Back Up Whole Drive

oHUTCHYo · 16 Apr 2009 at 13:27

I like to reformat and reinstall everything regular, but it takes so damn long. Is there a piece of software that will just let me do a nice clean install along with my own stuff like drivers and programs, then back the whole lot up into an image file to then reinstall when I like?

Ive seen apps like Norton Ghost but dont understand if they do exactly that?

rpstewart · 16 Apr 2009 at 13:43

Ghost and Acronis True Image are designed to do exactly what you're looking for.

oHUTCHYo · 16 Apr 2009 at 17:18

Thanks mate, any distinct advantage between the 2?

Brian Stuart · 16 Apr 2009 at 17:35

I've only ever used True Image and it is a great piece of software. Saved my bacon a couple of times

RJC · 16 Apr 2009 at 18:21

Acronis here to, they give a 15 day trial.

swinnie · 16 Apr 2009 at 18:24

Acronis True Image.

Acronis is a lot easier to use than Ghost. I think its also faster.

Bubo · 16 Apr 2009 at 20:10

I've recently come across this apparently free disk imaging software http://www.paragon-software.com/home/db-express/download.html

edit: Also, if you have at least one Seagate or Maxtor drive in your rig then you can use the offical Seagate imaging software Maxblast, again free. Google "Maxblast 5" This is what I am using at the moment. Comes with a plugin for the BartPE windows boot cd. This is handy as you can slipstream your raid drivers onto a bootble windows cd and restore an image if your drives goes completely mammary glands up such that you can't boot into windows on the hdd.

jbloggs · 16 Apr 2009 at 20:27

If you have either a Seagate or Maxtor in your system, you can use DiscWizard or MaxBlast which are the same, and is basically Actonis True Image Home 11, with a couple of minor features removed...

You could also look in the Partition/HDD Backup/Management section where you might find something suitable...