Hard drive imaging that can be run from bootable CD/USB?

Confused

Confused

Confused

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
8,016
Hi all,

I'm looking for a bit of software which I can run from a bootable CD or USB memory stick, which will create a backup image of a HDD/partition, preferably onto a self-booting CD/DVD.

I've built a couple of machines recently for others, and once they're set up, I'd like to make a couple of copies of the OS/programs/configs as installed - one to give to them, one for me to keep, so that should something go wrong, it'll save time trying to reinstall everything!

Ideally I don't want something that's installed to the host OS, as it's a one-time thing on both systems (and on other systems in the future), and if it's free, then that'll be a great bonus!

I have used the DOS version of Ghost before, but not been able to make it write directly to a bootable CD/DVD (unless I've been doing something silly!) - and it's run from floppy, which I no longer have!
 
Acronis True Image should be perfect for you.

You set up the drives as you want them (settings, configs etc) and then install Acronis. Choose to backup whatever drive you prefer (most likely the C: Windows drive) and then it will create an image of it where you prefer. You can then create a bootable CD that is basically a stripped down version of the software onto a bootable CD and this allows you to restore an image from the disk. Choose where the image is kept (usually another partition or external HDD etc) and then choose to restore the C: drive.

All in all it will take around 15 minutes depending on size of image, image location and speed of hard drives. :)

If you want to keep a copy, then you should try and get some Dual Layered DVD's and copy the image onto that. The only time i can see this being a problem is if you are backing up a Vista installation that will be at least 11GB from a fresh install, let alone with applications etc installed.
 
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use acronis true image it has a bootable media creator, it can put itself on a usbstick or cd/dvd

can write images directly to dvdrw/cdrw's, or as i use, onto an external hard drive (can write to network locations too)

good idea to disable system restore and run ccleaner on the machine before doing an image, takes up far less space then



-edit, turn on your msn
 
yeah, true image home 11 is what you want

do you need disc director also?

just to clarify for you, you'll have to install it once, then from there you can make the bootable cd & usb stick.. (from in windows)
 
May as well just get the Acronis True Image 11 software licence for $49.99 as that is all you will need. :)
 
Use This offer, enter the coupon code ATI11Xmas and you will get BOTH Acronis True Image 11 Home and Acronis Disk Director Suite 10 for £25 (I have already used this offer, also posted this offer in this forum a while ago, see Here)....a really good buy.

bledd/OzZie:

Why would you buy ATI 11 Home for $49.99 and not use this offer and get Acronis Disk Director Suite 10 with it for £25 (total)...?
 
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