Backup to rebuild image. R&R or True Image?

[dfumento]

I'm awaiting delivery on a new Thinkpad....I want to custom build the image to avoid the "crapware" and features I don't want. Then, after I've installed Windows Updates, Driver Updates, My applications with their updates, I want to be able to make a backup that I can then rebuild the new image from including my applications and the Windows and Thinkpad updates.

Should I use Rescue and Restore to do this or should I use Acronis True image? Any advantages/disadvantages? TIA

[ryengineer]

Acronis True image is a great product but I prefer ThinkVantage Rescue and Recovery to it. In a nutshell, both will do the job for you.

[ducky2802]

I used acronis and I liked it... the free trial version worked great! In the end though, I rely on the R&R software to do my backups... it keeps my setting and program installed, something I did have trouble with on acronis for a few cad programs that mysteriously had their registry info deleted upon restoring.

But a few things to keep in mind that I was not aware of on R&R

1) restoring when your computer is running is fine. Restoring when it breaks and your os crashes, the pre-desktop can restore just fine. Restoring from USB/DVD is fine as well...

BUT...

2) in the event that the above said system was wiped clean, restoring from an external HDD, DVD, etc, does not always seem to work. Yeah, I upgraded HDDs 3 times, and every time that I wanted to restore off a USB, DVD, AND ultrabay image, the R&R software would error. What I think is that the R&R stores some data or something that points to a specific backup list, on your original HDD. Replace your HDD or wipe it, and getting back your restore image does not always work (for me, its never worked, but maybe some other people have better results).

3) Since event (2) has happened on over 2 dozen different restore session, I backup only my documents onto the ultrabay hdd, save one preconfig image of my hdd using R&R on the original HDD, then periodically restore to this preconfig image as temporary softwares start building up over time. I do not rely on R&R to save my documents... just a few program installs which makes recovery of the T60 a 20min affair as opposed to 4+ hours manually recovering the system and then installing the programs one at a time.

[generalsu]

Norton Ghost 12 is the best for a full hard drive image backup.

[thinkcool]

I tested norton ghost but the image i created don't boot the machine at start up, is that due to the sata drive, or something i miss in the configuration of creating a DVD backup from norton ghost.
I used R&R, but as i'm using linux on dual boot, this does not work.
thanks for the forum and the great topics.

[dfumento]

Well, thanks for the info. Many people also use Acronis True Image 11 which has a 15 day demo download.

[generalsu]

I tested norton ghost but the image i created don't boot the machine at start up, is that due to the sata drive, or something i miss in the configuration of creating a DVD backup from norton ghost.
I used R&R, but as i'm using linux on dual boot, this does not work.
thanks for the forum and the great topics.

Well the NG12 backup images will not boot up by itself. When you buy NG12, you'll receive a bootable CD which will load up the backup image and restore it to your C drive.

[steveg47]

I tested norton ghost but the image i created don't boot the machine at start up, is that due to the sata drive, or something i miss in the configuration of creating a DVD backup from norton ghost.

You need to use the -ib commandline option when ghosting Thinkpads with service partitions.

[rnsolo]

if you have the Seagate Harddrive, you can download Seagate DiscWizard from the Seagate website. The Discwizard is now powered by Acronis and has its basic functionalities (like clone, bakup, restore etc). Best of all its free.
Am not sure if it will work with other harddrive brands though.