Need SSD Image Backup

websquad · 18 Jun 2012

I have a SanDisk Extreme SSD, 120MB, as my drive "C" dedicated to the OS and programs. I tried to use [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]Acronis [COLOR=blue !important]True[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] Image to make an image backup to two different drives on my system. In both cases it failed and trashed the hard drives.

I need suggestion(s) for a good Flash Drive to rotating disk drive image backup -- of course, would prefer free software, but will pay if necessary.

Thanks!

Golden · 19 Jun 2012

Hi,

Have you considered Macrium Reflect for this task? Its free.

Imaging with free Macrium

Regards,
Golden

mjf · 19 Jun 2012

I use Macrium Reflect but mainly Windows inbuilt imaging for a routine OS image. I've restored images many times with both and had no problems. After making an image restoring is the acid test.

websquad · 19 Jun 2012

mjf said:

I use Macrium Reflect but mainly Windows inbuilt imaging for a routine OS image. I've restored images many times with both and had no problems. After making an image restoring is the acid test.

Tell me more about your acid test. I download the 30-day trial version and made a image copy from "C" to "D" ... "D" was otherwise empty. Then I went into BIOS and tried to boot from "D" ... Didn't work, but then, after booting from "C" I noticed that "D" must be compressed. So, do I use the Macrium Reflect package to unpack "D" and restore that to another empty disk (fortunately, I have one)?

mjf · 19 Jun 2012

websquad said:

mjf said:

I use Macrium Reflect but mainly Windows inbuilt imaging for a routine OS image. I've restored images many times with both and had no problems. After making an image restoring is the acid test.

Tell me more about your acid test. I download the 30-day trial version and made a image copy from "C" to "D" ... "D" was otherwise empty. Then I went into BIOS and tried to boot from "D" ... Didn't work, but then, after booting from "C" I noticed that "D" must be compressed. So, do I use the Macrium Reflect package to unpack "D" and restore that to another empty disk (fortunately, I have one)?

"Acid test" is merely an expression meaning that a successful system image restore is when you know you have a good image and imaging software for your purposes.
You cannot boot directly to an image. It is a snapshot of your HDD but stored in a special format which may also include compression. You must carry out an image restore either to your existing OS HDD or to a new (spare) internal HDD.
The safest way to test this all out is
1) Make an image of your OS oartition including system reserved if you have one using Windows inbuilt imaging or say the very good free Macrium Reflect.
2) Make the bootable recovery CD/DVD. For Windows imaging it is a system repair CD. For Macrium a Member WHS has kindly provided a pre made ISO download as a zip file
FileSwap.com : Macrium 5.0 WinPE.zip download free
3) Disconnect your current OS HDD and replace it with a new or spare at least equal to the size of your existing HDD.
4) Restore the image to the new HDD using the bootable restore CD/DVD and it should boot up just like your original.

In the process you have made a spare bootable HDD and proved that an image restore to you existing HDD should go fine.

A lot of words for completeness but it is really quite straight forward - maybe a bit nerve racking the first time you do it.