Windows 7 - Imaging your Windows7 build?

Hi. Anybody got any strong recommendation for disk imaging software? I hear diverse opinions on (eg) Acronis (and Acronis have a new version out in time for Windows7 launch in october) on Norton Ghost and various freeware titles, but I would welcome experiences and views from this forum. Thanks!

There are several good options for doing this, the one that a lot of users opt for is the native imaging capability in Windows 7 .. see Brinks tutorial -=> HERE

That being said, I use Acronis to back up my system to an off site facility ...

For the RC1 and RTM releases thus far I have used the built-in "system image" utility and it's been working great for me. I don't forsee a need on my end of needing anything more than this.

I have my answer...! Native Windows 7 utility sounds a winner... thanks for the pointers etc...

I've been using Acronis TI since XP. It works fine with Windows 7 as well. I already had to restore Windows 7 once. But everything worked out right, including activation. If you can manage to get a Acronis BootCD, you don't even have to install the program.

So, in the spirit of completeness... what are the forum's experiences of using the native Windows utility to build a recovery disc and *restore* their Windows 7 image successfully?

How did u go with "Windows 7 Utility"?

I used Ghost 2003 and ghosted an image to my USB HDD.

I've used Acronis on various other PC's in the past but since starting with Windows 7 a couple of months ago I have been using Windows 7's own imaging software.

While it is slower that Acronis to make and restore an image it works perfectly.....being one to tinker, I've used it to restore on more than a few occasions

Mine has been a perfect experience. I install my operating system and get my base drivers installed. Then, I use the Windows built in utility to create a "system image" which I choose to save to a connected USB hard drive. I pick the C drive as well as the hidden 100MB system partition.

If you need to restore, you put the Windows install DVD back into the computer and boot from it. When prompted for the type of install, you pick Repair. You then are given the ability to choose a "system image" to repair from. You pick it and then it puts the image back on your hard drive.

I've used this at least 15 times now at home and at work in testing. In addition, I've moved from 1 hard drive to another make and model using this and it's been just fine. And I've used it in 32bit and 64bit as well. As far as speed, It's taken less than 10 minutes to make the image and even shorter to restore it.....

I use Acronis True Image. Works fine to create and restore.