02-25-2026, 12:31 AM
I always use imaging, period. Even if I'm just replacing a disk for a newer one. If I had a need for quickest restore to service method, I'd consider a clone but a typical, non-business user can easily afford a few extra minutes.
A clone is putting all your eggs in one backup basket. It is definitely not impossible to find the disk with your clone on it has developed a problem with the data like a bad cluster and won't restore. With images you can see if an older one one the disk is good.
@Froggie has listed the advantages of having images over a clone copy.
I don't know everybody's requirements, but I make way more images than I do restores, this is another reason to ignore the time factor.
A clone is putting all your eggs in one backup basket. It is definitely not impossible to find the disk with your clone on it has developed a problem with the data like a bad cluster and won't restore. With images you can see if an older one one the disk is good.
@Froggie has listed the advantages of having images over a clone copy.
I don't know everybody's requirements, but I make way more images than I do restores, this is another reason to ignore the time factor.