Can I Use Rescuezilla to Backup My Linux Mint to an NTFS HDD and Restore It Later?

Yes, you can technically write to an NTFS volume, but it's usually not the best idea due to some potential issues. If you decide to do this, make sure to disable 'fast startup' in Windows first. That way, when you boot into Linux, it can mount the NTFS drive read-write. After that, just start Rescuezilla and follow the prompts. Just keep in mind that this should be a last resort.

I usually go with Clonezilla for this type of task, but I can confirm that it does support NTFS partitions. Just last week, I backed up a Windows 7 installation using it before transitioning to Linux Mint. So it’s a solid option if you want to have the option to revert.

Absolutely! You can save a disk image on any file system that manages files of a sufficient size. Just make sure you're checking compatibility, as some file systems like ReiserFS have limitations.

For what it's worth, I think using Timeshift is a better alternative. It gives you a straightforward file that can be stored on any file system and easily restored. I do backups on my NVMe drive and then copy them to my NAS. Plus, some distros make it easy to create bootable backups.

Be cautious! Rescuezilla creates an image of the file system rather than individual files. When you restore, it essentially goes back to NTFS, which means you'll likely want to use a tool like rsync for a proper backup. Don't forget that NTFS attributes don't transfer over to ext4, so some adjustments might be necessary.