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Windows Restore point can be used only to restore changes in windows system files, not to the data. whereas Cloning & Imaging is used to take entire copy of the OS or Data. Yet, System image backups stored on hard disks can also be used for System Restore.
Best Imaging Tools :-
Acronis True ImageParagon Hard Disk ManagerEaseUS Todo Backup Home
Cloning is better and the best program for cloning is Farstone DriveClone.
Windows restore point : it will save the configuration of windows, installed programs... without touching your files and documents.... you can say it's partial cloning.
Cloning : is just Mirroring your hard desk or your partition (C: for example) with everything in it.
cloning is much better insuring your data is save, but more cost of time and storage space will be there, and a little more complicated than restore point
Best programs for cloning
1- Achrones true image
2- Norton ghost
I would say do both. There are situations where System Restore is faster than to restore clones. But sometime the damage is so far that restoring clones is better.
Well for this, no options can be ruled out, just to add to all the Answers, "Acronis True Image" does the same task in a user frinedly way.
However, it would be a best practice to also create restore points using the Windows System Restore Utility along with Acronis True Image.