13 replies to this topic

[codybear]

Hello all,

Since everyone here seem to have great suggestions on programs, I figured I'd ask and see what everyone would recommend using. So basically I'm wondering what is a great tool (Preferably free) to do a complete Disc Image that everyone would recommend? Anyone have any issues with or any comments pertaining to any particular Disc Imaging software?

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I will be creating a Disc Image either late tonight or tomorrow afternoon sometime.


For those that care, here's basically what I'm doing (Can skip this part):
I finally decided after my Windows install is getting corrupted to finally reinstall Windows on my netbook, then setup everything I need and remove all the BS services/drivers/etc and install all my needed applications, and then do a Disc Image (I've been talking about doing so everytime I reinstall, but never got around to it and dread reinstall for the lengthy setup/customization process I have to do each time). Then I'll also be doing another Disc Image of the setup after I finish my Visual Affects and everything aswell incase I want just a fresh Win7 look or the customized visual look.


Thanks for taking the time to read this, it's much appreciated,
Cody.

[guest3456]

i have heard great things about Acronis True Image, pretty sure its one of the industry standards for disk imaging, but its not free

[art]

Very good and small is also the "Drive SnapShot", but its not free.
http://www.drivesnap...de/en/index.htm

[gargoyle888]

I use Kleo Bare Metal Backup to do just what you are considering:

<!-- m -->http://www.kleobackup.net/<!-- m -->

Free.

Download it, burn it to a CD and reboot. It's pretty well self-explanatory from there.

[fred]

Just used CloneZilla today to clone/replace my old disk (11 years) with a newer one, worked good

[HeadOfTheHouse]

I know this is an old post but I have been using a great product that's FREE.  Take a look at the features below.  We purchased 40 new computers that had Vista loaded.  Our company did not support Vista and Windows 7 at that time we had to down grade all of them to XP.  Ping made this very easy for us.  Currently we use Ping to create images of work PC's.  (PC's that are controllers and don't store data but are key to our operations.)  We also restore these images to spare hard drives for quick swap outs. 

 

http://ping.windowsdream.com/

 

Features include:

• Probably the best available Linux toolbox for rescuing a system;
• Backup and Restore partitions or files locally or to the network (MS Network Shared directory, NFS, FTP or SSHFS);
• Backup and Restore the BIOS data as well;
• Either burn a bootable CD / DVD, either integrate within a PXE / RIS environment;
• Possibility to Blank local admin's password;
• Create your own restoration bootable DVD;
• Partition and Format a disk before installing Windows (so to make sure your unattended Windows installation will happen on the right partition);
• 
  
• Specific advantages PING brings you over DOS and Ghost :
  • Most network cards automatically recognized by the Kernel (unlike DOS);
  • Most CD/DVD readers automatically recognized by the Kernel (unlike DOS);
  • You don't have to run a Ghostcast server to receive images over the network;
  • More supported filesystems;
  • You can store an image on several CD/DVD (CD/DVD-spanning);
  • You can backup and restore BIOS settings too;
  • Much much smaller than WinPE / BartPE;
  • etc.

[Grendahl]

I'd have to second what HeadOfTheHouse said. I've used PING in the past with great success. 

[robertcollier4]

Glad other people are using PING. It is my favorite as well, especially since it is scriptable. Check out this example showing how to automate PING via grub4dos boot menu entries:

http://reboot.pro/to...e-2#entry165503

[Diamond]

Macrium Reflect FREE Edition

http://www.macrium.c...eflectfree.aspx

[Seidenweber]

easy to use, fast, reliable and free ... Clonezilla

[Eedis]

Alcohol 120%

[Grendahl]

Alcohol 120%

 

DiskImaging != DiskCopying

[Diamond]

Although it is not free, I can't resist mentioning Image for Windows.
http://www.terabyteu...for-windows.htm
For $38 you get Windows, DOS, and Linux versions.  It is the only imaging software I have ever been willing to spend money for.  The fact that it is scriptable and accessible with screen reading software definitely makes it worthwhile for me as well.