Best way to Image PC (snapshot)

Has anyone heard of or tried "Universal Imaging Utility"? I haven't
tried it but I think it is supposed to eliminate the need to manually
add drivers once the slave machine has been ghosted. Does anyone know
if this work or how it works?

 

If I understand these posts correctly, I can image my drive to DVDRs on
an external Firewire DVD Burner (Plextor) using Ghost 2003? In other
words, Ghost will both recognize the external firewire burner and it
will span DVDs to create a full image?

TIA

Louise

 

The best one is TrueImage from www.acronis.com

 

And the worst support is from Acronis.

Notan

 

Many do NOT confirm that.

 

How 'bout you?

Your statement says their product is "the best."

Have you ever tried to contact Customer/Tech Support?

I have, numerous times, and have *never* gotten a response.

Notan

 

I have.

 

Glad your experience was a good one.

But, from my experience, and from what I've heard from others,
I'll never purchase, or suggest, another Acronis product.

Notan

By the way, your post would have alot more credibility if
you prefaced your statement with "In my opinion,".

 

I like and use Acronis Trueimage. Probably any of the popular apps
would work for you.

 

Did you look at their web site? I found the upgrade there and
downloaded it. Acronis is in Germany I believe, and could be short of
English speakers.

 

I purchased the previous version, 30 or 40 days before the latest
version was released. My inquiry was to find out if I was eligible
for a free upgrade.

No answer.

As far as the language barrier goes, if you're going to sell a
program in a non-native language, you're obligated to provide
support in that same non-native language.

Notan

 

I ask again: Did you look at their web site? Why wait for email if
you can simply download the upgrade?

I don't disagree with you, and have in fact corresponded with Acronis
without problems.

 

I was looking to upgrade to v8.0, from v7.0.

A few days ago, I finally got an answer from them:

"With regards to your question, our upgrade policy is to provide free
upgrades to (a) customers who purchased the software 30 days prior to the
release of a new version, and/or (b) customers who have purchased software
maintenance or a site license that includes software maintenance. We realize
that the 30 day cut-off appears to be arbitrary, but it is keeping with the
procedures of other established software companies. If we had a 90 day
cut-off, somebody who purchased the product 91 days before hand who would
ask us to upgrade or that s/he would not have bought the product had they
known to wait just one more day. At some point we have to draw a line and
move on to working on the next version."

Notan

 

On Mon, 06 Sep 2004 15:48:08 -0500, Kevin Fosler

I've never done an image but this thread is making me think I should.

I have a 120GB drive.

Can the image be backed up to cd-r's? How many would it usually take.

Also when making an image can certain data folders (taking up much
space) be eliminated from the image?

TIA

 

120GB would require about 180 CDs if the drive is full.

Usually an image is done as soon as the machine is built, prior to adding
any data.

Tom

 

Or done as a regular backup like Acronis TrueImage to a compressed image
file on the same sized or larger removable HD.

 

Like OP66 I, too, got to thinking I should image my system, but I
don't think I'll be wanting to burn 90 CDs (my 120GB c: drive is only
about half full).

My machine is an XPS gen2. The mobo is set up for 2 SATA drives and 4
IDE devices. It came with a 120gb SATA c: drive, and I have added a
120gb ATA-133 and an old 60gb ATA-? from my previous system.

If I were to make an image of my SATA c: drive, would I need to
purchase a second SATA drive for this? I assume I could create the
image on my 120gb ATA drive, but I don't think I can make that be the
c: drive--or can I?

If I remove my current SATA (c drive, can I adjust the BIOS to
recognize an ATA drive as c: ?

--John "more confused than usual" Wells

 

It wouldn't have to be SATA unless that's the only mobo slot unused.
External USB2 or Firewire is an alternative. I like big SATA drives in
shock mounted removable trays like the KingWin KF-83 (~$30) for image
backup.

Usually yes.

The backup HD would be setup such that it would get a higher drive letter
and you boot from the regular HD or a floppy/CD and do the image. I like
Acronis TrueImage as it can make the image running from XP or W2K3 or W2K.
Just run it anytime you want.

 

Ghost will get you about 2:1 compression, so if the drive is full
you'd need something on the order of 86 disks. Not really practical.

Yes, but then it wouldn't be an image.

I tend to back up drives to either another equivalent drive (mirror,
for immediate replacement on failure), or to a large network volume
(image file, for rebuilding at need).

Note that a drive and it's mirror image should not be online at the
same time, or Windows will get all confused. Reboot, make the image,
power off, and remove the image drive. hard drive racks
areinexpensive, and this also gives you the ability to have offsite
backups.