System Imaging Tool W7

[Roderunner]

What is the best tool to make an image of C: Drive ? The one included with W7 Home Premium or Acronis TrueImage Home 2010.
My reason for asking will become clear in future posts.

 

[zigzag3143]

My vote Acronis True Image Home. More flexible, bullet proof, can convert win 7 backups to its format and back, etc

 

[essenbe]

Most experts agree with our own expert,ZIGZAG3143. I have read every comparison review I could find and they all say Acronis is best. I have used it myself. But, after reading their forums I have my doubts.

I am now using the free scaled down version of Acronis from Western Digital and Seagate. I also use Seagate's Replica (which I can assure you - it works) and free Macrium. I just figure with all three of those on different external HDs I am pretty safe.

 

[Roderunner]

Thanks zigzag3143 & essenbe, my short explanation re backing up is using 'one click' to location of my choice whenever I make a change or a program gets updated. Back up time, under 6 minutes, size under 5gb.
My C: Drive is 45gb, contains only installed programs and copies of some pictures, everything else is stored on 3 external hdd's.

 

[whs]

There is no best - I think. But there is definitely a worst - and that is Windows7 imaging. I use free Macrium and never had a problem. It is easy to use, fast and reliable, plus it is free.

 

[Wishmaster]

Acronis is very good. I've had no problems with it.

 

[essenbe]

I use several just to be safe. Macrium is fast. My C Drive takes 3 minutes & 40 Sec. for a backup. However, the real issue in imaging is not speed, cost or size. The real issue is will it restore your drive when needed - reliability. That is the question that is most important. It does not make any difference if it takes 20 minutes to do a backup if you know for certain it will work when needed.

 

[mjf]

Everybody has their favourite and some have pet hates.
I believe in using two separate imaging programs for security and at least 2 separate backup drives.
I personally use
1) Windows native imaging. I've made ~ 15 images with it restored at least 6 times including once directly to a new HDD. Put in the virgin new HDD did an image restore. Came back Windows was sitting there asking for a login.
2) I also use Macrium Reflect (free edition at this stage). All images have verified. Restored once just to test it. It's a bit more flexible in terms of partition choice.
Macrium images on my system in the same time as windows imaging +- 5%.
Macrium restores much slower to a large partition (under 20% full).

Both have been reliable for me but mainly use Windows because it reimages faster. I don't trust either 100%.

 

[essenbe]

mjf, I agree with your backup philosophy. I use 3 different backup programs rotating between different externals (don't trust them either).

 

[Golden]

Macrium for me : its just so easy to use.

 

[Dave76]

I use the free Acronis from Western Digital and Seagate, and free Macrium.

Never had any problems with any of them.

 

[Roderunner]

At present, I'm only using Acronis. I have successfully made/restored by using it within Windows and I know it works in using boot from disk method. Restore time is approx 5 minutes. I also keep a minimum of 3 images for each PC.
Thanks.

 

[Hopalong X]

If you have room on your back up hard drive as I do then use Windows System Image and Backup and free Macrium.
I have reimaged my C/ Win 7 OS twice with Windows Sytem Image and Backup. Did it just yesterday. They do work.
I also have the Macrium if Windows Image doesn't work.
If you have the space available you might as well use some of it.

Acronis seems to be good by all that use it. I haven't tried it myself. It would also be a good choice in place of Macrium.

Mike

 

[essenbe]

Hopalong, If you have space why not use both Acronis free as well as Macrium? I learned the hard way, you can't have too many backups.

 

[kado897]

One thing you must do is test the restore from the boot CD. I tried Macrium Free and the linux restore CD was a bit iffy at locating my backup drive. For this reason I dumped it and have gone back to windows imaging.

 

[Hopalong X]

Hopalong, If you have space why not use both Acronis free as well as Macrium? I learned the hard way, you can't have too many backups.

I see no reason not to. :sarc:

I just figured two should be sufficient.

Plus I have multiple images to re image from. Keeping one of each is never sufficient.

Mike

 

[OldMX]

PING or Clonezilla, both work flawless all the time, and dont have issues with the first "100mb" partition.

 

[Roderunner]

In the past, I tried Macrium & Paragon, I found them unreliable same for latest build of Acronis 2011. As for Windows built in effort, tried once or twice when on Vista Home Prem, did'ny like it so never used on W7.

 

[mjf]

As I said earlier I use Windows & Macrium. I reimage all the time with Windows. I reimaged again last night after installing NIS2011 to check NIS2011 reimaged ok - certainly did.
This thread is the first time I've seen a negative Macrium comment - interesting.
Macrium linux rescue disk hasn't ever been a problem for me but I know the Macrium pe function on the Hirens (12, 13) boot CD works (works under Hiren's mini XP environment). This is equivalent to the Bartpe capability.

Acronis and Windows could be a useful combination since Acronis will find & restore the Windows image vhds !!!! Great capability since Windows sometimes screws up it's own image auto locate capability.

 

[kado897]

As I said earlier I use Windows & Macrium. I reimage all the time with Windows. I reimaged again last night after installing NIS2011 to check NIS2011 reimaged ok - certainly did.
This thread is the first time I've seen a negative Macrium comment - interesting.
Macrium linux rescue disk hasn't ever been a problem for me but I know the Macrium pe function on the Hirens (12, 13) boot CD works (works under Hiren's mini XP environment). This is equivalent to the Bartpe capability.

Acronis and Windows could be a useful combination since Acronis will find & restore the Windows image vhds !!!! Great capability since Windows sometimes screws up it's own image auto locate capability.

That's interesting. Mine is the other way round. Windows restore always finds my backup disk and Macrium only sometimes. I am using a 1TB Iomega USB connected disk. With the linux recovery CD it always reads the disk (flashing light) when it is building it's selections but only sometimes displays it.