Free Acronis TrueImage

[Synapse Syndrome]

If you have a Maxtor or Seagate hard drive within your system, you can use
the free MaxBlast 5 or DiscWizard software, which are both free versions of
Acronis TrueImage (Home?).

MaxBlast 5
http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.j...toid=7add8b9c4a8ff010VgnVCM100000dd04090aRCRD

DiscWizard
http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.j...toid=d9fd4a3cdde5c010VgnVCM100000dd04090aRCRD

I've known about this for a while, but I have not used either versions, as I
have a TrueImage Workstation license. So I am not sure if these versions
have every feature of TrueImage.

I'd like to know more about this, without having to try it myself, so if
anybody is interested in this, please tell me if it is just like TrueImage.

Thanks

ss.

 

[Guest]

Thanks "Synapse Syndrome", that is a very useful link. I just downloaded the
program.

So I am not sure if these versions have every feature of TrueImage...

On each of the pages you linked to, you can download a .pdf program manual
which explains all the features (it's under "Learn More About..." in several
languages).
I'm not familiar with the original Acronis TrueImage program but it seems
these Seagate versions can do everything one could want - save and restore
disk images, browse the image files with it's own explorer, so you can
restore individual files instead of the whole partition; it can make bottable
media of the program (wise in case your system disc becomes unbootable and
you need to restore it from a saved image).

Thanks for the tip

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

Thanks "Synapse Syndrome", that is a very useful link. I just
downloaded the program.


On each of the pages you linked to, you can download a .pdf program
manual which explains all the features (it's under "Learn More
About..." in several languages).
I'm not familiar with the original Acronis TrueImage program but it
seems these Seagate versions can do everything one could want - save
and restore disk images, browse the image files with it's own
explorer, so you can restore individual files instead of the whole
partition; it can make bottable media of the program (wise in case
your system disc becomes unbootable and you need to restore it from a
saved image).

Thanks for the feedback. Yes, the PDF manual seem to show a pretty full
featured program, and I can tell my brother to install it on his office
computers. I am surprised you can even make the bootable ISOs.

One thing that does appear to be missing is the Acronis Secure Zone and the
ability to enter the program on bootup by pressing F11, although I am not
sure if the Home version has this.

I wonder what happens if you only have one Maxtor/Seagate drive, and that is
the one that fails? This will not be an issue for my brother, but it is
something to consider.

ss.

 

[Guest]

OK I've tested it now: made my first backup image of my Vista system
partition from within Vista, validated it, browsed inside it (it comes up as
another drive letter and you can copy individual files out of it, if you
don't want to restore the entire disk). The few missing features are what
several reviewers have described as "bloat" in the latest TrueImage (backup
only your emails etc) so I wouldn't describe it as crippled or a "lite"
version really.

The bootable CD works fine too. It can even restore from ftp. Note: when you
create the boot CD from within Windows, make sure all your external USB
drives etc are plugged in. Then your Seagate CD will include the drivers for
them.

Having spent many hours checking out the alternatives (paid stuff such as
Norton Ghost and various freeware) this looks like the best option for an
ordinary competent user. An hour after reading your message and following
your links, I had a complete validated backup of my whole system. If my hard
disk caught fire I could be using an identical system on a new hard disk in
minutes.

I guess a technician would prefer Bart's PE or the UBCD Ultimate Boot Disk
because you can add many other diagnosis and repair apps. If so, this Seagate
tool could be added to that.

I wonder what happens if you only have one Maxtor/Seagate drive, and that is
the one that fails?

I don't know whether it checks that you have a Seagate drive currently
plugged in. I'm sure the bootable CD will be happy if the replaceent drive
you are restoring to is a Seagate.

 

[Dave T.]

If you have a Maxtor or Seagate hard drive within your system, you can use
the free MaxBlast 5 or DiscWizard software, which are both free versions of
Acronis TrueImage (Home?).

SS, Is it a requirement to have that brand of hard drive? I didn't
detect anything on the subject at the site you posted.

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

The bootable CD works fine too. It can even restore from ftp. Note:
when you create the boot CD from within Windows, make sure all your
external USB drives etc are plugged in. Then your Seagate CD will
include the drivers for them.

This is something that I have never thought of, and could be the reason why
I have been recently having such a problem using TrueImage Workstation with
Universal Restore, while trying to move an OS installation from one machine
to another. I do not use USB drives, but the computers have different RAID
controllers. I'll have to look into this, to see how all the drivers can be
added to the CD. The .iso image is so small, that I do not understand why
they would do this.

I have assumed that the BootCDs always included all the available drivers
(the regular build updates for TrueImage are mainly for new controller
drivers).

I appreciate you feedback. It is almost like I have investigated it myself.

ss.

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

SS, Is it a requirement to have that brand of hard drive? I didn't
detect anything on the subject at the site you posted.

Yes, I think it is.

In the PDF manual, it states that a Maxtor or Seagate hard drive is
required, for either program.

Also, when I used to use an earlier version on Maxblast (a few years ago),
which was a DOS based floppy, it would refuse to work unless there was a
Maxtor hard drive installed.

ss.

 

[dennis@home]

OK I've tested it now: made my first backup image of my Vista system
partition from within Vista, validated it, browsed inside it (it comes up
as
another drive letter and you can copy individual files out of it, if you
don't want to restore the entire disk). The few missing features are what
several reviewers have described as "bloat" in the latest TrueImage
(backup
only your emails etc) so I wouldn't describe it as crippled or a "lite"
version really.

I downloaded the Seagate version and it appears to have the option to backup
just emails and so on.
It does need a Seagate drive attached but it works with my USB housing and
seagate drive plugged in even if I don't use it.

You need to have the seagate drive plugged in if you boot from the recovery
CD so for an emergency you either need an external drive like mine, a
replacement seagate or pay the $30 for Acronis.

Thanks to whomever it was that posted the links.