Copy an entire machine (snapshot / image):

[Waaib]

I'm not sure what this is called so am struggling to Google for it.

I've setup a laptop with Win XP and several programs but not done any actual work with it. So it is essentially a clean-slate.

What I want to do is take a copy of the machine exactly as it is so that if it breaks in future I can restore the copy and start with a clean-slate again without having to spend two days re-installing all the programs etc.

Is there software that does this? Is so what is it called and can you recommend a specific one? Of course an open source (a.k.a free) version would be great.

Thanks.

 

[Brawler]

ghost 2003

 

[Asha'man X]

Acronis True Image, get one of the home editions. It's not free, and can be a little pricey, but it's exactly what you need for peace of mind. It will backup to cd/dvd/USB enclosures/eSATA. Pretty fast too depending on your machine.

I used to say Ghost but I lost my interest in that program, especially after Symantec bought our Powerquest and just rebadged Drive Image as Ghost.

 

[killadoob]

stay away from ghost if your using sata drives it has major problems with sata drives

acronis is just amazing

acronis is free if you have the right connections

 

[Waaib]

Thanks.

 

[undesign]

BartPE and DriveimageXML

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=82445

 

[HillBilly]

g4u

I've used g4u (opensource) many times -- http://www.feyrer.de/g4u/

 

[thisgeek]

+1 for g4u

 

[howardb]

Acronis True Image all the way - no hassles...

 

[rsachoc]

Best alternative way, use RyanVM, you have to re-load Windows, but it loads all the service packs, updates since service packs, drivers and software. Prefer this