With you all suffering through my 32-->64 bit upgrade I want to be as proactive as reasonable in being prepared for the inevitable.
Here's my current 'problem' toolkit--if it's missing important stuff, let me know please:
1. Win7 64 bit OS ISO boot (the one I just used)
2. Win7 Repair disk
3. Magic Partition Manager boot CD
4 ?
Mark
Hi Mark,
4. A recently made 'System Image' when everything is working before the wheels fall off again.
Got that covered. I replace a quarterly image from the nightly Acronis scheduled image + Second Copy data backups that run each night between our two computers.
'10--7154, no problems at all. I was advised to stay put--newer is no better.
Hirens Boot CD
Partition Wizard (already on Hiren's I think).
Hi there
Hirens CD or similar -- It's all very well having an ISO image etc -- but sometimes you need a FUNCTIONING OS with web access too.
Any of these "Magic CD's" with things like Partition manager on them are fine -- they are usually Linux based but start up with a "Windows like" interface so Windows users should be able to navigate around quite easily.
Ideally this toolset should contain also your backup / restore program and your W7 image from your current OS.
With cheap 32GB USB sticks you should be able to put all this stuff including a W7 image on to it. 64 GB USB sticks are also around too although a little more pricey.
I prefer a USB stick --saves carrying DVD's or even portable HDD's around. Pretty well all computers now including laptops can boot from a usb stick - and some smaller laptops don't even have internal DVD drives any more either.
BTW I'm not sure if older versions of Acronis recognize eSata type disks or SSD's so you need to check that your backup / restore program REALLY DOES WORK before you find out in some place where you have to restore / repair a computer and the restore program doesn't work!!!.
BTW XBOOT technology is actually quite interesting -- I think the developer starts a mini Linux system which then runs QEMU (now there's an oldie !!!) which then acts as an application which boots a "Virtual Machine" from the ISO you have selected --- neat little trick. However I think the method below is even easier and has the advantage that you can use a standard Linux live CD.
Simply create a custom Live Linux CD of your choice, install vmware player for linux (version 3.01 available and is FREE) and then boot up your application ISO as the Virtual machine. QEMU is not the best way to run Virtual machines any more !!!!
Cheers
jimbo
Last edited by jimbo45; 06 Aug 2011 at 03:10.
Why have both Acronis and Macrium Reflect?
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