Thinkpad Rescue & Recovery: Pros and Cons?

[dhave]

I've never used Thinkpad Rescue and Recovery, and I don't even have it installed on my current hard drive.

Of course, ThinkVantage System Update always wants me to install R&R, and I'm starting to wonder if I should. I have a couple of questions, first.

(1) About how much hard drive space will R&R need?
(2) Can the backup data itself be stored using an online backup service such as CrashPlan?

Note that I *do* maintain current backups of critical data and key system files. However, if R&R would permit me to to a full restore after a hard drive crash, I may want to give it a try.

One possible limitation: I'm running Win7 on a 180Gb SSD, so space is more limited than if I had a 500Gb standard hard drive installed.

Thank you in advance.

[ZaZ]

I use True Image myself. I find R & R to be bloated. What I like to do is clean install, then make an image of the install. The image can then be put back at any time, then just update any software that needs it. You can make a separate partition for the data and don't have to mess with it using True Image.

[ashleys]

Last version I tried to use was 4.21 which was still far too slow.

I would recommend using either Acronis or Paragon (which I use).
Furthermore, Windows Backup in Windows 7 is improved and I now use that as well for making regular system images of my C: (OS only) partition.

[dr_st]

I use True Image myself. I find R & R to be bloated. What I like to do is clean install, then make an image of the install.

I can also add that I periodically (every several months to a year) make new images, so that if I install applications or tweak system settings along the way, I don't have to do it all from scratch if for whatever reason I am forced to go back to an earlier image.