Storing Windows Images from multiple computers

[SDF]

I am looking for some advice on the best way to store images, and more particularly get around the porblems I am facing with my current attempts.

I have a Netgear ReadyNAS Duo RND102 which has 2 x 1TB drives in RAID1 configuration. I would like to use this to store all my system images on. This hasn't been a problem with my PC's that are on the same network as I simply setup the backup location as a Network Share and input my username and password and backup directly to the NAS. Where it is a problem is with images made to my USB hard drive which I would now like to move to the NAS for protection and also to free up space.

I get an error when trying to transfer the files from the USB hard disk to the specific folder I have created on the NAS for this purpose which I have added as a Mapped Network Drive to my main PC. This error is "You don’t have permission to copy files to this location over the network. You can copy files to the Documents folder and then move them to this location." I have all relevant permissions on the NAS as I configured it and can backup directly to it, its just this step of copying from a USB hard drive to the NAS directly which is causing me the issue. To try and resolve this issue I have tried;
Taking ownership of the folder including all sub directories
Adding my PC admin account to the permissions and allowing write, edit etc

If I copying to my PC first and then copy to the NAS it works however this doubles the time ti takes to do this and I'd prefer it to be more simple.

I am starting to think its due to me using Windows Backup and I would instead be better off using Macrium or similar however I want this to be as simple as possible to deploy in the event of a failure and a Windows image would be best as I can restore from the Windows Repair Console rather than having to install windows first to then have to install a 3rd party software to then restore the image.

Can anyone assist?

 

[Victor S]

I found Windows 7 images lacking in portability. I use Norton Ghost 15, but found Macrium works too, if a bit slower.
Images made with either of these can be made or moved anywhere. Just need to make the bootable CD and have the images accessible. I don't use NAS, but I believe you can set up the CD to access your network.

 

[artfd]

I seldom need to access my backup images, I just need to have them in a safe & accessible place. The closest thing I have to an NAS are several computers running WIn7 Pro and others using Remote Desktop Connection, sometimes with TeamViewer. I use Seagate DiscWizard to create whole disk backups. I store the backups on a small pile of 1, 1.5 & 2 terabyte HDDs. I have a SATA dock permanently connected to my only desktop by a SATA cable. If I need to restore a HDD, I usually pop the target HDD into the dock, and then use DiscWizard to restore the HDD from one of more previously stored images. I can restore 24 GB to an HDD in about 40 min. 600 GB takes several hours. I recently bought a Win 8.1 laptop with a USB 3.0 interface and have found I can image the HDD on an external HDD through this interface in about 40 minutes, no need to remove the laptop's HDD. I did buy a USB 3.0 interface for both 2.5" and 3.5" SATA HDD's with the necessary external power source to supplement the SATA HDD dock.
It just works and isn't complicated.

 

[artfd]

I found Windows 7 images lacking in portability."

Are you referring to the images create by Microsoft's imaging software? When I create images of Win7 systems using DiscWizard I have little problems accessing or using them.

 

[Victor S]

I found Windows 7 images lacking in portability."

Are you referring to the images create by Microsoft's imaging software? When I create images of Win7 systems using DiscWizard I have little problems accessing or using them.

Yes. If you move your images you lose addressability to all but the latest image.