DrvImagerXP 1.1
Windows XP/2000 only.
"Copies drive partitions sector-by-sector, byte-for-byte to give you an exact reproduction of your drive partition!
(For Win2000/XP operating systems using FAT32 or NTFS file systems)."
Has some limitations at the moment - no backup to CDR/CDRW (it doesn't split the image), no compression - but it's only the first public release.
Lexun Freeware:
http://home.carolina.rr.com/lexunfreeware/
PS. RegScrubXP is also worth a look!
Well I took Pilgrim's recommendation and purchased TrueImage Pro. I've been using TrueImage now since Sept. 2 and it performs as advertised. I have found a few things that are just minor annoyances. It's compression routine in a side by side comparison with Ghost showed that its image files were about a third larger than Ghost image files of the same partition. Ghost is also about twice as fast on saving images to the hard drive. Other than that, TrueImage is a great product.
On one of my systems, however, it could not write to CD without reducing the burn rate to 4x. By the way, their tech support was very fast responding to this problem. They even created a special version that captured debug information to a log file. I just sent them the log file and they replied within a day with possible fixes. One of their solutions worked.
Oh, and one other thing, I tested the boot floppies that it can automatically make for you in case you have a disaster and can't boot normally. I tested it on a laptop with a PCMCIA ethernet card. Well was I surprised when it handled the network portion without a hitch. It loaded the proper "cards and sockets" stuff for the PCMCIA card and I was able to get to the laptop image I'd saved on another machine on the network. Pretty impressive!
All in all, I'm very happy with the product. :D
Hey Jeff. I wonder about doing that in Windows. You can format and reinstall that image directly from another drive on your hard disk? Even Partition Magic has to go to DOS to do it's thing.
Have you restored an image from it yet? Does it have multiple levels of compression?
I'm interested, but a little leary.
Pilgrim,
You misunderstood me. I wasn't criticizing Acronis True Image at all, or your decision to purchase it! I was simply answering root's question (and defending the Acronis product in the process)! I never said that True Image doesn't meet my needs, tastes or requirements. I fact, I like the look of True Image a lot and would seriously consider purchasing it but, unfortunately, I don't qualify for the Ghost discount like you. (The South African Rand isn't worth much in US Dollar terms - $1.00 = R10.00 at the moment). The only drawback of True Image that I can see is that it doesn't verify the integrity of the data in the backup image upon completion.
In starting this thread, I was simply making forum members and visitors aware of a free backup solution. It was in no way intended to be an endorsement of the product over other competing commercial products. :) R-Drive Image - Free downloads at BumperSoft::
Image - Drive Image and Disk Backup tool creates disk image files on the fly. - Free Free Full Version Software Program. My Account. More Information
http://www.bumpersoft.com/Utilities/Backing_Up/Review_2535_index.htmHOME |
Backup Security Software Free Downloads Reviews::
Backup Security Software Free Downloads Reviews, KeepSafe, Keriver Image, Key Drive Recovery Software, Kingston Memory Card Recovery Tool, Kingston Pen Drive Data
http://www.securitysoftwarezone.com/backup-page70-18.htmlHOME |
DrvImager XP v2 will now be released on Thursday.
Mark, I'm glad you started this thread and right now, I'm like you, I wish I had enough for True Image, but things is tight. :(
It's so easy to misunderstand the tone of a message on these BBs, and I know both of you and I know youre easy going enough to shrug this one off.
Jeff, again thanks for the heads up on True Image. I don't have a label to send in so I'll have to wait until I have an extra $45, but I'll probably end up getting it. I like being able to work from Windows.
If I keep Windows.
Theres new hope on the horizon in the form of a new Linux Distro called Lycoris Desktop/LX. http://www.lycoris.com/ .
I have found that True Image burns to a set of CD-RW's at about the same rate as Ghost as well; about 2 hours (6 disks) at medium compression compared to high compression with Ghost. Most CD-RW disks are rated at 4x which would explain the lengthy time compared to CD-R disks which only take about 45 minutes. Of course, if you backup to a separate HD, then it would probably only take 15-20 minutes. But, I don't have room for another HD... :(
My initial thinking was that True Image was the proverbial "new guy on the block", much like Outpost is to the Firewall area. Thus it is going to do nothing but improve over the long term. I've had no problems whatsoever burning an image, although I haven't tried to restore one yet. It's got a lot going for it and I am happy I spent the paltry $9.99 U.S. for it. :D
Jeff
For those who read my original post, the author of DrvImager XP will be releasing version 2 tomorrow which, he promises, will support image splitting and compression!
