Are there any other image programs besides Acronis & Ghost?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mel
  • Start date Start date
M

mel

I used to use Drive Image, it easy and simple and sure. However, I now
have Acronis and it is a p.o.s.

I don't want Ghost. There *has* to be another program that performs this
important function of imaging a drive - and is simple and works.
 
I used to use Drive Image, it easy and simple and sure.
Click to expand...

Why dont you continue to use what you liked to use ?
However, I now have Acronis and it is a p.o.s.
Click to expand...

What dont you like about it ?
I don't want Ghost.
Click to expand...

Yeah, Ghost 9 has some real downsides, both on the
design choices made and the implementation of those.
There *has* to be another program that performs this
important function of imaging a drive - and is simple and works.
Click to expand...

True Image is both.

There are a few others around too.
 
I used to use Drive Image, it easy and simple and sure. However, I now
have Acronis and it is a p.o.s.

I don't want Ghost. There *has* to be another program that performs this
important function of imaging a drive - and is simple and works.
Click to expand...

As with everything answer depends on details:
- source disk support (interface, file system, operating OS)
- target media support (interface, file system)
- operational modes (used/all sectors, skip/include bad data, exclude some
files ...)
- compression efficiency
- performance
- image verification
- image browsing/mounting
- image manipulations (recompile, remove/add data)
- restore features (selected portions, resize file systems ...)
- ease of use
- stability/bugs
- technical support quality
- price
- popularity

None of products I know, excels in every aspect.
All depends what is important to you.
 
I used to use Drive Image, it easy and simple and sure. However, I now
have Acronis and it is a p.o.s.

I don't want Ghost. There *has* to be another program that performs this
important function of imaging a drive - and is simple and works.
Click to expand...

If you're running Windows XP, then Casper XP is exactly what you want.
i.e. "simple" and "works" - more so than any other package out there.


Odie
 
If you're running Windows XP, then Casper XP is exactly what you want.
i.e. "simple" and "works" - more so than any other package out there.


Odie
Click to expand...

Thanks for answering. However -

I downloaded Casper XP and found this in the Help file:

"Note: While an external USB or Firewire hard disk may be used for the
backup on a desktop system, Windows is not designed to boot and run
directly from an external device. Consequently, an externally attached
hard disk must be removed from its external USB or Firewire enclosure
and installed as a replacement for the internal hard disk in order to
boot from it."

I take it this means that in the case of a catastrophic Windows failure,
my 2 external Maxtor USB 270Gig drives are worthless for booting when
trying to use my Casper backup of my C: drive.

If the above is correct, it seems I am stuck with the tedious, time
consuming task of using Windows XP Pro's ASR method of backup, or
install another hard disk inside my computer - and I need another hard
disk like my car needs a fifth wheel.
 
I downloaded Casper XP and found this in the Help file:
"Note: While an external USB or Firewire hard disk may be used for the
backup on a desktop system, Windows is not designed to boot and run
directly from an external device. Consequently, an externally attached
hard disk must be removed from its external USB or Firewire enclosure
and installed as a replacement for the internal hard disk in order to
boot from it."

I take it this means that in the case of a catastrophic Windows failure,
my 2 external Maxtor USB 270Gig drives are worthless for booting when
trying to use my Casper backup of my C: drive.

If the above is correct, it seems I am stuck with the tedious, time
consuming task of using Windows XP Pro's ASR method of backup, or
install another hard disk inside my computer - and I need another hard
disk like my car needs a fifth wheel.
Click to expand...

Standalone systems can be booted off CD/DVD (or floppies).
Network attached machines can also use PXE to boot.
You can boot to DOS, Linux or WinXP/2K3 (WinPE).
Then restore your image.

What Casper's note probably means, that they do not support
WinPE, or is just plainly wrong.
 
Standalone systems can be booted off CD/DVD (or floppies).
Network attached machines can also use PXE to boot.
You can boot to DOS, Linux or WinXP/2K3 (WinPE).
Then restore your image.

