I want to back up the whole of C drive including windows xp operating system
and place the backup onto my E drive which i had installed for this purpose.
My question is - A which system is best i.e. norton ghost or acronis.AND B-
does it do what it says as i prefer never to have to reinstall my system and
programms again.
--
Baz

Hi Baz,

Although both products will do the job, Acronis seems to be the most popular
around here at this time. Good for you on wanting to do a backup--so many
issues here could be "fixed" so easily if more users backed up their
computers!

HTH,

Curt
"BIGABAZ" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:E89C8B40-AAB6-4115-80FB-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I want to back up the whole of C drive including windows xp operating
>system
> and place the backup onto my E drive which i had installed for this
> purpose.
> My question is - A which system is best i.e. norton ghost or acronis.AND
> B-
> does it do what it says as i prefer never to have to reinstall my system
> and
> programms again.
> --
> Baz

In theory, either will work. I happen to prefer True Image by Acronis.

But, be sure to test the restoration process, after you make the image. By
test I mean step through the screen to perform a restore, by stop just
before the last "OK" button.

The reason for testing is that different software is often used to make an
image than to restore it. In the case of True Image, windows-based software
is used to make the image, while XP is running. But, to restore the image,
one uses a bootable CD that happens to run LINUX. True Image makes this CD
for you from within XP. But, because XP drivers and not the same as LINUX
drivers, there have been cases where the XP version of True Image could see
a hard drive, but the LINUX version could not. That is mostly an issue with
very new disk controller, such as when serial ATA was new. Note that the
True Image bootable CD can also be used to create images, so one could test
it by creating an image. If it sees the hard drive for creation, it will
see it for restoration.

If you have a single large C:\ drive, make a disk image instead of a
partition image. A disk image includes the master boot record, but a
partition image usually does not. Otherwise, if you need to restore to a
fresh disk, you will need to write a proper MBR. That can be done with
FDISK or with the XP CD (recovery console) or in a few other ways.

If you restore an image to an existing hard drive, then a new MBR is not
needed, unless you are trying to recover form a virus that altered the MBR.

"BIGABAZ" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:E89C8B40-AAB6-4115-80FB-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I want to back up the whole of C drive including windows xp operating
>system
> and place the backup onto my E drive which i had installed for this
> purpose.
> My question is - A which system is best i.e. norton ghost or acronis.AND
> B-
> does it do what it says as i prefer never to have to reinstall my system
> and
> programms again.
> --
> Baz

"BIGABAZ" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:E89C8B40-AAB6-4115-80FB-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I want to back up the whole of C drive including windows xp operating
>system
> and place the backup onto my E drive which i had installed for this
> purpose.
> My question is - A which system is best i.e. norton ghost or acronis.AND
> B-
> does it do what it says as i prefer never to have to reinstall my system
> and
> programms again.
> --
> Baz

Tried both, but my choice is now True Image. Excellent piece of software
and a bargain for the money.

Steve

"BIGABAZ" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
>I want to back up the whole of C drive including windows xp operating
>system
> and place the backup onto my E drive which i had installed for this
> purpose.
> My question is - A which system is best i.e. norton ghost or acronis.AND
> B-
> does it do what it says as i prefer never to have to reinstall my system
> and
> programms again.

Great that you will be doing a system image. I do suggest, though, that you
not create the image on a second internal drive. That leaves you open to
some system event that damages both drives. Better that backups be placed
on external media.

Place the second drive you bought in an external drive enclosure and connect
it through USB. If you still want a second internal drive pickup another
drive to put in the enclosure. Drives are low cost these days. You can get
a white box 320GB WD Caviar drive for less than $90. Here is an example of
such an enclosure, and the drive.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817146307
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822144392

I previously used Powerquest's Drive Image 7 in XP but they were bought out
some time ago by Symantec and the technology incorporated in the current
Ghost line. I did like it very much. but have no experience with it's
incarnation as Ghost.

Since I am now using Vista, I changed to Acronis True Image Home version 10
which works in both XP and Vista. It is a nice program, with many features
including the ability to do volume imaging, drive imaging, drive cloning and
file backup. Restores can be done on an image/drive basis or by individual
files. It can also do incremental and differential imaging. It's easy to
use.

Whatever system you go with make sure you test out how it works and that it
works. Restoring to a spare drive is the best way to do this. In that way
you see how it works in a real situation.

