniTool Partition Wiz. It is a very good app. You will have cloning and migrating options. Migrating is like cloning to a larger discs. The system boots up flawlessly. But the plugins will be deactivated due to a change hardware in the setup and Machine ID will change. No work around for this. Activating all the plugins is needed.

 

It actually was possible since long time ago.
I was using an image backup sw on a bootable floppy, I don't even remember what it was (mid 90's).

See all the options already posted in this thread or create a bootable key with Strelec Portable Win10 (google it), there are a lot of imaging/backup sw included.
See yt tutorials on how to create the key.

Most of the image backup sw allows to backup specific selected folders to be later restored in the original place or another destination.

Also, many of the mentioned image backup tools run within windows and do not need to be rebooted (e.g. Paragon) in order to BACKUP the entire system/partitions/selected folders.
Of course, if you decide to RESTORE the system partition, reboot will be mandatory.

(Only) for personal files/folders backup you can also use tools like SyncBack.

I added this because you asked these features too.

 

Last edited: Dec 17, 2021

hjk,

 

Last edited: Aug 12, 2022

Ok... lol
I would use my go-to uninstall application "Total Uninstall". The best uninstall tools (Revo is another) search every installation changes beyond the official uninstaller. Files, registry entries and so on.
Total Uninstaller has, on top of that, a very powerful feature. You can backup an app or several apps together besides uninstalling them. And then restore them on another computer.

It's what many people including me use to make those "no install" version. There're other methods.

 

Hey thanks a lot, I'll add this app to the list, and I'll try it for sure !

 

Well that's a genuine method, I'll try it. That's pretty much the "app back-up" that I wanted. But still have to try it.
Thanks a lot mate !
Wish you the best day !

 

MAN. That's really a huge help.
Thanks a lot mate.
And don't worry, I'm not finding this harsh and I'm feeling the tough love as you call it lmao.
I know that it sounded fantasised, you know, at same time I was typing the message I was finding myself a bit ridiculous. But I was just thinking "Meh, let's try to question it, nothing to loose".

I get you with the fact that even with a huge message, I'm not very precise as I don't know my topic. Even if I'm here for that, I must know a bit or at least have tried some of these programs to compare, and come again to you with specific question. And I hope I didn't bother some of you.

I'm amazed by your empathy with the fact that I really don't know what I'm talking about, and that I am like a kid living in a fantasy world as you said lmao. That's really benevolent. And I don't find meanness in your message.

Also maybe the fact that I don't speak english very very well impacts me with the spelling of my request but I guess I'm understandable for the most part. The big issue really comes by my ignorence on the topic.

Really want to try the things you suggested. And will come back to you soon.
Thanks a lot, you're amazingly pedagogue.

Wish you the best day, mate !
And merry christmas too !