Drive Snapshot

Free trial Windows

What Drive Snapshot is

Drive Snapshot is Windows software for creating, restoring, and viewing hard-disk images. It can capture a disk while Windows remains running, allowing other work to continue. The maker says each image reflects the computer’s data when backup starts, even if Windows keeps changing files. Image files can go to local, network, or removable drives, and differential images are supported. Users can mount an image as a virtual drive to browse, compare, or recover individual files without restoring the entire disk. A complete disk restore is described as byte-for-byte, while system-partition recovery requires DOS or Windows PE. Supported filesystems include Windows FAT16, FAT32, NTFS, and ReFS, plus Linux EXT2/3/4, Reiser, and XFS. Command-line controls automate backup and recovery, including SFTP destinations, network shares, and password-based or public-key encryption. It offers bootable recovery media and can run without installation. Administrative rights are required. The 30-day trial has no other restrictions, then backup stops without a license.

Who it suits

It suits Windows users and administrators planning regular backup or disaster-recovery tasks. Its live imaging, file-level recovery, automation, and broad filesystem support fit mixed backup needs.

What it does well

Creates images while Windows stays usable
Mounts images for individual file recovery
Supports local, network, removable, and SFTP destinations
Offers differential images and image encryption
Provides command-line automation and bootable recovery media

What to know first

No free plan
Administrative rights are required
ARM64 system recovery requires Windows PE
30-day trial stops backing up afterward

Verdict

Drive Snapshot combines live disk imaging with full and file-level recovery, automation, encryption, and several storage destinations. Windows users should note the paid-only model and the special Windows PE requirement for ARM64 system restoration.

Facts from Drive Snapshot's own pages

ARM recovery limit: For the native ARM64 version, restoring the system partition requires booting from Windows PE because recovery during restart is unavailable. · drivesnapshot.de, 10 Oct 2026
Automation: A command-line interface supports scripted backups, restores, image checks, and mounting images as virtual drives. · drivesnapshot.de, 11 Oct 2026
Backup destinations: The backup image can be saved to local, network, or removable drives. · drivesnapshot.de, 11 Oct 2026
Consistent images: The maker says the image reflects the computer’s data at the start of backup, even while Windows continues writing to disk. · drivesnapshot.de, 10 Oct 2026
Encryption: The command-line options support password-protected images and public-key-based encryption. · drivesnapshot.de, 11 Oct 2026
File recovery: A disk image can be mounted as a virtual drive so users can browse, compare, or restore individual files without restoring the whole image. · drivesnapshot.de, 10 Oct 2026
Filesystem support: The product lists Windows FAT16, FAT32, NTFS, and ReFS filesystems and Linux EXT2/3/4, Reiser, and XFS support. · drivesnapshot.de, 10 Oct 2026
Founded: 2000 · drivesnapshot.de, 28 Sept 2026
Full restore: The maker says restoring a disk to its original state reproduces it byte for byte; restoring a system partition requires DOS or Windows PE. · drivesnapshot.de, 10 Oct 2026
Image destinations: Image files can be saved to local drives, network drives, or removable drives. · drivesnapshot.de, 10 Oct 2026
Image explorer: Saved images can be mounted as virtual drives so users can view, compare, or restore files without restoring the whole image. · drivesnapshot.de, 11 Oct 2026
Installation: The program can run without installation, and the maker also offers a conventional installer. · drivesnapshot.de, 11 Oct 2026
Integrations: The command-line options include backup to SFTP servers and connections to network shares. · drivesnapshot.de, 11 Oct 2026
Intended users: The maker describes the product as aimed at backup and disaster recovery, and says on-the-fly backup is useful for end users protecting their data regularly. · drivesnapshot.de, 11 Oct 2026
Live backup: It can create disk images while Windows is running, including on servers that must stay online. · drivesnapshot.de, 11 Oct 2026
Platform requirement: The current product page lists Windows versions from XP through Windows 11 and Windows Server versions through 2025, as well as Windows PE; administrative rights are required. · drivesnapshot.de, 10 Oct 2026
Purpose: Drive Snapshot backs up, restores, and lets users view backed-up hard-disk data. · drivesnapshot.de, 11 Oct 2026
Requirements and limits: Administrative rights are required, and restoring an ARM64 system partition requires starting from Windows PE. · drivesnapshot.de, 11 Oct 2026
SFTP: Version 1.50 added support for backing up to an SFTP server. · drivesnapshot.de, 10 Oct 2026
Trial: The trial version has approximately 30 days of use and then stops backing up; the maker says there are no other trial restrictions. · drivesnapshot.de, 11 Oct 2026

Where Drive Snapshot stands on Freedom251

Disk Imaging Software#24 of 30