Allright! That is good news for many. Thanks for the info Mark. When it is released, I will spread the word at Wilders. ;) System Restore - PC Backup Software: Norton Ghost 14.0::
Full system backup (disk image)—Backs up everything on a hard drive or partition. Eligible for a free Windows Vista® Service Pack 1 compatibility update
http://www.symantec.com/norton/ghostHOME |
R-Drive Image - FreeFunFiles.com - A free download site::
Free R-Drive Image download, download games and shareware software, spam free Disk image file contains exact, byte-by-byte copy of a hard drive, partition or
http://www.freefunfiles.com/software/systemutilities/backup/r-drive-image.htmlHOME |
Mark,
As with all software, "to each his own"! :D Like I said, I've used Ghost for 3 years .... I've tried Drive Image too. Like them both. But I also tried Acronis' "True Image" . . . have you?. . . and for me it is superior in many ways. Perhaps it doesn't meet your requirements, needs or personal tastes and that's okay..... "different strokes for different folks". But for $9.99 U.S., it was an offer I couldn't refuse, even given the exchange rate for this poor Canadian. hehe
Jeff
I have been using Norton "Ghost" for a couple of years too. I did try "Drive Image" and it was also quite good. Then just recently, someone put me on to Acronis True Image 6.0 (http://www.acronis.com/) and immediately bought it. There is a special deal for people who currently have "Ghost" installed on their HD; a 80% discount for the meagre price of $9.99. The GUI is far simpler, no Serial number to enter to Ghost over an image, and it runs in Windows, not DOS. This is one great backup utility. :D
Jeff
Glad to hear that. I switched to TrueImage, but haven't restored an image yet.
I need to take the time to make sure it works as advertised.
I did not find it to be very slow in making my image.
Thanks Mark. I'm going to try that reg cleaner too.
I use Ghost to backup my hard drive, but if someone needs a backup, they could use that one. I wonder if you could use winrar to compress the backup file for storage?
Yes, many of us already use Powerquest Drive Image or Norton Ghost, but DrvImagerXP is a free solution for those who can't afford the commercial packages.
.... I wonder about doing that in Windows. You can format and reinstall that image directly from another drive on your hard disk?.... This is taken directly from the PC911 review of Acronis TrueImage:
"The only time you have to reboot into DOS is when you need to restore an active system partition. Non-sytem partitions can be restored in Windows."
This, of course, is a little inaccurate since it actually uses a Linux kernel in "DOS" mode.
Hi Root,
I did not find it too slow either. Ghost was faster only on saving image files on a companion hard drive in the same system. Across the network and to CD, they both performed about the same. One other thing that I found great about TrueImage is that Images saved to NTFS partitions are visible in TrueImage when you try to restore them. This is NOT the case with Ghost. The latest version of Ghost (Ghost 2003) is supposed to do this, as well as be able to use some USB burners. But some preliminary reviews I've seen say that there are problems with the latest version of Ghost. I'll be sticking with TrueImage. I've tested it enough to be convinced it is a superior product.
ps. Ghost 2003 has no network support. TrueImage does. A big plus in my mind. To get network support in Ghost, you have to have the 7.5 Enterprise version of Ghost. This is what I used in my comparisons.
root,
Affirmative on all counts...... go to the site using the link I provided in my previous post and read the documentation. All your questions I'm sure are answered there. I'm not all that familiar with the inner workings of True Image 6.0, but I believe it uses a Linux kernal and therefore DOS isn't necessary. I also can tell you that Tech Support is excellent and fast. So anything that isn't answered on the online documentation can and will be answered in a timely fashion. :D
See this review here: True Image 6.0 Review (http://www.pcnineoneone.com/reviews/sw/trueimage6.html)
Jeff
Looks ok. I'll give it a try.
Hi Mark,
Thanks for this link. I am not so interested in their drive imaging software because I own Drive Image from Powerquest. But, this guy seems to have produced a few good tools and I am interested in trying his registry cleaner. I also sent it to a few friends. This person seems, at least from his description, to be a very proficient programmer.
Have a good weekend Mark. :)
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