Disk image backup

MikeHiow · 1 Feb 2011 at 19:33

I'm looking for a solution that can back a drive up as a disk image, and can easily restore to a disk when needed.

I could always use a Linux live CD and use dd, but was hoping to find something a little more elegant, and perhaps be able to schedule backups as well.

Just to clarify, I do not want to clone the hard drive, but rather store the disk image on a larger hard drive.

Suggestions?

Raumarik · 1 Feb 2011 at 19:38

Windows 7 backup
Acronis True image
Norton Ghost

All perfectly good for backing up to disk/USB or even DVD if it's small enough.

MikeHiow · 1 Feb 2011 at 19:41

Windows 7 backup sounds good, as I assume the other two cost money?

Can Windows 7 backup restore fully to a completely empty disk? If so, what is the process? This will be my OS disk, so does it create a boot disk, or can it be done with the Windows 7 install disk?

Raumarik · 1 Feb 2011 at 20:30

I've never done an empty disk with Win 7 but I did have to do an already formatted one. Essentially my boot HDD died on me and I had to use one of my two data drives instead. It was very simple though, boot off the Win 7 DVD, it found all the various backups I had on the other data drive, selected one, picked the drive to restore to (was only one available) and off it went.

Was flawless, which was a bit of a shock!

I'd previously only used Ghost and Acronis for backups, both cost money but I'd suggest looking at Acronis anyway, it's a nice product. However Windows 7 backup is easy to use and included!

M1k3H · 2 Feb 2011 at 02:54

MikeHiow said:
Windows 7 backup sounds good, as I assume the other two cost money?

Can Windows 7 backup restore fully to a completely empty disk? If so, what is the process? This will be my OS disk, so does it create a boot disk, or can it be done with the Windows 7 install disk?

just do an image of your OS disk onto another disk and when/if something goes wrong, you boot from the windows 7 repair disk ( which the backup advises you to do ) and select the image from your other disk.

MikeHiow · 2 Feb 2011 at 03:04

I've used an Ubuntu live cd to create an image for tonight, as it's likely the easiest and fastest way.

I think once I'm back on the new hard drive though, I'll setup windows 7 backup to an external HD. I assume it can handle incremental backups?