What program can I use to backup and restore a hard drive that actually works without my having to be a computer expert?

Can you provide more details on how Acronis didn't work on restore?

We use free software named Redo to create and restore backup images.  It has always worked well for us.  https://sourceforge.net/projects/redobackup/

The problems is, you DO NOT restore a whole working computer WHILE it's running already in Windows.
If you wish to restore when Windows is already running, you should only restore files like Word/Excel documents.
If you wish the restore the FULL SYSTEM, use a boot USB/CD, and restore from the started backup program (which is NOT your own windows system).

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Acronis was unable to find an OS.

I did not try to do a restore while in Windows.   Ii tried to do a restore using the recovery media in each case.   Sorry if I did not make this clear.

In that case, I'm quite puzzled, as I've never seen "files in use" errors ever during 2 decades of restoring images from external boot (yes, indeed, that's Norton Ghost on floppy)

Acronis should work as charm here.. one of best programs you can buy. I would suggest you to take time and make first backup and restore with some guide on youtube or some pdf file. After that everything should work for you.

Veeam Backup is a good backup and reliable tool.

Thanks for your reply, DoctorK12008, but sadly it doesn't bring more clarity to the situation. Disk/partition restoration procedure is OS-agnostic, it just restores any data what is inside the backup - I don't see how it can check for OS presence at all using the details you provided so far.

We need to make sure the exact scenario and outcome is as clear as possible, and for that please provide the following:

1. The exact name and build number of the product you're using.
2. Name and version of the OS which was originally installed on the machine which you originally backed up.
3. Clarify whether you restore to that same hardware or to a different one, and if so - what are the differences?
4. Provide step-by-step photos of what you're trying to perform and the outcome of these actions. You can use Imgur to upload set of photos.
5. If there is a log available, provide it as well. Use Pastebin for that.

It is Acronis True Image 2019.   I am trying to restore to a new SSD on this computer, a Dell Precision Tower 5810 with Windows 7 Professional 64-bit.   I created the backup on a portable hard drive connected to a USB port on the motherboard.   The SSD is identical to the one on the computer originally.   I followed the restore instructions precisely and the restore proceeded but I got this error message after the restore had supposedly finished.

doctork how is the system configured?  with sas drives, in raid, or only a normal SSD or HDD ?
please post the exact info for your system

So many errors, I suspect the NEW SSD might be defective or a hardware defect somewhere along the storage path (motherboard's SATA/PCIe paths). If possible, try again with a NEW sATA cable (if that's not used already).
Try to get the official diagnostics tools of the SSD manufacturer to fully test it.
If not, try some easy stuff at hand (NEW Win10 full install from USB).

Get an ISO image and see if you can load Windows on the new drive

multip^le disks installed ?

When I made the original backup, I just wanted to be able to restore the SSD that has Windows installed.   I have a second SSD with documents and other files.   I am attaching the system info file.   Hope this helps.PrintPreview.pdf

That's really helpful. Assuming this is the destination Dell Precision do you have something similar for the source machine for comparison?
If this is the destination machine post-restore were you expecting the partitions and the amount of space used to be of this order?

If so there's an outside chance that the restore is OK and you need to tweak the setting on the Precision to point to the bootloader location or run an in-place repair to get it to boot.

The backup and restore are for the same machine.   The original SSD and the new one are identical.   I just want to know that if my SSD fails I can put in the new SSD and do a restore to it.

So if you insert the backup SSD and boot to a Win 7 DVD is there a repair option?

You'll need a DVD that includes the LSI controller driver for the Dell, so if you have a Dell Win 7 SP1 DVD that would be perfect for this!

It's an opportunity to see if Acronis has actually transferred the data across despite the error messages.  As I said - it's a bit of a long shot but it might give a better idea of why this doesn't seem to be working for you.

Is it possible this problem is related to the fact that I have 2 SSDs?   If I disconnect the second one than try to create a backup of just the one that has Windows installed then try to a restore without connecting the second SSD, would that work?   I have the My Documents folder on the second SSD.   I do not know if that would cause a problem.

what disk models are these ? if you dont know, post a screenshot of device manaegr, showing the disks
i assume you have 2x 1 TB SSD drives installed

Samsung 860 EVO 1TB 2.5 Inch SATA III Internal SSD (MZ-76E1T0B/AM) identical SSDs, two installed, trying to do the restore on the third one.

DoctorK, can you videotape entire procedure from the moment you boot the media and start the recovery wizard till the moment the error appears?

Also, before reattempting, please run chkdsk on the target disk to exclude possible hardware issue.

Edit: as MASQ mentioned it might be an issue with missing LSI RAID drivers in Acronis Linux bootable media, and in order to fix that you will need to build a WinPE-media with correct LSI RAID driver.

on the 3rd with 2 installled?  so the Original setup is RAID
you cannot image that to a single drive - if it is raid setup
to be sure post a screenshot with explorer showing all your drives

Sorry, it is not RAID.   After the Dell splash screen the next screen that appears allows the option to set up the RAID.   I will try removing the second SSD, leaving the one with Windows installed, then make a backup, then do a restore still without reconnecting the second SSD.

Did you know Samsung have their own free tools to do this with their SSDs ?
https://www.samsung.com/semiconductor/minisite/ssd/download/tools/#ge_semi_anchor_stand2
Documentation and software

Can you go to BIOS settings and check the value for SATA Operation?