What Casper's note probably means, that they do not support
WinPE, or is just plainly wrong.
Click to expand...
Oh, wonderful! Another ridiculous discrepancy by another seemingly
knot-headed company.

Jeesh! I should have stuck with Win 98SE and my singularly dependable
and simple version 2 of Drive Image. However, my wife was always
complaining about the repair costs of the old machine. Now it seems
I'll spend more on trying to find a dependable backup system than I
would have spent on repairing the old 98SE HP machine.

As a total aside, had I known that Dell machines, plus keyboards and et
al, were made in China, I NEVER would have bought from them. Don't ask
me whom I would have bought from. It's just that I'm old enough to
remember the last time we "helped" out another country in Asia by
supplying it with all the steel it needed. We got it all back at Pearl
Harbor in the form of Zeros and bombs.
 
Thanks for answering. However -
Click to expand...
I downloaded Casper XP and found this in the Help file:
Click to expand...
"Note: While an external USB or Firewire hard disk may be used
for the backup on a desktop system, Windows is not designed to
boot and run directly from an external device. Consequently, an
externally attached hard disk must be removed from its external
USB or Firewire enclosure and installed as a replacement for
the internal hard disk in order to boot from it."
Click to expand...
I take it this means that in the case of a catastrophic Windows
failure, my 2 external Maxtor USB 270Gig drives are worthless
for booting when trying to use my Casper backup of my C: drive.
Click to expand...

No, it just means that the the worst you have to do is to restore
the image that you have created on the external drive to the
internal drive you had been booting off before you can boot it again.

The imaging program does need to be able to restore
using some form of bootable floppy or CD tho. If Casper
XP cant do that, Drive Image 2002 certainly can.
 
Oh, wonderful! Another ridiculous discrepancy
by another seemingly knot-headed company.
Click to expand...
Jeesh! I should have stuck with Win 98SE and my singularly
dependable and simple version 2 of Drive Image.
Click to expand...

Nope, just get Drive Image 2002 off ebay for peanuts and carry on regardless.
However, my wife was always complaining
about the repair costs of the old machine.
Click to expand...

Who wears the pants ?
Now it seems I'll spend more on trying to find a dependable backup
system than I would have spent on repairing the old 98SE HP machine.
Click to expand...

Nope, $7 for Drive Image 2002 off ebay is peanuts.
As a total aside, had I known that Dell machines, plus keyboards and
et al, were made in China, I NEVER would have bought from them.
Click to expand...

Have fun finding anything that aint now.
Don't ask me whom I would have bought from. It's just that I'm
old enough to remember the last time we "helped" out another
country in Asia by supplying it with all the steel it needed. We
got it all back at Pearl Harbor in the form of Zeros and bombs.
Click to expand...

Thats mindlessly silly too. The last time we helped the
Japs, after they had been turned to crisps at the end of
WW2, they werent silly enough to attack the US again.

And china wont be silly enough either, you watch.
 
I downloaded Casper XP and found this in the Help file:

"Note: While an external USB or Firewire hard disk may be used for the
backup on a desktop system, Windows is not designed to boot and run
directly from an external device. Consequently, an externally attached
hard disk must be removed from its external USB or Firewire enclosure
and installed as a replacement for the internal hard disk in order to
boot from it."

I take it this means that in the case of a catastrophic Windows failure,
my 2 external Maxtor USB 270Gig drives are worthless for booting when
trying to use my Casper backup of my C: drive.

If the above is correct, it seems I am stuck with the tedious, time
consuming task of using Windows XP Pro's ASR method of backup, or
install another hard disk inside my computer - and I need another hard
disk like my car needs a fifth wheel.
Click to expand...

All that means is that if your internal hard drive fails, you will need
to place the external drive internally and boot from it that way.

