Ghost/image software

wijcc · 6 Mar 2015 at 22:34

Hi all, I have been using norton ghost (v11.5) for a long time now to create backup images of my operating systems, is there any better and faster programs out now that can do this? I have been booting from a CD to load ghost software to create the backup images.. but it is quite slow.
p.s. I also use it to backup my server setups too
Thanks in advance

ExRayTed · 6 Mar 2015 at 23:02

I've always used Acronis True Image. No complaints

wijcc · 6 Mar 2015 at 23:51

is it faster than norton ghost?

malachi · 7 Mar 2015 at 08:11

You can use Macrium Reflect, there is a free version too. I find it better than True Image.

thenewoc · 7 Mar 2015 at 08:55

Clonezilla, never found norton to be that fast tbh, it went down hill when norton acquired it imho.

ED209 · 7 Mar 2015 at 10:52

a lot of people here use this guide here

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18576917

Craig321 · 7 Mar 2015 at 11:02

malachi said:
You can use Macrium Reflect, there is a free version too. I find it better than True Image.

KIA · 7 Mar 2015 at 13:40

Another vote for Macrium.

wijcc · 7 Mar 2015 at 20:20

do you have to boot out of the OS to create a recovery image with this program please.. want to create recovery images of my server setups after I make changes to it?

Craig321 · 7 Mar 2015 at 20:28

wijcc said:
do you have to boot out of the OS to create a recovery image with this program please.. want to create recovery images of my server setups after I make changes to it?

No. That's one of the awesome things with Macrium, it will image your machine while it's running. You can even schedule image backups to run whenever you want.

wijcc · 7 Mar 2015 at 20:57

cool will check it out thanks

LoadsaMoney · 7 Mar 2015 at 23:35

KIA said:
Another vote for Macrium.

and another!

boosfuk · 8 Mar 2015 at 08:19

I also use Macrium, it is not only fast and light but from a UK company. Found Acronis and Ghost both slower and full of bloat.

bledd · 8 Mar 2015 at 16:55

I bought a copy of Macrium after being impressed by it.

Personally I only use it for offline backups (ie, boot from cd or USB and run it when Windows is off.

I always run ccleaner first and clear out desktop and any download or temp folders.

Keeps the images nice and small

Craig321 · 8 Mar 2015 at 17:26

bledd. said:
I bought a copy of Macrium after being impressed by it.

Personally I only use it for offline backups (ie, boot from cd or USB and run it when Windows is off.

I always run ccleaner first and clear out desktop and any download or temp folders.

Keeps the images nice and small

I'm sure there's an option in Macrium to skip temp files, isn't there? Maybe that was some other software, not sure

ecksmen · 8 Mar 2015 at 17:35

Whats wrong with the built in windows backup tool?

KIA · 8 Mar 2015 at 17:51

ecksmen said:
Whats wrong with the built in windows backup tool?

It's okay, but slower than Macrium and has limitations.

bledd · 8 Mar 2015 at 22:29

Craig321 said:
I'm sure there's an option in Macrium to skip temp files, isn't there? Maybe that was some other software, not sure

Maybe. But I can delete more temp files than any automated tool.

boosfuk · 9 Mar 2015 at 08:16

ecksmen said:
Whats wrong with the built in windows backup tool?

3rd party tools like Macrium have extra features such as incremental/differential backups which greatly speed up the process.

wijcc · 9 Mar 2015 at 11:09

i want to create a restore image file that I can restore from in the event of a hard disk failure etc.. from booting from a CD or alike then restoring from the said image file.