Disk Imaging/Cloning Software
 

Dear Forum Members

I would like to purchase (or obtain a free app) of an imaging or cloning software I can use to create a CD/DVD image of my C:\ drive.

Now, I have used Norton Ghost v14 in the past and read the NGv15 manual, and quite frankly NG is far too overblown and complicated for what I actually want to do, which is either to create an image of or clone my HD.

Barring Norton Ghost, is there anyone out there that uses and can recommend a particular brand of imaging or cloning software?

BTW, my computer is as follows:

O/S WinXP Pro SP3
CPU Intel i3 (dual core)
Memory 4GB Ram
2 x 640GB HD (both C:\ & D:\ sata drives)
Gigabyte GA-H55M-UD2H Motherboard



UK Bob

you want to create an image of a freaking 640GB drive?

for creating images I highly suggest doing so just after one has done a clean install of the OS and has just completed installing and configuring all necessary programs and such...at that point there is no data to deal with so the amount of space taken up is at a minimum...

to be honest, I have played with the idea of making an image of a fresh install but have never taken the step to actually do it so I can be of no help with suggesting a good application for such an endeavor...

Hi Peerless

Cheers for your reply and here's the answer to your first question.

You said:Well, not quite, you see my C:\ drive only has less than 29.5GBs on it, which works out at approximately 8 recordable DVDs, i.e. 8 x 4GB = 32GB (counting each DVD as 4GB, not 4.7GB).

I would expect that the imaging/cloning software would not image/clone blank spaces, perform a certain amount of data compression and have the ability to boot my PC and format a new blank disk.

The other features I would expect from the software is clone all working features, settings and apps, including my O/S, so that when and if my C:\ drive fails I can replace it with a new HD, of the same spec, size and make, and put that working cloned image onto the new disk.

Now, you must admit, I'm not asking for (too) much, just something that can clone my main drive.


UK Bob

I've heard good things about Acronis TrueImage Complete hard disk recovery solution, backup, drive copy, clone and image computer software Never used it myself though, so it's just hearsay.

29.5GB is just fine and dandy...for a second there I had seriously thought you wanted to image hundreds of GB of data and such!

no, imaging software does not copy the blank space...

I'd have thought an external HDD would be the way to go to store such backup rather than DVD's. Then it's all compact in one location. I use 1 & 2 TB external drives, but the ones below 1 TB in size are quite cheap nowadays. As the newer larger external drives go up in size, the smaller ones go down in price.

Some of these external HDD's come with their own backup software. I've no idea how good they are though.

Apple uses a system/program called Time Machine that comes with the system. In some ways similar to Windows restore backup system I guess, but is an actual backup program for external backup devices. Time Machine works well except when you have multiple accounts on the computer, then permissions get complicated (& problematic.)

Well guys

Thanks for your input, please note that I have been doing some research and concluded the following:

Sleepless, you said:I have too but Acronis and Ghost are aimed at the same market area, i.e. small to medium sized offices or sophisticated networked homes, and so are far too "full-featured" for my basic needs. And, quite frankly, too much to learn about to get to what I actually want to do, which is to create (and restore from) DVD backup images.

LOTR, you said:I have tried this before, when I had Norton Ghost v14.0, and felt that it was a bit pointless, I ended up deleting the backups and using the space for other data. Also, externals have a habit of failing (I am now staring at my partially dead Lacie 250GB and the space left by my Gericom 400GB).

So you see, I am not keen on using externals.

I will continue looking for other software solutions.


UK Bob

Acronis TrueImage is the way to go. I've used it and it's awesome. I replaced the 80gig C drive that came with my HP with a 160 gig WD. I had no XP disc so I felt this was my only option.

After all said and done, everything was exactly as it was before. I was amazed and totally thrilled after fretting over it for some time.

I Highly recommend Acronis :)

Edit: As far as externals go, I bought a 60gig portable only for the sake of backing up or cloning my C drive. Thats the Only thing on it and I don't use it for anything else. They're dirt cheap, so why not. I wouldn't dare back it up to any of my other externals that I use for media.

1 - 1 TB Free Agent Seagate
1 - 1.5 TB Free Agent Seagate
1 - 2 TB Free Agent Seagate

I only use my externals for backup purposes. So they are not connected for very long. I keep them packed up when not in use. Except a couple months ago I accidentally knocked one over whilst in use .. guess what lol. :rolleyes: I should use them in proper stands I guess. But for the short periods I use them didn't bother. At least 'some' of the data already on the drive was backed up elsewhere same or different generation backup. I've always used Lacie. I believe they use various brands of actual drives.

Edit: I connect them using Firewire 800 on the intel Mac, Firewire 400 on the G4's. So transfer is reasonably fast. Firewire 400 is little faster than USB2 (in practice about 50% faster), & FW800 twice as fast as FW400.
The new Firewire looks good, even faster than the new USB3. Now called Thunderbolt. Quote from Apple Website: "Thunderbolt pipeline is more than 12 times faster than FireWire 800 and up to 20 times faster than USB 2.0"

Hi guys

Thanks for your advice, I just want a few bits of info:

Remoc

What version of Acronis TrueImage are you using? You see, I have been through the AT2011 manual and the product seems too overblown for what am I trying to do.

