Create an Image of C Drive

[chonwin]

I bought my laptop (IBM Thinkpad T42) from my local university NUS last year. From what i understand, the image provided by IBM (in the form of discovery CDs) is not the same image provided by NUS. Hence yesterday I went to NUS service centre to have my laptop imaged to the factory settings. But before I want to install anything, I want to image my C Drive to capture OS and all programs in the Drive in the form of CDs so that I do not have to go back to NUS service centre

I want to backup up all OS and NUS applications. Should I use IBM Rescue and Recovery or Norton Ghost.

Please advise. Thanks.

[Ted_E]

I bought my laptop (IBM Thinkpad T42) from my local university NUS last year. From what i understand, the image provided by IBM (in the form of discovery CDs) is not the same image provided by NUS. Hence yesterday I went to NUS service centre to have my laptop imaged to the factory settings. But before I want to install anything, I want to image my C Drive to capture OS and all programs in the Drive in the form of CDs so that I do not have to go back to NUS service centre

I want to backup up all OS and NUS applications. Should I use IBM Rescue and Recovery or Norton Ghost.

Please advise. Thanks.

Go to http://www.fsys.nl/ and get DFSee. One of its many powerfull functions is the ability to create multiple CD-sized image files of any drive, windows or not. It also has the ability to save the partition tables. This combination on a boot able CD would allow you to recover your system even if you had to replace the hard drive. Further, if you save the image files periodically, you don't necessarily have to go back to square one.

This is a very powerful program so read the docs especially re the script dfstart.

My only interest in this is as a _very_ satisfied customer.

Ted

[pipspeak]

Rescue and Recovery should now allow you to burn a set of "recovery CDs", which will essentially restore your machine to its present state should you have any problems in the future (it usually fills 5 or more CDs). At least that's how it works with a regular factory drive image. Not sure about special preloads like yours.

An alternative is to make a backup of your C: drive using Windows' own backup utility (usually found under system tools). That will make a shadow copy of the entire drive, though the resulting file will likely be too large to fit on a CD, so you might need an external drive.

A third alternative is to use a third party ghosting or cloning software.

[dummkopf]

I use Knoppix for this. With 'partimage' you can back up all your partitions to a networked computer or to an external drive. Just type 'knoppix 2' at boot prompt and get it working quick without GUI crap. Oh, an there is 'ntfsresize' utility too in case you need to adjust the partition size. And 'parted' if you want to move/resize fat partitions.

[Lzc]

I think use ghost is the best and simplest.

[Ted_E]

I think use ghost is the best and simplest.

Ghost _only_ runs under windows so you must use it from your running operating system. I see some fundamental problems with this: Are all files (and other disk objects) updated or is some stuff held in memory? Are there any locked files? How will the system change when you shut down?

If you use DFSee booted form a bootable CD to make a drive image(s), you have done it on a shut down system - exactly as it would be the next time you turn on the computer. Personally, I believe that is safer. Also, DFSee will deal with OSs other than windows so if you use Linux, eCS, or ???, you can use the same tool if you wish. Besides, it's cheaper.

Ted

[bapatterson]

I think use ghost is the best and simplest.

I have the latest version of Ghost and it will not make a usable clone of a T42 drive. As far as I am concerned, it is total crap software.

[Roy_W]

I think use ghost is the best and simplest.

I have the latest version of Ghost and it will not make a usable clone of a T42 drive. As far as I am concerned, it is total crap software.

As far as Hard Disk imaging programs go I would recommend "Acronis True Image ( linux cored )" or "Symantec V2I (windows cored)". Both programs run best when run directly from a boot CD, this then elimantes any problems associated with the current OS

It doesn't matter which operating system(s) is/are on the hard drive as they are almost ignored during the image processing.

Be carefull, images created in this manner are NOT intended to be restored on anything other than the original machine. Bios parameters, disk mappings and various other hardware/software differences can and probably will create problems if the machine is not an exact copy of the original machine.

[Kyocera]

Ghost has worked for me a few times, I will say it is not plug & play, there are a few issues but it has worked for my T30 and T42 successfully, I think the media you use may have something to do with it.

[Nolonemo]

I've used both Ghost and TrueImage, and for my money, TrueImage wins hands down. Just my 2c.

[chonwin]

Ghost has worked for me a few times, I will say it is not plug & play, there are a few issues but it has worked for my T30 and T42 successfully, I think the media you use may have something to do with it.

To use Norton Ghost, you need a boot up disk to boot into the Norton Ghost environment before you can restore the image file. How do I create a boot up disk (in the form of a CD) and what are the files to be copied to the disk in order for me to boot into the Norton Ghost enviromnemt. Please advise. THanks.

[Kyocera]

Ghost _only_ runs under windows so you must use it from your running operating system. I see some fundamental problems with this: Are all files (and other disk objects) updated or is some stuff held in memory? Are there any locked files? How will the system change when you shut down?

Not sure what you mean by this, but I can remove my HD and boot into the recovery environment.
The Norton Ghost CD's I bought have two CD's one boots into the recovery environment. Then follow the prompts.

When you create your image cds they do recommend doing the integrity check, time consuming but worth it.

[zelchenko]

I think use ghost is the best and simplest.

Ghost _only_ runs under windows so you must use it from your running operating system. I see some fundamental problems with this: Are all files (and other disk objects) updated or is some stuff held in memory? Are there any locked files? How will the system change when you shut down?

If you use DFSee booted form a bootable CD to make a drive image(s), you have done it on a shut down system - exactly as it would be the next time you turn on the computer. Personally, I believe that is safer. Also, DFSee will deal with OSs other than windows so if you use Linux, eCS, or ???, you can use the same tool if you wish. Besides, it's cheaper.

Ted

Ghost does not run only under Windows. As others have said, there's a bootable environment disc as well. That said, I recently reloaded my T42, fully patched, loaded all my applications, etc--then I added Norton Ghost 2005. I used the Windows interface to create an image of the C: drive spanned across 2 DVDs. It has no problem getting every single bit of the volume. Of course this is possible, otherwise how would defragmentation software work? I then did a test restore with the just created image using the bootable environment disc. Worked like a charm. I think I'd rather store a copy of my image on an external USB drive next time--it'd probably go faster.