Solved Help with selecting a backup software

[RalphG]

Hello all,
I need help in selecting a backup/image software. I tend to try out software
and learn new things on my Win. 7, 64x, system. I have tried windows own
image app. and a couple of others. However I can never get it to work. All I want
is to make a backup/image that I can use to get my computer back to a state
where everything was stable.
What I need is something that is idiot proof.

Thanks for any help you can provide

 

[whs]

Have a look at my brand new tutorial: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?ltr=I

 

[RalphG]

Thanks for the reply. I will look at your tutorial

 

[profdlp]

Have a look at my brand new tutorial: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?ltr=I

Highly recommended.

I have a housemate who has been saved by this program and the tutorial quite a few times in the last few years. And when I've upgraded my hard drive a few times it has saved me days of tweaking.

 

[RalphG]

Thanks for the input

 

[RalphG]

My biggest problem isn't so much creating a backup/image but the restoring process.

 

[profdlp]

It's covered in the tutorial, but basically you just make a bootable recovery CD (the program will remind you to do that) and then follow it step by step. Easy as pie.

 

[RalphG]

Great Thanks alot

 

[ignatzatsonic]

There is some chance (1 in 10??) that the recovery disk you make with Macrium will not actually boot your PC.

So--be sure to confirm that the disk is bootable. Boot from it and proceed several steps into the restoration process. Make sure you can locate the image file you want to restore, as well as the partition/drive to which you intend to restore.

If your recovery disk will not boot, the alternative is to use an another method of burning the disk, often called "compatibility" mode. Look for menu choices. Or you could make a "WinPE" recovery disk, but that is somewhat complicated. I'd use the standard Linux-based recovery disk if possible. If you cannot boot from the recovery disk, you cannot restore.

 

[RalphG]

Thanks for the heads up. This will help

 

[kado897]

There is some chance (1 in 10??) that the recovery disk you make with Macrium will not actually boot your PC.

So--be sure to confirm that the disk is bootable. Boot from it and proceed several steps into the restoration process. Make sure you can locate the image file you want to restore, as well as the partition/drive to which you intend to restore.

If your recovery disk will not boot, the alternative is to use an another method of burning the disk, often called "compatibility" mode. Look for menu choices. Or you could make a "WinPE" recovery disk, but that is somewhat complicated. I'd use the standard Linux-based recovery disk if possible. If you cannot boot from the recovery disk, you cannot restore.

It's not complicated to make the WinPE recovery disk. There is a wizard but it does involve a 1.7GB download of the WAIK.

 

[whs]

The Macrium Version 5.0 tutorial that I just created a couple of days ago does not show the recovery procedure because I have no capture tools when those CDs or DVDs are running. And also because the version 5.0 options (Linux version or WinPe version) are much easier to handel than the Version 4.2 Linux.

I recommend you burn the WinPe DVD because it is easier to use (same interface as Macrium) and allows you to recover individual partitions. With the Linux version you can only recover whole disks. Just be aware that the burning of the WinPe version takes about 90 minutes because it will download the WAIK, a 1.7GB MS program which does the application installation. But all of that is automatic and no big deal.

 

[RalphG]

Thanks For the input, but I'm not sure how you do a WinPe version.
Could you please give me a little mor info.

Thanks

 

[whs]

See the picture

 

[RalphG]

Thanks a bunch, it helps