Hard Drive Backup Image

Image backup is only good if you can restore from a bootable CD (i.e., you don't have to FIRST install Windows).

In the past I've used Retrospect; I understand current versions are not too good... and I think you had to install windows and retrospect to do that.

I now have OneTouch 4+ drives, and it comes with Maxtor Manager. I have tested restores from a bootable CD that they provided, and successfully done it... as has my sister. I don't know if the program works with other hard drives. I use that in combination with daily incremental backups to the same backup drive. (When I do image backups I do it BOTH to the external drive that I have always connected and always on, AND to a second drive that is normally powered off. I do them when I take the computer on the road; also if I'm doing some risky installation.

Note that MaxtorManager's incrmental backup is picky -- it won't do "system" files... of course not open ones. So I basically do my data directories. Included with the data directories is a directory where I save downloaded programs, so I can reinstall them as needed, when I migrate to a new computer, etc.

I'm one of those who love Ghost (it's the only Norton product I do like...).

I can ghost or restore a 160gb HD in under 20 minutes.

I can restore selected files- it comes with a utility that looks just like Windows Explorer ("file manager") and I can either view or restore from there.

Using built in compression, I can store 4 images of my HD on a similar sized drive. Ghost also allows for backup to CD/DVD. Backup/restore times obviously will be longer.

You neglected to mention the Image for Windows from Terabyte Unlimited at http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/index.htm

I have used it for a long time and have twice installed a new HDD and restored the drives 3 partition images from 3 DVD sets, which are directly bootable. Inexpensive and great customer support.

Once I accidentally deleted the partition from my USB HDD and their Boot It NG has a partiton restore function which can be used independent of the boot manager, so I recovered all the files on that HDD in seconds.

Kudos to you for this recent article on system backups. It's been my experience that most folks take this far too lightly and rarely, if ever, employ a good backup strategy.

Here's what I recommend:

1. For mirror imaging, and the ability to restore a complete hard drive OR individual files, the freeware version of DriveImage XML works great for me. (Available here: http://www.runtime.org/driveimage-xml.htm )

2. To create a bootable disk, including the DriveImage software, I recommend BartPE, a terrific freeware solution available here: http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

Using these two applications in tandem makes restoration a snap and avoids the necessity of re-installing Windows should something go haywire.

There's even a wonderful video tutorial for those who prefer to be shown how to make all this happen, available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0reKK2ASEaU

Oh, and don't forget to schedule your drive image backups on a regular basis. Once a month should work nicely for most folks, but power users might opt for a more frequent schedule.

Above all else, don't just think about backing up your hard drive - DO IT!

I have been using Macrium Reflect for some time, with no problems. It probably is not as fast as Ghost, but I tend to shy away from Norton products. The full edition of Macrium Reflect ($39.99) does allow individual file restore.

Seagate has a free copy of Acronis renamed DiscWizard available for download at http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/downloads/discwizard

Whatever strategy & software a person adopts for backing up full disk systems, I strongly recommend it actually be tested at least once with an actual restore. Ask me how I know ...

It is possible to use your computer while performing an image backup. Image for Windows by terabyteunlimited.com employs a utility that caches disk writes while the backup is running. Therefore, you can still surf and check email with a backup in progress. Additionally, they also provide a utility that allows you to browse an image backup and restore individual files. You can backup/restore to/from bootable CD/DVD, external USB HD or a network drive. A bootable DOS and Linux CD allows restores from external USB or network drives,without having to reload Windows. And for those blind users (like myself) the program is very screen reader friendly, with the added benefit of being able to perform a restore from DVD with no sighted assistance. I believe the cost of the product is $35, much less than Ghost.

Hi Bob thanks for your news letter. I use Acronis True image for back up and I am very happy with it. I only use Acronis to backup my hard drive but to backup my data I have "My Documents" on a second partition on my first hard drive and I back them up to a partition on my second hard drive with SyncToy http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=C26EFA36-98E0-4EE9-A7C5-98D0592D8C52&displaylang=en It was designed my some Microsoft Employees in their spare time for their own use and they have made it freely available from MS but it is not supported by MS.

I am using Ver.1.4 and I have posted a link to ver.2.0

I have a LaCie 8 gig external hard drive. I saved specific files there several years ago, now I want to delete them and resave similar files for easy recovery. The problem is, when I went to look for a lost file, I was unable to open the files that were on the external drive. I called lacie and got no help. Anybody have a similar experience or can shed some light on how I can do this and succeed this time?

having used norton ghost to create a backup of my computer which took me about 4 to 5 hours to set up my way and placed in my external drive i then make a duplicate of it in another location as well just in case
Now comes the best part when i crash or my computer goes so bad i decide to restore from the backup it takes me 20 minutes to recover and be back up and running , enough time for me to make a cup of tea
so for me its a complete breath of fresh air

well done norton even though i dont like your antivirus software

Bill Levey says - There's even a wonderful video tutorial for those who prefer to be shown how to make all this happen, available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0reKK2ASEaU

Tried to see it today but it appears to be unavailable now. Can anyone advise another link to see it please?
Also with Acronis, at least, the Volume Shadow Copy seems to be necessary which baffles me.

WARNING For the present, avoid SyncToy mentioned by Sandy B on 6 Aug 2009 if you're using NAS...there's a warning on the Microsoft download site http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=C26EFA36-98E0-4EE9-A7C5-98D0592D8C52&displaylang=en about a big file corruption issue.

I used the built in backup utility in Windows XP found in system tools. I wanted a backup so that in the event of a crash I can reload windows and my programs with all the updates. I chose the option of selecting files and folders to back up because I didn't want to include my personal files. I unchecked My Documents etc. I did check system state. The utility did not make me a boot disk as it would if I chose to back up everything. Will I still be able to restore Windows with updates and all the programs with the backup image that I created?

EDITOR'S NOTE: If you don't have a boot disk, with a way to start the backup program, and restore from the backup, then no.

Yes indeed, backup image is a good thing to backup your hdd and if you can also store it online is even better so you don't have to worry about external hdd and other craps.
If you are searching for a software that can to backup/restore process fast you could use http://www.dmailer.com/dmailer-backup.html and they also offer online storage services up to 3gb as a free member and other larger packs at good prices.

I think I've found the solution to system backups that also allow me to never worry about viruses ever again. The solution is a program called Deep Freeze: http://www.faronics.com/enterprise/deep-freeze/ -- This program freezes your drive so any changes made to it on the next reboot are reversed. This means you must save personal files to an external drive otherwise they get wiped on the next boot. You can "thaw" a drive if you need to make system changes - such as install new software, etc. After an install, make sure everything is good, and then "freeze" it again. An IT guy I know told me about it and I feel like I've just found buried treasure.

Acronis downloaded 11.8.2011 DON'T WORK!
There is no way to get help from them.
There is an error when running the program. Tried it on several different computers with different downloads and same result... error.
Uninstalling it is another nightmare. Don't use Acronis if you have Win XP, I don't know if other versions may work.

Am still looking for a good program and don't mind paying for it. Using a 3TB external drive I'd like to make an image of four (4) computers and back them up in increments as well. Is this possible to seperate these images on one drive?

Thanks for your help :)

I us Macrium Reflect Free for weekly total backups. If present computer blows up can I install backup on new computer? Everything? Or using Windows installed on new computer plus all else from old? Any differences if changing brands of computer?