It may be the case that even that you didn't create a RAID array the RAID mode is still on (it is by default), so you may just simply need to switch to AHCI mode.

I have come to always using Clonezilla via live CD boot.
While the interface can be a bit daunting, it's really not all that hard to manage - and in particular to just image and restore.
You boot with the Clonezilla CD with a USB hard drive connected to the computer.
You create an image on the USB hard drive and shut down.
Then, you replace the imaged drive with the new one.
Then you boot with the Clonezilla CD again.
Then you move the image from the USB drive onto the new internal drive.
That is all there is to it .. well, subject to other issues that other folks have mentioned.

The BIOS was set to RAID on.   I switched it to AHCI, but when I tried to reboot, I got the message "Invalid Partition Table!"   I had to change back to RAID on in order to boot into Windows.   I do not understand the difference between RAID on and AHCI.   There is a splash screen that appears after the Dell logo that I do not have time to read before it disappears.   It lists the installed hard drives as non-RAID.and allows the option to hit Ctlr I to enter the configuration procedure.

Doctor K  imo you should install another raid pair of disks, and restore the image to these.
you cannot image a raid set to a single drive

I also tried Paragon.   I created a backup on a USB drive.   It appeared to be fine, but when I tried to do a restore, I could not see the two new SSDs on the system.

ok - but did you put these SSD's in a raid array first?  that's what you need to do - the n restore the image

I created a RADI0 array but got the message "Invalid Partition Table!".   Then I created a RAID1 and got the same message.

Don't understand why you are now trying to put your two SSDs into RAID?

Wasn't the arrangment you've taken an image of of a single SSD and then you were adding another SSD to the same system?  I don't see at any time you have actually had two physical drives installed running Windows in RAID.

If it helps in working out where you are Dell ship all their machines with the BIOS configured as RAID, as with a single drive this is effectively the same as AHCI (and it make life easier at Dell as they can ship all their machines with the same setting).

The standard way to switch a single HDD that is in a RAID setting in the BIOS to AHCI in the BIOS is to boot with the RAID setting
then run MSCONFIG & enable Safe Boot (minimal).  Next you reboot into UEFI/BIOS and change to AHCI, you'll now boot up into safe mode because of the MSCONFIG changes.

Allow Windows to reconfigure the drive settings and then run MSCONFIG once more and disable Safe Boot.
Reboot and you should now have your drive running OK under AHCI.

No more RAID confusion.

Paragon will definitely see the SSD drives, after you use the Load Drivers option (and have the correct drivers ready on USB)

Where do I find these drivers?   I have looked on the WD and Samsung websites and cannot find them.   Samsung has Samsung Magician, but no mention of drivers.   The system is Windows 7 Professional 64-bit.   Please help!

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en/en/nlbsdt1/product-support/product/precision-t5810-workstation/drivers

Category: Storage Controller
OS: Win7 64 bit

From the list download the DRIVER for the LSI, and the Intel F6 option.
Unpack them (use 7 zip) to the  USB. Have the USB already connected when you start Paragon (so, actually, can be on the same USB boot medium). Load drivers from there. SSDs will suddenly appear in your list.

I downloaded and unzipped the LSI and Intel F6 option.   When I unzipped them there is a very large number of files.   Which ones do I need to copy to the USB?   Can I place them on a CD  instead, as the flash drive sometimes will not boot.

Yes you can place them on a CD, but USB is really much much easier. Put ALL files there. It's not that much.
But I actually made a mistake. You should get the drivers matching the BOOT CD Win version! The latest Paragon versions 15/16 use Win10, I think Paragon 14 was Win8.
So you probably need to download it again.

I am confused.   The files I downloaded were for my Dell computer, so I do not know what ones I need.   I am running Windows 7 Professional 64-bit.

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en/en/nlbsdt1/product-support/product/precision-t5810-workstation/drivers

Category: Storage Controller
OS: Win8 or Win10 (32 or 64 bit) THIS DEPENDS ON THE PARAGON BOOT CD, DOWNLOAD THEM ALL IF YOU DON'T KNOW, put them each in different folders.

From the list download the DRIVER for the LSI, and the Intel F6 option.
Unpack them (use 7-zip) to the  USB. Have the USB already connected when you start Paragon (so, actually, can be on the same USB boot medium). Load drivers from there. SSDs will suddenly appear in your list.

Sorry, I am still confused.   I am running Windows 7, not 8 or 10.

As I explained, you're running PARAGON, WHICH IS BASED ON EITHER WIN8 or 10 (and also either 32 or 64 bits), depending on the Paragon version. Therefore, you need THOSE drivers to have the drives appear in Paragon.
The system when booted from Paragon, has NOTHING to do with your Win7 installation. That Win7 installation is just static data.
The Paragon system is running at that moment, so that system needs the correct drivers. If you can't be bothered, switch the SATA cables from the LSI to the onboard SATA ports, as they're probably universally compatible and won't need drivers.

Sorry about the confusion, but they are already connected to the SATA ports on the motherboard.   I do not know the meaning of LSI.   Thanks for your patience.

There are probably two storage chipsets on the motherboard. If you really can't find any other SATA ports, just leave it. Just follow my explanation to the letter, that's all. LSI is just a brand of storage chipset.

Paragon needs .inf drivers in order to see the internal SSDs.   it is version 16.   Where do I find those drivers?