New free system imaging program

I haven't tried this app yet, but it sounds like it works like Acronis.

Meaning, the "System backup" just Images the partition the OS is installed. With no options to configure, just a quick backup.

If the OS is installed on a disc on its own, this obviously works, but you could also opt for the Disc/Partion Image.
A Partiton Image of C, would be the same as the Auto System backup.

But the Disc Image will image the entire disc, Including the System reserved (if there is one) and all other partitons, as well as the disc signature.
This is my perfered method for my OS drive.
So this method might have a image thats just slightly bigger.


And it does sound as if its leaving out librarys that are located on other drives. Which, IMHO, is a good thing. Simply because you can back those up seprately. If like me, they probably do not need to backed up nearly as often as the OS does.


Of course this is open to correction, as Im basing this on my experience of Acronis. It sounds like it works the same though.


How is this app overall if compared directly to Acronis?

ignatzatsonic said:

Wishmaster:

I'd guess the verdict is not in primarily because we don't have any info on problems or failed restore attempts, etc.

Superficially it appears better than Acronis: it's free, probably a better designed interface, seems to take less time to make an image, few limitations that would affect a home user, and no history (yet, that I know of) of failures.

I don't have any "reserved" partitions of any kind, so I can't tell you how it handles them. I would assume they would show up and need to be checked when doing a "disk and partition" backup.

A "system backup" requires all most no interaction with the user--you just choose a destination for the image.

Tentatively, I am going to use it, pending any feedback regarding issues. And get rid of Acronis (the free version available from WD and Seagate).

Of course, you never know about these apps until crunch time when you have a catastrophe.

Very true, and thanks for the input.

Think I'll go ahead & give it a try as well.

ignatzatsonic said:

Unless I am totally confused (always a possibility), the "system backup" choice does not include D and E and appears to be identical to a "disk and partition" backup of C alone.

I'm sure that is the case, and you aren't crazy. I've only tested on a box that contained a single C drive. Probably most home users would have a single drive setup as well and this one click backup would suffice. My home system (where I presently run Acronis) has an 80GB SSD for the OS and all applications. I have a spinner drive in this box, but it's just internet downloads and scratch stuff....so I don't include it anyway when I do images. Whenever I restore an image, all I want is the C drive. My actual data is stored on a file server at my house...which is backed up separately.

I'll test in a little bit to ensure that it gets the system reserved partitions and such.

Test results thus far:

Grabbed a Dell E6400 Laptop at work. Core 2 Duo 2.4Ghz CPU and 4GB of RAM. Since 160GB hard drive, 7,200 RPM. Installed Windows 7 Enterprise 64bit from USB key to it.

Total disk size after install, and download of EaseUsToDoBackup version 3 and installation of said sofware was 15,717.303.368 bytes.

Ran the 1 button press backup job (which did grab my C drive, and my System Reserved Partition) to my eSATA external drive
--Job took 2:28 seconds to backup. 4.734,436KB resulting output file.

Ran the backup manually, specified HIGH COMPRESSION with MEDIUM PRIORITY,
--Job took 6:30 seconds to backup, 3,732,976KB resulting output file.

Booted from the standard recovery media (is a bit slow, but works) and restored the 1 button push backup file
--Job took 4:45 seconds to restore.

Booted back into Windows 7 no problems at all.

edit: I'm in the process of burning the Windows PE version of the recovery media and will try that.

Edit: Windows PE version worked as well. Probably took a bit longer to start, presented by drive letters a bit nicer, but the overall restore process took 6:21 seconds versus 4:45 with the standard recovery media.

mjf said:

MilesAhead said:

I got the Macrium 5 trial. The Linux boot should have USB 3.0 support. I'm not going to test it tonight though. The Macrium Free edition 5 should be out in awhile. I bet they use the same Linux boot CD for it or maybe one version behind, when that is released. But I expect it to have USB 3.0 support as there's been a lot of clamor for it on the Macrium forums.

edit2: the product you mention I looked at the instructions how to make the WinPE disc. It's version 3.0 not the latest 3.1. Also they make you download WAIK(which is a GB download) so it looks like you either don't get the full WinPE or they are somehow kludging it.

I made the pe disk via the download. I think this inconvenience may be a licensing constraint imposed by MS.
Anyway the pe disk works fine EXCEPT I cannot get the Renesa usb3 drivers accepted when make the pe disk. Yet they are accepted and can be loaded after you boot the pe disk!

I might try the DISM suggestion to add them.

I was just disappointed the Linux boot didn't work hands off. Afaik (and a system builder guy may correct me if I'm wrong) all the USB 3.0 stuff is NEC with an NEC driver. So I would think if the Linux kernel with USB 3.0 works for motherboard USB 3.0 it should work for SIIG express card. I have WinPE 2.0 and can load the SIIG driver manually using drvload. It's just a pain having to fish it out during a restore.

Just seems like Macrium 5 is different than Macrium 4.2 in that the GUI is shifted around a bit and an upgrade now costs $$. Looks marketing rather than technical.

edit: btw didn't mean to turn it into a Macrium thread. So I'll quit bitchin' :)