All things considered, in the event of a catastrophic Windows failure,
it's a doddle.


Odie
 
All that means is that if your internal hard drive fails, you will need
to place the external drive internally and boot from it that way.

All things considered, in the event of a catastrophic Windows failure,
it's a doddle.


Odie
Click to expand...

With 98SE and Drive Image, when one has a catastrophic failure, you
simply insert the Drive Image startup floppy and then use Drive Image to
choose which image to restore.

Now *that* is what I call simple - not having to change freak'n drives
internally. That's ridiculous. Also, Maxtor's outboard drives are meant
to be *outboard*, not inboard.

I don't believe the silliness of these present day image makers.

The more I read of these idiotic modern programs, the more I am coming
to the conclusion I'm going to be using XP Pro's ASR method. Not fancy.
Not fast. But it seems sure. Too bad it cost me $50 for that Acronis
p.o.s. to learn all this.
 
With 98SE and Drive Image, when one has a catastrophic failure, you
simply insert the Drive Image startup floppy and then use Drive Image to
choose which image to restore.

Now *that* is what I call simple - not having to change freak'n drives
internally. That's ridiculous. Also, Maxtor's outboard drives are meant
to be *outboard*, not inboard.

I don't believe the silliness of these present day image makers.

The more I read of these idiotic modern programs, the more I am coming
to the conclusion I'm going to be using XP Pro's ASR method. Not fancy.
Not fast. But it seems sure. Too bad it cost me $50 for that Acronis
p.o.s. to learn all this.
Click to expand...

While working with Acronis TI, did you try to use TI Bootable
Rescue Media CD?
I found this the best way of working with a product. Once you
created that bootable CD, you can uninstall TI from your system.
(section 10.2 of user manual)
It might even work with your USB drives (I use a network share).
 
With 98SE and Drive Image, when one has a catastrophic failure, you
simply insert the Drive Image startup floppy and then use Drive Image to
choose which image to restore.

Now *that* is what I call simple - not having to change freak'n drives
internally. That's ridiculous. Also, Maxtor's outboard drives are meant
to be *outboard*, not inboard.

I don't believe the silliness of these present day image makers.
Click to expand...

Casper XP isnt an image maker, its a cloning app.
The more I read of these idiotic modern programs, the more
I am coming to the conclusion I'm going to be using XP Pro's
ASR method. Not fancy. Not fast. But it seems sure.
Click to expand...

Drive Image 2002 is just as sure and a lot more elegant.
Too bad it cost me $50 for that Acronis p.o.s. to learn all this.
Click to expand...

Its only gunna cost you $7 or less to try Drive Image 2002.
 
While working with Acronis TI, did you try to use TI Bootable
Rescue Media CD?
I found this the best way of working with a product. Once you
created that bootable CD, you can uninstall TI from your system.
(section 10.2 of user manual)
It might even work with your USB drives (I use a network share).
Click to expand...
Yes, I used the Rescue Cd I had made in the beginning.

To clarify, I have not lost my Windows XP Pro. I just decided to see if
I could restore when needed, so I made a brand new image and tried to
restore it. That's when my problems started.

Hell, don't feel like the Lone Ranger. The "support" at Acronis doesn't
know anything about this either. :)

I'm becoming more convinced to simply use the backup provided by XP Pro.
Should have done that in the beginning. But like they say, too old too
soon. Too smart too late. :)
 
Yes, I used the Rescue Cd I had made in the beginning.
To clarify, I have not lost my Windows XP Pro. I just decided to see if
I could restore when needed, so I made a brand new image and tried to
restore it. That's when my problems started.
Click to expand...

So you have made images to an USB drive and had
difficulty trying to restore from it?
Did you try to run image integrity checks?
Oh, no, you have said that images were not
showing up on USB drive.

That gives me an impression that running Linux
based recovery tool with USB drives can lead to
some troubles.

Thank you for sharing that experience with us.
 
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