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...

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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...

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So Long and Thanks for All the Files
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Beware of the big 3 insurance companies in Texas! Read your policies carefully (maybe you'll need a lawyer) Allstate, Farmers & State Farm are overextended and their 'coverage' is worthless...a true waste of your money Read This

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

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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. 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