[tal ormanda]

I know there are disk imaging software listed here. What I want to know is if anyone knows which of them would easily allow me to install windows, save an image of the fresh install. Then if I get a virus or something, I could just revert back to that image? Is that possible. Thanks

[Ponch]

Probably all of them. That's the idea of disk/partition imaging. It's for you to make sure you can run the program and access both the image and the target partition when your original system is failing.

[tal ormanda]

Any experience to give me a direction of the best one?

[jaclaz]

tal ormanda, on 09 January 2012 - 04:20 PM, said:

Any experience to give me a direction of the best one?

Sure, define "best", please.

Some of the possible parameters that contribute to "best":

• faster in imaging
  
• faster in restoring
  
• tighter (smaller) image
  
• "forensic sound" or "filesystem sound" or just "file based"
  
• disk based or partition based
  
• capability to restore to a different disk
  
• capability to make fractioned images (to be stored on several CD/DVD's, as an example and to restore from them
  
• running from which OS/LiveCD/etc.
  
• price range (IF Commercial/NOT Freeware)
  
• GUI vs. command line
  
• image format compatible with other utilities (name them)
  
• add here any other feature I might have missed

jaclaz

[tal ormanda]

Uhhh. Something free that I can image my current state of the drive and save it to an external if I ever need to restore.

[Tripredacus]

Windows Backup can make a VHD of your OS to use as a backup. It can then be restored using the same program. You'll find it in the control panel in Windows 7.

[jaclaz]

Tripredacus, on 11 January 2012 - 10:52 AM, said:

Windows Backup can make a VHD of your OS to use as a backup. It can then be restored using the same program. You'll find it in the control panel in Windows 7.

And which OS would you boot to use it with restore in the case the original machine is botched?

jaclaz

[Tripredacus]

Hmm yes good point.

[jaclaz]

Tripredacus, on 12 January 2012 - 09:51 AM, said:

Hmm yes good point.

Only part of the effort in distinguishing among cloning, imaging (sector based or forensic sound vs. file-based), and backing up.

@tal ormanda
A longish list of more or less suitable apps, each with it's "peculiarities" can be found here:
http://www.msfn.org/...aging-software/

Probably this would suit your needs:
http://www.partition-saving.com/

jaclaz

[IcemanND]

See method 2, you can do the restore from the recovery tools on the install cd or from a recovery cd.







Method 1: Steps to mount VHD files in Windows 7



a. Open Start Menu, right-click on Computer and click Manage.

b. Click on Disk Management.

c. Click Action -> Attach VHD and specify the external hard disk location on your computer.



Check out the section in the link below about how to extract files from a system image (advanced)

http://blogs.technet...-windows-7.aspx



Method 2: How to restore your computer from a system image backup



http://windows.micro...em-image-backup



For more information about system image backup, you can visit the link below



Learn more about system image backup

http://blogs.technet...age-backup.aspx



Backup and restore: frequently asked questions

http://windows.micro...asked-questions

[tal ormanda]

I wanted to clone the state of my computer and restore it. The OS on the recovery partition is Vista, I'm using 7. Will the previous post above this one allow me to say... Back up my current state...and if i say...reinstall W7 on this machine, use that backup and it would make it look exactly like how my computer looks right now?

This post has been edited by tal ormanda: 13 January 2012 - 02:59 PM