Restore

[Newbie]

Hello,

Our company uses HP and Dell workstations w/XP pro.
If system crash then we can restore back with disk image.
But their disk image come with a lot of trial software,I have to remove them
one by one.
Can I have a clean install then create my own disk image?
If the system crash again then I can restore back without trial software.

Thanks

 

[Jim]

Hello,

Our company uses HP and Dell workstations w/XP pro.
If system crash then we can restore back with disk image.
But their disk image come with a lot of trial software,I have to remove
them
one by one.
Can I have a clean install then create my own disk image?
If the system crash again then I can restore back without trial software.

Thanks

Those companies certainly do know how to create a system that is cluttered
with superflous programs (superflous to me anyway).
After you get the system setup the way that you want it, make backup using
Acronis True Image (ATI). ATI is not free.
Make sure that the backup resides on one or more DVDs.
ATI can create a restore CD which will restore the backup.
Furthermore, you don't need two DVD drives because ATI is memory resident.
You just remove the CD and proceed with the restoration.
It takes my system less than 15 minutes to make a backup.
It takes about the same time to restore.
Jim

 

[JS]

Yes you can, but the Image file can not be located on the same drive
partition.

You need to store/create the image file to:
1) A separate partition on the same drive.
(not recommended because if the drive fails you lose your image backup)
2) To a second internal hard drive.
(Still some risk if you have a catastrophic failure of the PC)
3) Or as most people will recommend to an external hard drive.
4) Use Windows Sever to store the image file.
(I've see it done, but I'm a home user and have no need to)

Norton Ghost
http://www.symantec.com/norton/products/overview.jsp?pcid=br&pvid=ghost14

True Image (has a 15 day trial version available)
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/


JS

 

[Bill in Co.]

Yes it can. It can be stored in the Acronis Secure Zone.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Who owns the machine, you or your employer?

 

[Newbie]

The employer owns the PCs.

We like to setup 2 partitions for each PC.
Then backup partition 1 image to partition 2.
If system crash, then we can restore image from partition 2 to partition 1.
Like HP does.
In this case, we don't have to remove any trial softwares.

Thanks

 

[John Barnett MVP]

Easiest way is to install from the manufacturer's recovery disk (including
all the trial software) then remove the trial software and any other
applications you don't want and image your drive/partition using Acronis
True Image. If you then experience any problems you just re-image the
Acronis image back to the drive/partition.

Acronis can actually create a 'secure' partition for you to back up to. This
doesn't show up in windows disk management, so it can't be deleted by a
third party. Unfortunately, though, it does show up, and can be deleted, if
you have third party partitioning software installed.

--

--
John Barnett MVP
Windows XP Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

The employer owns the PCs.

We like to setup 2 partitions for each PC.
Then backup partition 1 image to partition 2.
If system crash, then we can restore image from partition 2 to partition 1.
Like HP does.

If that's your backup scheme, you're kidding yourself. It's better
than no backup at all, but only slightly.

You're perhaps protecting yourself against the operating system itself
crashing, but that's far from the biggest danger there is to your
data. You need to protect yourself against the more common dangers:
hard drive crash, user error, nearby lightning strike, virus attack,
even theft of the computer. Any of these can cause the loss of
everything on your drive.

If you're serious about backup, your backups need to be on removable
media, and not kept in the computer. For really secure backup (needed,
for example, if the life of your business depends on your data) you
should have multiple generations of backup, and at least one of those
generations should be stored off-site.

 

[Newbie]

Hello,

We ask all employee store their data in server. The data backup is not the
issue.
Workstation only has operating system and application software.
If I have a 'clean' image, then this will save me a lot of time when system
crash.
Do you have any link about this DIY?

Thanks

 

[JS]

It's another (hidden) partition created by Acronis, so it can't!

JS

 

[Doug Knox - [MS-MVP]]

There are a variety of tools out there for creating images of hard disks.
One of the simpler and cheaper ones is Image For Windows. You can create an
image file on DVD (self restoring) or in unused space on an external USB 2.0
hard disk. Along with it included Image for DOS, you have a fully
functional imaging and restore package for about $40.

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/image-for-windows.htm

--
Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows Media Center\Windows Powered Smart
Display\Security
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hello,

We ask all employee store their data in server. The data backup is not the
issue.
Workstation only has operating system and application software.
If I have a 'clean' image, then this will save me a lot of time when system
crash.
Do you have any link about this DIY?

Sorry, I don't know what you mean by DIY.

 

[Newbie]

Do It Yourself

Sorry, I don't know what you mean by DIY.

 

[Bill in Co.]

I'm sorry, but it can. True, it is normally hidden and accessible only
through Acronis, but that doesn't mean it can't be used! The point being
that the images CAN be stored on the same drive, if you're willing to put up
with that limitation.

 

[Bill in Co.]

Easiest way is to install from the manufacturer's recovery disk (including
all the trial software) then remove the trial software and any other
applications you don't want and image your drive/partition using Acronis
True Image. If you then experience any problems you just re-image the
Acronis image back to the drive/partition.

Acronis can actually create a 'secure' partition for you to back up to.
This
doesn't show up in windows disk management, so it can't be deleted by a
third party. Unfortunately, though, it does show up,
Unfortunately??

and can be deleted, if you have third party partitioning software
installed.

OR it can be deleted from within Acronis, of course.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Do you work in your company's IT department?

The employer owns the PCs.

We like to setup 2 partitions for each PC.
Then backup partition 1 image to partition 2.
If system crash, then we can restore image from partition 2 to partition
1.
Like HP does.
In this case, we don't have to remove any trial softwares.

Thanks

 

[Newbie]

Yes

Do you work in your company's IT department?

 

[John Barnett MVP]

Yes Bill it can be deleted from within Acronis. As for 'unfortunately' it is
unfortunate that it is visible in a third party partitioning application
because it is easy for someone not familiar with partitions to delete it. It
would much rather it be 'hidden' in all applications.

--

--
John Barnett MVP
Windows XP Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

 

[Daave]

I found these replys very interesting. My system crashed and I used a
restore function. I now have lots of desktop ikons which no longer
work. Lots of sample software I deleted years ago and I am very
confused about how to proceed. You can tell I need help or direction.

In the future, please start a new thread (your own) rather than
piggyback one an existing on (someone else's).

Please define the phrase "used a restore function."

You also stated that you now have "lots of sample software I deleted
years ago." It sounds like you may have used your PC's (not Windows')
function to return to its original fresh-from-factory state. Please see:

http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/d1230e68abb05b99

 

[JS]

In my original post I said "but the Image file can not be located on the
same drive
partition.".

Yes it can be on the same drive, just not the same partition.

JS