Free Backup Software for your HD

[Creer]

Hi,

I have found a nice deals.

Western Digital offers free version of Acronis True Image - to use this you have to have WD hard drive:

Acronis True Image WD Edition is available for installing and launching only when a Western Digital HDD is connected.

Screens in attach.

more info and download:
WD Support

If you don't have WD HD, don't worry. Seagate offers also similar software (Disk Wizard) available here:
DiscWizard | Seagate

If you have Maxtor HD, MaxBlast is available here:
Link to .exe file: http://www.seagate.com/support/maxblast/MaxBlastSetup.en.exe


HTH,

 

[Dinesh]

Thank you so much for the useful info.

 

[Creer]

Thank you so much for the useful info.

You are welcome.

 

[swarfega]

Thanks for the info! Its a version behind but hey! its free!

 

[masterB]

Wasn't this version with problem restoring the image in W7? :huh:

I use v12 without problems.

 

[whs]

The Maxtor Imaging program works also on Seagates (now that they are the same company).

 

[Dave76]

Great find Creer.

Anyone used Seagate and WD versions?

Are they the same version of Acronis?

Have been using Seagates version, backed up and moved Win7 from eSATA external HD to internal HD (installed win7 on the internal then restored with Seagate/Acronis). Everything worked, no problems.

 

[SIW2]

The Maxblast 5 and Seagate Disk Wizard work ok on my 7 x64.

The WD looks to be the version allegedly giving trouble on 7.

Macrium Reflect Free is much better than any of those.

Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download

It is more efficient - smaller, faster , and allows scheduling as well as mounting to extract individual files.

It works with all makes of drives - and works perfectly on 7 x64.

 

[chuckr]

The Maxblast 5 and Seagate Disk Wizard work ok on my 7 x64.

The WD looks to be the version allegedly giving trouble on 7.

Macrium Reflect Free is much better than any of those.

Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download

It is more efficient - smaller, faster , and allows scheduling as well as mounting to extract individual files.

It works with all makes of drives - and works perfectly on 7 x64.

SIW2,

Do you know for a fact if Macrium backs up the MBR/Boot Sector stuff?

 

[SIW2]

Yes - you can choose if you want to restore the mbr with each image restore - of course, the bootsector is restored everytime as it is inside the partition.

 

[chuckr]

Yes

Thanks...

 

[SIW2]

You're welcome.

 

[Dinesh]

I installed the Macrium Reflect as guided by SIW2. However, i have some questions.
I created backup of my system reserved partition and C drive on my E drive.

Q1: When finishing the backup, it said that i can double click on the .xml file to restore the backup. However, the .xml file is in C drive. So what if the C drive itself is inaccessible?

Q2: I have been using Windows System image backup and i could easily restore the backup by booting into WIN RE and selecting the Windows Complete PC Restore option. Can i restore my backup created by Macrium from WIN RE?

Thanks,
Dinesh.

 

[Dave76]

I installed the Macrium Reflect as guided by SIW2. However, i have some questions.
I created backup of my system reserved partition and C drive on my E drive.

Q1: When finishing the backup, it said that i can double click on the .xml file to restore the backup. However, the .xml file is in C drive. So what if the C drive itself is inaccessible?

Q2: I have been using Windows System image backup and i could easily restore the backup by booting into WIN RE and selecting the Windows Complete PC Restore option. Can i restore my backup created by Macrium from WIN RE?

Thanks,
Dinesh.

Dinesh,

I don't think that WIN RE will work with Macrium files, different file extentions. You might try it to see!

Easier to use a bootable media, like USB stick. If your OS crashes you can boot from the USB stick and restore the OS partition. It's best to keep your backup images on a seperate physical hard drive, I use an external hard drive.

Q1. Your right accessing a file from the same drive and partition is not a good idea. I run my imaging program from my external hard drive. Then it can be used if your OS is still running, even from safe mode.

The Macrium site gives tut on doing this using a bootable Linux USB stick.

Gen Tuts:
Macrium Software - News and Articles - Tutorials

How to create a bootable Linux USB stick

Hope this helps,
Dave

 

[Dinesh]

Hi Dave, thanks for the explanation. I already have an Ubuntu live cd so i can boot using it. However, i wanted something easy to restore my backup incase the OS goes bad.

 

[SIW2]

Hi Dinesh,

There are a number of ways to initiate the restore with Macrium.

To restore a different partition - not the one you are booted into from within Windows:


You could use the xml file ( advanced scripting options are available - for the techy types).


Or from within the program interface :



Or by rt clicking the backup Image itself:



To restore from outside of windows - like all image programs - Macrium has it's own bootable restore disc.

You create that from within the program - I use the Linux based disc - some prefer to create the BartPe disc ( if you get the paid version , you also get a PE2 disc - use whichever you prefer).



I have been recommending it for a long time - here and on VF and elsewhere.

 

[Dave76]

Hi Dave, thanks for the explanation. I already have an Ubuntu live cd so i can boot using it. However, i wanted something easy to restore my backup incase the OS goes bad.

SIW2 gave a much clearer explanation on how to do it.

From the OS and Macrium program Restore tab, if possible.

An alternative boot program if the OS is not working.

 

[Dinesh]

I guess i will create a restore cd and will use it . Thanks SIW2.

 

[SIW2]

You are welcome - select the Linux based version - it's only 6.5 mb and is very fast.

 

[SIW2]

I just used the defaults - Click the picture of the cd as the screenshot as above - dot the Linux option - click Next - click Finish.

It burns itself to a cd-r , don't format the cd-r, obviously.