Any advice on cloning/imaging software?

Thanks for all the advice - decided to bite the bullet and go for True Image.

Cheers
 
DJKookie said:
Hi there guys. I would also recommend Acronis True Image - been using it for years. It is by far the most simple and feature rich backup / cloning app for home users. Plus there is a big bonus, (sorry to sound like one of those ads on tv) - if you own a Seagate or Maxtor hard drive you can get a free copy of the latest version from Seagate's site. It is called "Seagate DiscWizard" but under the hood it is a full copy of True Image 10.

Grab a copy at :
Code: 
http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.jsp?locale=en-US&name=DiscWizard&vgnextoid=d9fd4a3cdde5c010VgnVCM100000dd04090aRCRD

The file is about 105MB.
Click to expand...

Excellent link. Kudos to you my friend
 
Well I just updated a Old vintage XP pro system with a reboot-able CD (made 2 Years ago) with Ghost.exe. I made a image of the old 4 GiG drive to a new 40 GiG drive. Rebooted and the system did not even notice apart from running faster.

The Dos Ghost.exe even copy Dongle Key's hidden on drive for propriety Industrial Software. Spares me Unloading and Reloading the Key.
(Works for me but You do it at own risk. :D )

Best is Ghost.exe dos utility is free on the net. Can be loaded on BartPE memory stick too and system rebooted from USB to run.
 
There was also a copy of TrueImage 10 floating around the ether/torrent recently. ~100mb and allows you to make a bootable CD.

btw Some of the old Ghosts and SP2 clash. Has a few very bad experiences with it.
 
NoADSLyet said:
Well I just updated a Old vintage XP pro system with a reboot-able CD (made 2 Years ago) with Ghost.exe. I made a image of the old 4 GiG drive to a new 40 GiG drive. Rebooted and the system did not even notice apart from running faster.

The Dos Ghost.exe even copy Dongle Key's hidden on drive for propriety Industrial Software. Spares me Unloading and Reloading the Key.
(Works for me but You do it at own risk. :D )

Best is Ghost.exe dos utility is free on the net. Can be loaded on BartPE memory stick too and system rebooted from USB to run.
Click to expand...

Which version of Ghost are you using ? Will it work on SATA Drives.

I need to go from IDE > SATA

:cool:
 
NoADSLyet said:
Well I just updated a Old vintage XP pro system with a reboot-able CD (made 2 Years ago) with Ghost.exe. I made a image of the old 4 GiG drive to a new 40 GiG drive. Rebooted and the system did not even notice apart from running faster.

The Dos Ghost.exe even copy Dongle Key's hidden on drive for propriety Industrial Software. Spares me Unloading and Reloading the Key.
(Works for me but You do it at own risk. :D )

Best is Ghost.exe dos utility is free on the net. Can be loaded on BartPE memory stick too and system rebooted from USB to run.
Click to expand...

Which version of Ghost are you using ? Will it work on SATA Drives.

I need to go from IDE > SATA

:cool:
 
Hi Johnny Two Shoes

Thanks for the detailed advice. ;) I changed my mind and decided to use BartPE and DriveImageXML. Apart from the fact that it is completely free, I needed it to make an image after a clean Windows install and DriveImageXML is much smaller than Acronis to install to accomplish that.

I'm a newbie and still it was very easy to work it! Formatted the harddrive, installed XP, made an image and tested it by restoring image from BartPE/DriveImage and voila! No problems :D (And BartPE is a great tool to use)

Here's another link for more detailed info for anyone interested -

http://www.habibbijan.com/articles/ghost-windows-xp-for-free/

Thanks again for everyone taking the time to give advice.
 
Good to hear it's working :)

Just a word of caution though I have been experiencing slight problems with Dell Computers and NEC plugin's and such. But that would only concern anyone willing to use those features. Also disk management plugin's are a bit of a problem at first. I just use WinXP disk to do that part.

I also had an issue with Dell including a diagnostics 80meg partition on new PC's, the XML image refuses to write on the bigger 40gig/60gig partition for some reason and keeps complaining the selected partition is too small as though it forces me to use the measly 80meg partition and I can't change it. So I just insert XP OEM disk, delete partitions, quick format as NTFS, eject CD before Windows wants to install files needed for setup...reboot and do image restore on BartPE as normal. Our useless Ghost image that corporate gives us overwrites that diagnostics partition anyway, plus we have cd's for that as well so no biggy.

Today I sat with our Ghost image for Dell GX620 ...started at 2pm and finished everything for user at 5pm :( :mad:...I cant stand it.. I am going to do a BartPE XML image for Dell GX620's soon.
 
Csnoopy said:
Which version of Ghost are you using ? Will it work on SATA Drives.

I need to go from IDE > SATA

:cool:
Click to expand...

Worked fine for me when I changed from 2* 80G ATA to 2* 250G SATA.

The part to use is the DOS ghost.exe that originally came as part of Ghost 2006. It is still included in ghost V10 as a utility. Please do not take my word for it, search the net and once you are satisfied try it. DO NOT TRY THE GHOST FROM WITHIN WINDOWS. That creates problems during reboot which is easily overcome but unnecessary. Use it from a bootable Dos or PC dos. Also it is non destructive. It does not touch your current drive. Just do not signature the drives when asked. SAY NO! If you are serious I can somehow get a bootable CD to You.
 
NoADSLyet said:
Worked fine for me when I changed from 2* 80G ATA to 2* 250G SATA.

The part to use is the DOS ghost.exe that originally came as part of Ghost 2006. It is still included in ghost V10 as a utility. Please do not take my word for it, search the net and once you are satisfied try it. DO NOT TRY THE GHOST FROM WITHIN WINDOWS. That creates problems during reboot which is easily overcome but unnecessary. Use it from a bootable Dos or PC dos. Also it is non destructive. It does not touch your current drive. Just do not signature the drives when asked. SAY NO! If you are serious I can somehow get a bootable CD to You.
Click to expand...

Will Dos Ghost identify the SATA drive?
 
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