[IcemanND]

To my knowledge the only thing Ghost skips is the Pagefile and hibernation file.

using Imagex to capture a drive skips the following
\$ntfs.log
\hiberfil.sys
\pagefile.sys
"\System Volume Information"
\RECYCLER
\Windows\CSC
*.mp3
*.zip
*.cab
\WINDOWS\inf\*.pnf

As I have not used any other imaging software for more than testing I can't comment on the others.

[benaw]

does any one have any suggestions on how to image multiple computers quickly?

i was wondering if there was a way to store boot instructions on a DVD-RW that would boot into an imaging program and ideally automatically back up c: and store it on the same DVD??

[IcemanND]

ghost will allow you to image a machine to a cd/dvd but not the same one you booted from.

[benaw]

i'm just thinking of an office environment, using HDD imaging software to take a backup of user data, as well as programs and settings which i guess isn't as important. i have been looking in to ghostcast today. it would be good to take an image of each computer over the Christmas break surely there's something out there that can be deployed easily to back up all computers on the network to a single location and have it sorted by computer name. at this stage i'm pretty sure ghostcast will do it might still be a bit messy tho.

do you know of anything else i should look at?

[jaclaz]

New kid on the block:
ODIN
http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=5871

http://sourceforge.n...jects/odin-win/

Stil in Beta, but promising....

jaclaz

[tguy]

HP Rapid Deploy would be another option as would Symantec's Backup Exec System Recovery, the next iteration of Livestate Recovery. See manufacturer's websites for details and pricing information.

[EarthJim]

And few words more about Acronis.
Today i was on their site, checking for smth new...and i found christmas discounts, it was not so easy but interesting. To see this offers you should put the cursor on snowflake, but it is not on each snowflake. You will need to find the right one))) very funny idea.
I've found 5% and 10% discounts

[eyeball]

Just so everyone knows, i have tried PING and it is fantastic. I have imaged and restored my server 2008 box, an XP laptop and a vista Desktop - all flawless. Its easy to setup and easy to use. I would recommend it to anyone here

[spacesurfer]

IcemanND, on Nov 10 2008, 11:35 AM, said:

To my knowledge the only thing Ghost skips is the Pagefile and hibernation file.

using Imagex to capture a drive skips the following
\$ntfs.log
\hiberfil.sys
\pagefile.sys
"\System Volume Information"
\RECYCLER
\Windows\CSC
*.mp3
*.zip
*.cab
\WINDOWS\inf\*.pnf

ImageX does not skip *.mp3, *.zip and *.cab.

It excludes *.mp3, *.zip, and *.cab from compressing them, thus saving time, but they are included in the image UNLESS YOU SPECIFY TO SKIP THEM.

It wouldn't be wise to skip *.cab as drivers might be in those files.

[Molecule]

Terabyte's Image for DOS (and for Linux too) does batch file image Restores. Unattended. It can read and write images to and from NTFS systems.

It's the only one I found that doesn't require some kind of user intervention for a restore operation. Nice job, Terabyte!

Automatic restore allows me to insert bootable media, and then log off with a reboot. With a simple batch, this should restore the boot drive image. (restoring hybernation and swap files are optional, along with MBR, EMBRs, etc.) After restore operation, the DOS batch then shuts down the computer. Next time it's turned on, it's pristine -- without preservation of Microsoft's property on my HDD, namely M$'s arrays of Index.dats, IndexMyHDDforFREE.dats, Echelon.dats, Pentagon.dats, etc.

typographic care is obviously required, since the batch restore will automatically restore, hopefully to the boot drive (and not to a data drive - lol). Images can be in TB range -- I forget right now. Image for DOS can build an image from and restore to an NTFS drives, and it can write an image file to, and read it from an NTFS, FAT, or Linux drive.

I haven't done it yet (so this is theoretical), but am planning to use this on my w2k internet computer.

[kickarse]

I think you guys forgot one...

Free Ghost - http://www.fogproject.org

I've used it and it's nice, fairly easy to setup for a advanced user. But it's still in its infancy.

[jaclaz]

A couple of additions:
Datarescue ddrescue:
http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=7783
Homepage:
http://www.datarescu...cue/v3/drdd.htm

SILinux dd for windows:
http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=7786
Homepage (Japanese):
http://www.si-linux.co.jp/wiki/silinux/ind...hp?DDforWindows

Via Google Translate:
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=ht...en&ie=UTF-8

jaclaz

[albator]

There also DiscWizard wich is a rebranded Acronis True image 10.
The software is free for Seagate/Maxtor Harddrive owner.

http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/d...oads/discwizard

This post has been edited by albator: 25 May 2009 - 04:56 AM

[jaclaz]

New kid on the block:
CLONEDISK, by Erwan L., FREEWARE
http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=8480
http://erwan.l.free.fr/clonedisk/

under development, a number of added (useful) features, like converting from RAW to:

• VMDK (working)
  
• VHD (will be added shortly)
  
• VDI (in the works)

(several other nice apps on his site)



jaclaz

[jaclaz]

EASEUS TODO backup (thanks to Jotnar):
http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=8601

http://www.todo-backup.com/

jaclaz

[ArcticNick]

I have just got the trial version of Acronis True Image Home.
I have looked through the user manual but I am unclear about something.
Can you tell me please, if I want to take an image of my C/ drive onto a backup USB drive I have to let the software install a partition.
-Will that process wipe out everything on the backup drive or will all my data remain in tact?
Thanks in adavance,
ArcticNick (from one Iceman to another!

[Nexus_06]

Where can I download DCF without signing up? Can't find it anywhere...

[DigeratiPrime]

ArcticNick I think Acronis True Image installs a recovery partition so you can backup and restore if the OS cannot load, however it is not necessary and will not affect the other partitions if installed, at most it will just resize them which is probably safe.

Nexus 06 not sure what DCF is?

I think backup software should be looked at in two forms: file-based backup and block-based backup. The former is filesystem dependent and the latter is not. Since filesystems are where data lives this is often sufficient, where block based is handy is when you need to backup data outside of filesystems such as whole disk, bootloaders, or other filesystem types. They each have their pros and cons and should be treated seperately imo.

[Nexus_06]

Disc Copy Fast, it makes .dcf images.

[IcemanND]

Only link I could find that didn't require login. http://www.programme...5/download.aspx