Imaging software

[C.B.]

Has anyone had any experiences, good or bad, with any of the following
imaging software? I would appreciate any information you can give me.
To the best of my knowledge they are all compatible with Vista. I've
researched all of them but have no experience with any of them. I am
currently using Acronis True Image 11.

Active Disk Image 3.1
Retrospect Express HD
Image for Windows
Paragon Exact Image
Paragon Hard Disk Manager
ShadowProtect 3.2
Norton Ghost 14

C.B.

 

[Adam Albright]

Has anyone had any experiences, good or bad, with any of the following
imaging software? I would appreciate any information you can give me.
To the best of my knowledge they are all compatible with Vista. I've
researched all of them but have no experience with any of them. I am
currently using Acronis True Image 11.

Active Disk Image 3.1
Retrospect Express HD
Image for Windows
Paragon Exact Image
Paragon Hard Disk Manager
ShadowProtect 3.2
Norton Ghost 14

C.B.

I wouldn't recommend or use any disk imaging software, period. I tried
a early version of Norton's Ghost years ago. Thankfully I tested only
a smaller hard drive I had separate backup for. It said it made a
successful backup of this drive but when I tried to restore things it
failed. THAT is a serious issues with all imaging software. They may
work, but you won't find out IF they worked until you need them. If
they fail then, you're up the creek without a paddle.

I back up the old fashioned way. I simply make multiple copies of MY
data files. That's it. If I even need to reinstall the system or some
software I'll cross that bridge if and when I need to.

 

[Hobbes]

Have to agree Albright...The restoration never works.
Back up data....data is what is lost, not the OS

 

[Dave T.]

I wouldn't recommend or use any disk imaging software, period. I tried
a early version of Norton's Ghost years ago. Thankfully I tested only
a smaller hard drive I had separate backup for. It said it made a
successful backup of this drive but when I tried to restore things it
failed. THAT is a serious issues with all imaging software. They may
work, but you won't find out IF they worked until you need them. If
they fail then, you're up the creek without a paddle.

I back up the old fashioned way. I simply make multiple copies of MY
data files. That's it. If I even need to reinstall the system or some
software I'll cross that bridge if and when I need to.

Adam, what you say makes perfect sense. The only thing that an image
resto does is save an awful lot of time and work. I did a full disk
restore after a virus problem using Ghost 9 and it worked out pretty
well. That was a number of years ago, but I don't recall any problems
completing the process.

--
Dave T.


"Your attitude serves as a lens through which you see life, and it's
best when that lens is focused on the positive possibilities." - Ralph
Marston

 

[C.B.]

Adam, what you say makes perfect sense. The only thing that an image resto
does is save an awful lot of time and work. I did a full disk restore
after a virus problem using Ghost 9 and it worked out pretty well. That
was a number of years ago, but I don't recall any problems completing the
process.

--
Dave T.


"Your attitude serves as a lens through which you see life, and it's best
when that lens is focused on the positive possibilities." - Ralph Marston

I've done several restores using Acronis True Image 11 and they all
went extremely well. I've restored from the Acronis Secure Zone, my first
external HD, my second external HD (the backup was actually a copy {Copy to
Folder} I made from my first HD) and from the bootable recovery disk I made.
No problems with any of them.
I always validate the backups upon completion and occasionally do a
restore just to make sure everything is working as it should. I do full disk
backups only. The backups take appx. 15 minutes and the restores 20-30
minutes, depending on where they came from.
It sure beats the hell out of reinstalling the OS, updates and all the
third party software. By the way, nice sig.

C.B.

 

[Ed.]

The best I have found and use are the products from
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/index.htm

I like the Image For DOS. All of the products you can try as they give you a
trial period. You can't go wrong and don't lose no money and see if you like
them. I have been using Bing, Image for DOS and Image for Windows and have
tried Image for Linux. Like I said I do mainly use Image for DOS (IFD).You
don't have to have Linux to use it. Some use it cause it has support for
more external devices and also provides more speed in some cases.

 

[C.B.]

Thank you for the reply. I appreciate it.

C.B.

The best I have found and use are the products from
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/index.htm

I like the Image For DOS. All of the products you can try as they give you
a trial period. You can't go wrong and don't lose no money and see if you
like them. I have been using Bing, Image for DOS and Image for Windows and
have tried Image for Linux. Like I said I do mainly use Image for DOS
(IFD).You don't have to have Linux to use it. Some use it cause it has
support for more external devices and also provides more speed in some
cases.