[Gilles Vollant]

You can also take a look at WinImage
http://www.winimage.com/download.htm

[Oleg_II]

DeployCenter component from Symantec Ghost Solution Suite - former PowerQuest DriveImage Pro.

There is also a universal solution - Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery (build on PQ DriveImage basis)

Both are not Ghost but separate programs

[Arie]

PING 2.01 by Natan from this board is missing in the list. Something to compare is what extra functionality a product offers, such as resetting forgotten passwords. Another thing to compare is the speed of making an image, the size of the image, et cetera. Also the size of the software itself, if an installation is required, et cetera. Once making a comparisson, divide the list in paid software and freeware. Both catagories need to be compared together as well of course, but this will give a good overview in the end of the better paid software and a separate overview of the better freeware available.

[IcemanND]

@Arie - do you have links? Any different from PING from ping.windowsdream.com?

[tguy]

You could check out, Drive SnapShot, http://www.drivesnapshot.de. Will work with WinPE and BartPE as well.

[IcemanND]

@tguy - already on the list. See first post.

[Arie]

IcemanND, on Sep 19 2007, 05:36 PM, said:

@Arie - do you have links? Any different from PING from ping.windowsdream.com?

Nope, that's the one.

[jaclaz]

Another new entry, found by ktp:
http://www.clonegenius.com/

added to the 911CD thread:
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...c=16534&st=

jaclaz

[IcemanND]

Added. Wish I had time to do more testing and comparison.

[Grunt]

LOL time ... wish I could buy some

My computer just crash and I had to reinstall EVERYTHING. and I was just looking for a software that would be able to save me some time .... the next time it hapens.

Looking forward for you conclusion on thoses software.

[IcemanND]

don't need to buy anything you can use Windows imaging for free. Along with some of the other software on the list.

[Grunt]

umm ... maybe it's a good solution to backup files, but can it do a bit per bit backup so I won't have to re-install Windows, the updates and my program AND support "Mountable Images" ?

[IcemanND]

bit for bit no, but an image that contains everything needed for a windows installation yes. bit for bit is a little extreme, thiat is normally reserved for forensics. Windows Imaging is a file based imaging method and allows you to mount the image as a folder on your machine for editing.

It is what is used for Vista, and can be used for XP. I have a guide available here: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showto...st&p=674778

[anonymous_user]

A software you missed: ShadowProtect

[PC_LOAD_LETTER]

Theres also Altiris Deployment solution which is very nice if you have the time to set it up
http://www.altiris.c...ntSolution.aspx

I remember Novells Zenworks doing imaging as well but i dont know if they still have that as a product

As for PING, if you need any info on it, I can provide feedback since i use it almost every day. Heres a quick pro/con list:

• Free
  
• Images machines that are running DeepFreeze properly
  
• can be used to make a restoreDVD from and image
  
• No PXE drivers need to be installed -works with almost every card ive tried
  
• FAST! Transfers at the full capacity of the network card everytime (10/100/1000)
  
• i can image a machine by pxe booting, hit enter 2-3 times, select create new image, type file name, select compression, and wait.
  
• runs its own dhcp server so all you need is the PING server and the machine you are imaging
  
• Ive alway used i for windows to windows imaging but its supposed to be cross platform
  
• Very lightweight. doesn't 'install' itself to windows. To move it from 1 machine to the next, just copy the folder

• Cannot multicast (can send to more than 1 machine but in different streams)
  
• cannot take an image from 1 machine and directly copy it to another (has to be made into an image first)
  
• 3com 905B cards wont PXE boot (905C will though)
  
• By default, it grabs the CMOS settings and restores them to the target computer (Copies the Service Tag info from the Bios from 1 machine to the other on dells and gateways)

[Molecule]

here's an interesting one, but it is a linux bootcd that runs a program designed specifically to backup c-drives on XP machines.

CDriveBack -- sourceforge project -- http://www.lccdigita...ent/view/65/62/

PING sounds interesting -- will it "kiosk" an XP machine?

I'm using 98se happily now in a 733P3, but would like to move to new hardware. I am reluctant to move to XP until there was a way by which I can sector-by-sector restore my C-drive on every shutdown (from MBR to ORIGINAL swap file to the last slackspace). In my dream, a normal shutdown would (1) shutdown XP and reboot to a new os, then (2) run a restore image program on a minimal c-drive (c-drive has os and programs only), then (3) restore default boot to XP for next startup and then (4) turn off. An optional shutdown would make an new reference image, built after adding new software while not connected, with full awareness and knowledge of the machine's owner. Every startup would be absolutely identical, no matter how many personalities (unauthorized by me) have been fudging with my bits 'n ... while connected. I don't care about any of Bill Gate's illusory conveniences. Any data to be retained would be on other drives (which is not hard to do). If I can reboot the same everytime, thenI don't care what "other powers" want to do to my HDD while connected -- they can have at to their heart's delight. But when I go to sleep at night, I want to know that come morning, my machine starts off right.

Has anyone done this? Deep Freeze looks interesting, but it's my suspicion that they have back doors too, and if they were discovered, no one would ever know, nor would it be in their interest to announce it.

[IcemanND]

@molecule - doesn't make images but sound like you want deepfreeze.

[IcemanND]

Posts unrelated to exist topic of imaging software and related to freezeing the system state have been move to a new topic here: http://www.msfn.org/...howtopic=107268

[Grunt]

IcemanND, on Nov 6 2007, 06:21 PM, said:

bit for bit no, but an image that contains everything needed for a windows installation yes. bit for bit is a little extreme, thiat is normally reserved for forensics. Windows Imaging is a file based imaging method and allows you to mount the image as a folder on your machine for editing.

It is what is used for Vista, and can be used for XP. I have a guide available here: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showto...st&p=674778

Thanks, but it sounds like utility software to me to save your files in case your computer crash.... I got myself from Western Digital "My book" and it has software to backup files.

So, loosing files is not my concert, time is! Cause when you’re stuck with a virus that eat up your energy and you decide to format and re-install everything ... From windows (reboot 3 times) to the patch (reboot a few time more) and don't forget the drivers (reboot .. reboot ... reboot) and all the other program and games (and patch that you have to find on the net). One simple click (ok ok maybe 2 or 3) is what I'm looking for. Ghost was doing that in less than 20 min compare to about 6 hr manually, but since I'm not a big fan of Symantec anymore, I'm looking for something else that could do the same thing.

Thank's for your reply, very appreciated !

[weEvil]

Great idea. Which ones are freeware though?