Backup Image... Ghost?

[SooTyLaD]

How Do

just got a shiny new laptop and it's took ages to get to just how i want it and i would like to (in the simplest way possible) create a 1:1 image of how it all is so i can restore back to this exact state later on...

am i right in thinking Norton Ghost is the way to go? i had a play on a different computer and didn't really understand what was going on... any tips?

Cheers

 

[SooTyLaD]

could i just check...

i have acronis now, and it seems that i create a 1:1 image of a partition that i can later restore to... however, my c drive in its present state (that i want to take a snapshot of) is only 6 gig worth, but it wants to make an image of the whole 40 gig caboodle - any way to only make a 100% accurate 6 gig image of the entire windows setup+apps/drivers etc?

secondly, (bledd), you said it creates a bootable partition but when i just had a play it just makes a backup image in a specified folder, doesn't take over a partition or nuthin... could you clarify whay is the best way to do this?

mucho thanks, and thats for recommending a great app

 

[SooTyLaD]

oh ok mate, sweet...

one last quesiton then... if you can make these images from within windows (and store them in the secure zone), and then you can press F11 to access the dialog that allows you to restore the image, then why would you need to create the boot disk you mentioned above?