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]

"Rock" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> "BIGABAZ" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
>>I want to back up the whole of C drive including windows xp operating
>>system
>> and place the backup onto my E drive which i had installed for this
>> purpose.
>> My question is - A which system is best i.e. norton ghost or acronis.AND
>> B-
>> does it do what it says as i prefer never to have to reinstall my system
>> and
>> programms again.
>
> Great that you will be doing a system image. I do suggest, though, that
> you not create the image on a second internal drive. That leaves you open
> to some system event that damages both drives. Better that backups be
> placed on external media.
>
> Place the second drive you bought in an external drive enclosure and
> connect it through USB. If you still want a second internal drive pickup
> another drive to put in the enclosure. Drives are low cost these days.
> You can get a white box 320GB WD Caviar drive for less than $90. Here is
> an example of such an enclosure, and the drive.
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817146307
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822144392
>
> I previously used Powerquest's Drive Image 7 in XP but they were bought
> out some time ago by Symantec and the technology incorporated in the
> current Ghost line. I did like it very much. but have no experience with
> it's incarnation as Ghost.
>
> Since I am now using Vista, I changed to Acronis True Image Home version
> 10 which works in both XP and Vista. It is a nice program, with many
> features including the ability to do volume imaging, drive imaging, drive
> cloning and file backup. Restores can be done on an image/drive basis or
> by individual files. It can also do incremental and differential imaging.
> It's easy to use.
>
> Whatever system you go with make sure you test out how it works and that
> it works. Restoring to a spare drive is the best way to do this. In that
> way you see how it works in a real situation.
>
> --
> Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]


In the past, I've heard/read that a "ghosted" drive image on a drive
different from the first one may act flaky because Windows will notice the
hardware difference. Is this the case?

"JoeSpareBedroom" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote

> "Rock" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote

>> "BIGABAZ" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
>>>I want to back up the whole of C drive including windows xp operating
>>>system
>>> and place the backup onto my E drive which i had installed for this
>>> purpose.
>>> My question is - A which system is best i.e. norton ghost or acronis.AND
>>> B-
>>> does it do what it says as i prefer never to have to reinstall my system
>>> and
>>> programms again.

>> Great that you will be doing a system image. I do suggest, though, that
>> you not create the image on a second internal drive. That leaves you
>> open to some system event that damages both drives. Better that backups
>> be placed on external media.
>>
>> Place the second drive you bought in an external drive enclosure and
>> connect it through USB. If you still want a second internal drive pickup
>> another drive to put in the enclosure. Drives are low cost these days.
>> You can get a white box 320GB WD Caviar drive for less than $90. Here is
>> an example of such an enclosure, and the drive.
>> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817146307
>> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822144392
>>
>> I previously used Powerquest's Drive Image 7 in XP but they were bought
>> out some time ago by Symantec and the technology incorporated in the
>> current Ghost line. I did like it very much. but have no experience with
>> it's incarnation as Ghost.
>>
>> Since I am now using Vista, I changed to Acronis True Image Home version
>> 10 which works in both XP and Vista. It is a nice program, with many
>> features including the ability to do volume imaging, drive imaging, drive
>> cloning and file backup. Restores can be done on an image/drive basis or
>> by individual files. It can also do incremental and differential
>> imaging. It's easy to use.
>>
>> Whatever system you go with make sure you test out how it works and that
>> it works. Restoring to a spare drive is the best way to do this. In
>> that way you see how it works in a real situation.

> In the past, I've heard/read that a "ghosted" drive image on a drive
> different from the first one may act flaky because Windows will notice the
> hardware difference. Is this the case?

Not that I've heard or seen. It is a good idea though, after cloning a
bootable drive, to remove the parent drive, and have only the clone attached
for the first boot up. Even when properly cabled, with jumpers set and the
right boot order in the BIOS, if during the first boot the parent can be
seen, it can mess up the ability to boot from the new drive. This doesn't
happen in all cases, some folks have done it without a problem, but it is
best to remove the parent drive for the first boot. After that all should
be well.

