Imaging software

[imported_Irse]

I have my main HD partitioned into C (boot) and D (data). I want to image C into a bootable drive just in case of a failure in the C partition of my original drive. I have a copy of True Image 2009 and don't think that it can do it. Or I can't seem to get it to do it. Acronis hasn't replied to my email yet. I also have Bounceback Pro which they responded to the same question by telling me that I have to copy the entire HD onto a new one. Can't just have the C part imaged and bootable. Can Norton Ghost do it? I can't seem to get an email address to contact them. In fact their site is pretty terrible. I prefer not to use Norton so would there another software I should be considering? Thanks

 

[mc866]

I haven't used partitions in a while but I believe that Acronis does not allow doing an image of just a single partition on a drive, it requires you to image the entire drive.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: mc866
I haven't used partitions in a while but I believe that Acronis does not allow doing an image of just a single partition on a drive, it requires you to image the entire drive.

Really? My versions of True Image do. Although I haven't messed with the plain version in a while. (Messing with Echo lately).

 

[imported_Irse]

Thanks. I was looking for setting to do the partition but could only see one for the whole drive. Just confirms what I thought.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: Irse
Thanks. I was looking for setting to do the partition but could only see one for the whole drive. Just confirms what I thought.

At the very least, download the trial version of True Image, and see if it does what you want it to do. Can't really go wrong that way. I've gotten away from True Image after building a WHS. Just make sure you have good RAM in your machine as it will corrupt your True Image files otherwise. Run memtest on your sticks before you dedicate to True Image backups.

 

[imported_Irse]

Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo

Originally posted by: Irse
Thanks. I was looking for setting to do the partition but could only see one for the whole drive. Just confirms what I thought.

At the very least, download the trial version of True Image, and see if it does what you want it to do. Can't really go wrong that way. I've gotten away from True Image after building a WHS. Just make sure you have good RAM in your machine as it will corrupt your True Image files otherwise. Run memtest on your sticks before you dedicate to True Image backups.

I have a copy of True Image and I don't know if I'm using it properly but it doesn't seem to do what I want.

 

[corkyg]

If TI won't do it, Disk Director will. I have both, and partition imaging is easy with DD.

DD

 

[13Gigatons]

Try these steps:

1. Create an image of the C drive from the old hard drive.
2. Restore that image to the C drive of the new hard drive.
3. Unplug the old hard drive and plug in the new hard drive and bootup.

If you want both hard drives connected afterward you will need to change bootmenu for xp/vista.

 

[DoubleHelix747]

I just talked to Acronis via Live Chat. Here is the text:

Please wait while we find an agent to assist you...
You have been connected to Andrew Danilov.
Andrew Danilov: Hello! Thank you for contacting Acronis Customer Central! My name is Andrew, how can I assist you?
DH747: hello, I am looking to purchase Acronis True Image Home for back up purposes and have two questions (1) Can I create separate images of individual partitions on an HDD? (2) One of the partition on the HDD is for running Linux (Ubuntu plus related applications). Will the Acronis product work for imaging this partition?
Andrew Danilov: Thanks for your interest in our products, DH747. I'll answer any questions you may have
Andrew Danilov: Yes, you can backup individual partitions/ folders/ files
Andrew Danilov: True Image can create a backup of any partition. Linux partitions (ext2, ext3, Reiser FS) are supported
Andrew Danilov: It can backup unsupported partitions in sector-by-sector mode
DH747: Great, thank you - very helpful
DH747: Have a good day.

 

[imported_Irse]

Is backing up and cloning and being able to boot the same thing?

 

[dunkster]

Is backing up and cloning and being able to boot the same thing?

I use both methods. It's redundant, but effective.

Recovery of borked OS from saved image:
- An image of OS partition is saved to another partition on the same drive.
- If the OS becomes corrupted (can't boot), use recovery media to restore OS partition image.
- Restart PC and OS boots up in exact state as when the image was created.

I periodically clone my main drive to another drive (250GB drive takes about two hours). If my main drive fails, I can simply replace the failed drive with the cloned drive.

Imaging the OS partition takes only minutes, recovery takes only minutes. That's convenient, and is OK as long as the only failure is corrupt OS. But - if the drive itself fails, I'm screwed.

Cloning takes hours, which is inconvenient. But the clone is an exact copy of the main drive, and swapping drives fully recovers everything in minutes.

Security and quick recovery is the goal for either method.

Hope this helps!

 

[DoubleHelix747]

Originally posted by: dunkster
<Is backing up and cloning and being able to boot the same thing?

I use both methods. It's redundant, but effective.

Recovery of borked OS from saved image:
- An image of OS partition is saved to another partition on the same drive.
- If the OS becomes corrupted (can't boot), use recovery media to restore OS partition image.
- Restart PC and OS boots up in exact state as when the image was created.

I periodically clone my main drive to another drive (250GB drive takes about two hours). If my main drive fails, I can simply replace the failed drive with the cloned drive.

Imaging the OS partition takes only minutes, recovery takes only minutes. That's convenient, and is OK as long as the only failure is corrupt OS. But - if the drive itself fails, I'm screwed.

Cloning takes hours, which is inconvenient. But the clone is an exact copy of the main drive, and swapping drives fully recovers everything in minutes.

Security and quick recovery is the goal for either method.

Hope this helps!

How big is the image of the entire disk? I am wondering about the compression by the imaging program.

 

[13Gigatons]

Originally posted by: Irse
I have my main HD partitioned into C (boot) and D (data). I want to image C into a bootable drive just in case of a failure in the C partition of my original drive. I have a copy of True Image 2009 and don't think that it can do it. Or I can't seem to get it to do it. Acronis hasn't replied to my email yet. I also have Bounceback Pro which they responded to the same question by telling me that I have to copy the entire HD onto a new one. Can't just have the C part imaged and bootable. Can Norton Ghost do it? I can't seem to get an email address to contact them. In fact their site is pretty terrible. I prefer not to use Norton so would there another software I should be considering? Thanks

The purpose of Acronis True Image is EXACTLY what you are looking for. It creates an image of any partition and lets you recovery that partition. If it's an operating system partition then it will be bootable.

5.3 Performing backup
1. Start Acronis True Image Home

2. Choose Backup and Restore in the lower area of the sidebar and the Create backup
task item will be selected by default.

3. Select what type of data you want to back up.

Acronis True Image Home offers you the following backup types:

My Computer (image backup of any set of disks/partitions)

 

[imported_Irse]

Originally posted by: 13Gigatons

Originally posted by: Irse
I have my main HD partitioned into C (boot) and D (data). I want to image C into a bootable drive just in case of a failure in the C partition of my original drive. I have a copy of True Image 2009 and don't think that it can do it. Or I can't seem to get it to do it. Acronis hasn't replied to my email yet. I also have Bounceback Pro which they responded to the same question by telling me that I have to copy the entire HD onto a new one. Can't just have the C part imaged and bootable. Can Norton Ghost do it? I can't seem to get an email address to contact them. In fact their site is pretty terrible. I prefer not to use Norton so would there another software I should be considering? Thanks

The purpose of Acronis True Image is EXACTLY what you are looking for. It creates an image of any partition and lets you recovery that partition. If it's an operating system partition then it will be bootable.

5.3 Performing backup
1. Start Acronis True Image Home

2. Choose Backup and Restore in the lower area of the sidebar and the Create backup
task item will be selected by default.

3. Select what type of data you want to back up.

Acronis True Image Home offers you the following backup types:

My Computer (image backup of any set of disks/partitions)

Thanks. It's it. I was looking more under disk utilities and cloning.