LOTR

You know, I always thought that using an external for back-ups only was a bit wasteful, however you may be right and I should take another look at what I am trying preserve should the inevitable happen.

At the moment, I have, but not installed yet, Acronis True Image WD (Western Digital) Edition, which I downloaded from the Western Digital web site. I believe that this version of Acronis corresponds to the 2009 version.

Now, I don't know if I am going to use it yet but I intend to go through the manual again, just to see if I have missed anything. However, on my first browse through I got the impression that this software cannot burn back-ups directly to recordable CD\DVDs, i.e. it's a two step process, first to the hard drive, and then from the hard drive to recordable CD\DVDs.

I'll let you guys know how I get on.



UK Bob

for one thing, burning directly to a DVD/CD is rather problematic....it seems to me that for any sort of efficiency and accuracy an image must first be made on the HDD, then that goes to a disc...I've tried a few direct to disc routines before (have a somewhat muddy memory on the subject) and those were either very slow or failed completely...

it seems from what you're saying that acronis will not (in the same routine) make the image then automatically burn it like, let's say, Nero will when transcoding a movie...sounds rather like a PITA...

I'm using an old version or should I say it's old now. That was about 3 years ago and I only had to use it the one time and it was totally pain free.

No need to fret about it. Acronis will ask you exactly what you want to do, or at least this version did. I was amazed when I loaded the exact clone onto the new HDD. You could'nt even tell that that was a new drive. Everything was exact as it was before.

Oh and the Acronis program I used was not a trial version.

Good Luck Bob

Edit: I also agree with Peerless on burning to a disc. Big pain and never comes out like it was originally. The HDD to HDD is the way to go. IMHO

Hiya,
I only ever give my C drive max 10 gigs of space,store everything else on other drives.
What is wrong with Ghost? works fine for me.
I always defrag /compact before making a ghost as Norton doesn't do a very good job of this
I always also go through and clean out all unwanted files first before defrg.
this keeps ghosts to managable size. I also store at least one Ghost on an external HD.
Done away with all ghosts now as running Virtual box,where the '' Snapshot'' function is 100 times quicker than ghosts (but running that on ubuntu), but you could run it on XP,anything that happens in VBox is once removed from your system.
All the best,
N2

Hi guys

Once again I must thank all of you for your advice and experience, things are definitely becoming a little more clearer.

OK, the overwhelming consensus seems to be "stick with creating an image on an external drive", therefore this will be the way to go. Plus, I am not that bull headed that I cannot recognise good advice when I get it.

N2

I have used Norton Ghost before, both 2009 and V14, but now V15 seems overblown. You know, every year manufacturers of windows apps have to make their products more complex, add useless facilities while doing away with or making useful facilities harder to find. And I have just about had enough of this nonsense, that's why I won't touch NG15 or Acronis TrueImage 2011, I just want something I can use without having to worry about bloated windows apps slowing down, and possibly destabilising, my machine.

Apart from that, and wanting something relatively simple, I think that the version of Acronis I have, which is not installed, may do the trick.

I'll get back to you guys by Saturday or Sunday.


UK Bob

I heartily agree...it seems when the devs can't actually make some progress on the root of their software they just add in more junk which is usually just bothersome at best, and plain annoying and cumbersome at the worst..

Hi Guys

You know, my computer related problems seems very small when compared to Hurricane Irene lashing the US at the moment, though I understand from the BBC that it is abating somewhat.

BBC News - Hurricane Irene pummels New York amid fears of flooding

Anyway, I've installed Acronis True Image WD (Western Digital) Edition and did a back-up to one of my external HDs. And, as Remoc said, it was very easy, once I chose the right setting, and it compressed my 29.5GB of data and stuff from my C:\ drive down to about 20GB.

While doing this, I was installing a Toshiba DVD player I bought in a local super market (Tesco) with my groceries over a year ago (I simply forgot I had it). The manual said it could play all 1 - 6 region code DVD disks (UK = Region 2). But, of course, it could not so I had to spend 15 - 20 minutes looking on the Internet for the necessary code to break my players "region 2 only" electronic blockage. Luckily, other users had come across this problem before and so the code making my player "multi-regional" was readily available.

You see, I have a lot of region 1 (America & Canada) and region 3 DVD disks which, from time to time, I continue to watch. Plus, I do like Toshiba DVD players because their picture quality is always very good, even on their cheapest players.

Anyway, back to my backup problem, I still have to go through the manual to see if there is a way to transfer my "new backup" to recordable DVDs, which is my ultimate goal.


UK Bob

free backup and disk clone tool
 

i've been using easeus todo backup free, which works well to me.
it is backup wizard, easy to backup and restore.
automatic schedule backup is also available.
the one-click system backup is also very useful.
here's More backup info

Cheers Bailifei

I'll use your recommendation as "plan B" is the if the current software I have does not work as expected.


UK Bob