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]

"Rock" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> "JoeSpareBedroom" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
>
>> "Rock" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
>
>>> "BIGABAZ" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
>>>>I want to back up the whole of C drive including windows xp operating
>>>>system
>>>> and place the backup onto my E drive which i had installed for this
>>>> purpose.
>>>> My question is - A which system is best i.e. norton ghost or
>>>> acronis.AND B-
>>>> does it do what it says as i prefer never to have to reinstall my
>>>> system and
>>>> programms again.
>
>>> Great that you will be doing a system image. I do suggest, though, that
>>> you not create the image on a second internal drive. That leaves you
>>> open to some system event that damages both drives. Better that backups
>>> be placed on external media.
>>>
>>> Place the second drive you bought in an external drive enclosure and
>>> connect it through USB. If you still want a second internal drive
>>> pickup another drive to put in the enclosure. Drives are low cost these
>>> days. You can get a white box 320GB WD Caviar drive for less than $90.
>>> Here is an example of such an enclosure, and the drive.
>>> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817146307
>>> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822144392
>>>
>>> I previously used Powerquest's Drive Image 7 in XP but they were bought
>>> out some time ago by Symantec and the technology incorporated in the
>>> current Ghost line. I did like it very much. but have no experience
>>> with it's incarnation as Ghost.
>>>
>>> Since I am now using Vista, I changed to Acronis True Image Home version
>>> 10 which works in both XP and Vista. It is a nice program, with many
>>> features including the ability to do volume imaging, drive imaging,
>>> drive cloning and file backup. Restores can be done on an image/drive
>>> basis or by individual files. It can also do incremental and
>>> differential imaging. It's easy to use.
>>>
>>> Whatever system you go with make sure you test out how it works and that
>>> it works. Restoring to a spare drive is the best way to do this. In
>>> that way you see how it works in a real situation.
>
>> In the past, I've heard/read that a "ghosted" drive image on a drive
>> different from the first one may act flaky because Windows will notice
>> the hardware difference. Is this the case?
>
> Not that I've heard or seen. It is a good idea though, after cloning a
> bootable drive, to remove the parent drive, and have only the clone
> attached for the first boot up. Even when properly cabled, with jumpers
> set and the right boot order in the BIOS, if during the first boot the
> parent can be seen, it can mess up the ability to boot from the new drive.
> This doesn't happen in all cases, some folks have done it without a
> problem, but it is best to remove the parent drive for the first boot.
> After that all should be well.
>
> --
> Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]

Hmmm. Perhaps Windows only notices processor changes, as when someone
changes a mother board, or moves a hard drive to a new computer and make it
the first bootable drive. I know I've seen this somewhere.....

"JoeSpareBedroom" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote

> "Rock" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote

>> "JoeSpareBedroom" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
>>
>>> "Rock" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
>>
>>>> "BIGABAZ" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
>>>>>I want to back up the whole of C drive including windows xp operating
>>>>>system
>>>>> and place the backup onto my E drive which i had installed for this
>>>>> purpose.
>>>>> My question is - A which system is best i.e. norton ghost or
>>>>> acronis.AND B-
>>>>> does it do what it says as i prefer never to have to reinstall my
>>>>> system and
>>>>> programms again.
>>
>>>> Great that you will be doing a system image. I do suggest, though,
>>>> that you not create the image on a second internal drive. That leaves
>>>> you open to some system event that damages both drives. Better that
>>>> backups be placed on external media.
>>>>
>>>> Place the second drive you bought in an external drive enclosure and
>>>> connect it through USB. If you still want a second internal drive
>>>> pickup another drive to put in the enclosure. Drives are low cost
>>>> these days. You can get a white box 320GB WD Caviar drive for less than
>>>> $90. Here is an example of such an enclosure, and the drive.
>>>> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817146307
>>>> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822144392
>>>>
>>>> I previously used Powerquest's Drive Image 7 in XP but they were bought
>>>> out some time ago by Symantec and the technology incorporated in the
>>>> current Ghost line. I did like it very much. but have no experience
>>>> with it's incarnation as Ghost.
>>>>
>>>> Since I am now using Vista, I changed to Acronis True Image Home
>>>> version 10 which works in both XP and Vista. It is a nice program,
>>>> with many features including the ability to do volume imaging, drive
>>>> imaging, drive cloning and file backup. Restores can be done on an
>>>> image/drive basis or by individual files. It can also do incremental
>>>> and differential imaging. It's easy to use.
>>>>
>>>> Whatever system you go with make sure you test out how it works and
>>>> that it works. Restoring to a spare drive is the best way to do this.
>>>> In that way you see how it works in a real situation.
>>
>>> In the past, I've heard/read that a "ghosted" drive image on a drive
>>> different from the first one may act flaky because Windows will notice
>>> the hardware difference. Is this the case?
>>
>> Not that I've heard or seen. It is a good idea though, after cloning a
>> bootable drive, to remove the parent drive, and have only the clone
>> attached for the first boot up. Even when properly cabled, with jumpers
>> set and the right boot order in the BIOS, if during the first boot the
>> parent can be seen, it can mess up the ability to boot from the new
>> drive. This doesn't happen in all cases, some folks have done it without
>> a problem, but it is best to remove the parent drive for the first boot.
>> After that all should be well.

