Hard Drive image software needed

raptormonkey · 28 Oct 2009 at 22:07

What is a good hard drive image software that i can use to make an image of the hard drive after installing the OS, drivers, apps etc that i can then put onto a DVD and use in the future to retore the image back to when it was first done. Free would be good!

Memphis · 28 Oct 2009 at 22:21

Acronis True Image. It's not free, but it's damn well worth every penny.

End thread.

robinbredin · 28 Oct 2009 at 22:25

If you go onto the western digital web site, you can download an free version.

raptormonkey · 28 Oct 2009 at 22:28

Memphis said:
Acronis True Image. It's not free, but it's damn well worth every penny.

End thread.

So, this will allow me to make an image of a new installation and then restore that image at some future date from an image stored on a bootable DVD?

Deleted member 2277 · 28 Oct 2009 at 22:31

Try Macrium Reflect Free edition, works well with Windows 7.

I was using Acronis, but the version I have does not work with Windows 7. Macrium Reflect seems to work very well, has a nice and simple interface and is free.

raptormonkey · 28 Oct 2009 at 22:33

Deleted member 2277 said:
Try Macrium Reflect Free edition, works well with Windows 7.

I was using Acronis, but the version I have does not work with Windows 7. Macrium Reflect seems to work very well, has a nice and simple interface and is free.

And i can make an image and put that onto a DVD as a bootable one? The, recovering my system back to original?

Legless · 28 Oct 2009 at 23:00

Sorry to jump into this thread, but i'm going to be installing Windows 7 tomorrow and was wondering if Norton Ghost works well with it... I've been using the DOS version of Ghost for a long time and on many operating systems, and it's never let me done once...

Deleted member 2277 · 28 Oct 2009 at 23:36

raptormonkey said:
And i can make an image and put that onto a DVD as a bootable one? The, recovering my system back to original?

You create a bootable CD with Macrium, then create an image of your harddrive and save to network drive, usb drive, dvd etc.

To restore, you boot your pc with the bootable cd and select the image that your want to restore. It works in a similar fashion to acronis. It's very easy to use, it creates an image of windows 7 in about 10 minutes and restores in approx 6 minutes. Give it a try I think you will be impressed. I have used it to reinstall an activated windows 7 image three times now and it has worked everytime.

raptormonkey · 29 Oct 2009 at 11:03

Cheers

The Mad Rapper · 29 Oct 2009 at 11:15

OK muppets - I am going to treat you

Download Raptor from this link. It's a forensic IT imaging solution, based on Ubuntu, which will create forensic images of target drives in the .e01 format. We use it at work and I vouch for it.

You simply burn the image segments to disc or copy them to an external HDD and you can restore at any time.

Oh, and it's free!

Guest2 · 29 Oct 2009 at 11:22

How do you restore the .e01 images? Can you create an image of the OS drive?

I always use acronis true image to clone my C: to E: (every 3 weeks or so) If something bad happens all i have to do is change boot priority to E: then clone back to C after

JaseUK · 29 Oct 2009 at 11:22

Whats wrong with W7 built in backup and restore?

It allows you to create an image on discs or a HDD.

The Mad Rapper · 29 Oct 2009 at 11:28

Guest2 said:
How do you restore the .e01 images? Can you create an image of the OS drive?

I always use acronis true image to clone my C: to E: (every 3 weeks or so) If something bad happens all i have to do is change boot priority to E: then clone back to C after

The software runs from a boot CD. To restore, simply boot from the CD and make sure the storage device containing the image segments is attached. Then choose the restore option and off it goes

If Acronis works for you, then keep using it. I just thought I'd give people a free option

raptormonkey · 29 Oct 2009 at 13:08

I want a system that i can make an image of the OS and drivers and apps onto a DVD and then use that to do a recovery in the future if something goes wrong.

lcg · 29 Oct 2009 at 15:09

Memphis said:
Acronis True Image. It's not free, but it's damn well worth every penny.

End thread.

I recommend Acronis True Image too.

CrimsonAvenger · 29 Oct 2009 at 15:09

Acronis True Image

Raumarik · 29 Oct 2009 at 15:12

JaseUK said:
Whats wrong with W7 built in backup and restore?

It allows you to create an image on discs or a HDD.

Have you tried it mate? I've been using it, takes bloomin ages

not sure if it'll be improved by service packs etc but it's too slow at the moment even on fast HDDs.

JaseUK · 1 Nov 2009 at 19:36

Kami said:
Have you tried it mate? I've been using it, takes bloomin ages not sure if it'll be improved by service packs etc but it's too slow at the moment even on fast HDDs.

Yeah I used it the other day to make an image of C: however due to the fact I installed apps/programs on both the C: and the backup drive it made an image of both drives so took ages.

Bane · 12 Nov 2009 at 20:34

The Mad Rapper said:
OK muppets - I am going to treat you

Download Raptor from this link. It's a forensic IT imaging solution, based on Ubuntu, which will create forensic images of target drives in the .e01 format. We use it at work and I vouch for it.

You simply burn the image segments to disc or copy them to an external HDD and you can restore at any time.

Oh, and it's free!

Looking forward to trying this.

SiriusB · 12 Nov 2009 at 21:17

JaseUK said:
Yeah I used it the other day to make an image of C: however due to the fact I installed apps/programs on both the C: and the backup drive it made an image of both drives so took ages.

You can't restore it without trashing what's already on the HDD either. So unless you have an image of the whole HDD it is a bit rubbish.