> Hmmm. Perhaps Windows only notices processor changes, as when someone
> changes a mother board, or moves a hard drive to a new computer and make
> it the first bootable drive. I know I've seen this somewhere.....

The hard drive volume serial number is a factor in the hash for windows
activation, and that figures in whether the new drive is cloned or a fresh
install. There is a way to copy / restore the volume serial number to save
that vote. See this article on wpa by the late Alex Nichol, MVP.

http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.php

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]

"Rock" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:uYdP$(E-Mail Removed)...
> "JoeSpareBedroom" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
>
>> "Rock" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
>
>>> "JoeSpareBedroom" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
>>>
>>>> "Rock" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
>>>
>>>>> "BIGABAZ" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
>>>>>>I want to back up the whole of C drive including windows xp operating
>>>>>>system
>>>>>> and place the backup onto my E drive which i had installed for this
>>>>>> purpose.
>>>>>> My question is - A which system is best i.e. norton ghost or
>>>>>> acronis.AND B-
>>>>>> does it do what it says as i prefer never to have to reinstall my
>>>>>> system and
>>>>>> programms again.
>>>
>>>>> Great that you will be doing a system image. I do suggest, though,
>>>>> that you not create the image on a second internal drive. That leaves
>>>>> you open to some system event that damages both drives. Better that
>>>>> backups be placed on external media.
>>>>>
>>>>> Place the second drive you bought in an external drive enclosure and
>>>>> connect it through USB. If you still want a second internal drive
>>>>> pickup another drive to put in the enclosure. Drives are low cost
>>>>> these days. You can get a white box 320GB WD Caviar drive for less
>>>>> than $90. Here is an example of such an enclosure, and the drive.
>>>>> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817146307
>>>>> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822144392
>>>>>
>>>>> I previously used Powerquest's Drive Image 7 in XP but they were
>>>>> bought out some time ago by Symantec and the technology incorporated
>>>>> in the current Ghost line. I did like it very much. but have no
>>>>> experience with it's incarnation as Ghost.
>>>>>
>>>>> Since I am now using Vista, I changed to Acronis True Image Home
>>>>> version 10 which works in both XP and Vista. It is a nice program,
>>>>> with many features including the ability to do volume imaging, drive
>>>>> imaging, drive cloning and file backup. Restores can be done on an
>>>>> image/drive basis or by individual files. It can also do incremental
>>>>> and differential imaging. It's easy to use.
>>>>>
>>>>> Whatever system you go with make sure you test out how it works and
>>>>> that it works. Restoring to a spare drive is the best way to do this.
>>>>> In that way you see how it works in a real situation.
>>>
>>>> In the past, I've heard/read that a "ghosted" drive image on a drive
>>>> different from the first one may act flaky because Windows will notice
>>>> the hardware difference. Is this the case?
>>>
>>> Not that I've heard or seen. It is a good idea though, after cloning a
>>> bootable drive, to remove the parent drive, and have only the clone
>>> attached for the first boot up. Even when properly cabled, with jumpers
>>> set and the right boot order in the BIOS, if during the first boot the
>>> parent can be seen, it can mess up the ability to boot from the new
>>> drive. This doesn't happen in all cases, some folks have done it without
>>> a problem, but it is best to remove the parent drive for the first boot.
>>> After that all should be well.
>
>> Hmmm. Perhaps Windows only notices processor changes, as when someone
>> changes a mother board, or moves a hard drive to a new computer and make
>> it the first bootable drive. I know I've seen this somewhere.....
>
> The hard drive volume serial number is a factor in the hash for windows
> activation, and that figures in whether the new drive is cloned or a fresh
> install. There is a way to copy / restore the volume serial number to
> save that vote. See this article on wpa by the late Alex Nichol, MVP.
>
> http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.php
>
> --
> Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]


The OP should take a look at your link, I guess. What I recall is that the
backup you're counting on may not be as solid as you think. It should be
tested under the actual conditions in which it will be needed. And, data
(the work done by the user with various kinds of software) should be backed
up a second time without the entire hard disk image.