Free Imaging Software query?

i8change

Can anyone recommend free imaging software that can be used without a Linux Rescue CD?

I looked at Macrium Reflect but the Linux rescue CD it needs won't work with my PC, even in compatibility mode.

I don't really want the effort of making a Bart one as I only want to re-image when Windows slows or free encoding software starts playing up etc. I am happy to re-install the OS if the HDD dies.

The wifes Samsung Netbook seems to be able to re-image from a hidden partition (without rescue CD) as we have tried it successfully, so I was wondering if any of the free Imaging software could?

Many thanks for any replies.

closed

maxblast (need a seagate/maxtor drive somewhere), clonezilla, paragon, easeus, driveimagexml, they are all going to need a variation of linux/pe to boot though, but you might have success with one of them.

Toxteth_OGrady

i8change wrote: »

I looked at Macrium Reflect but the Linux rescue CD it needs won't work with my PC, even in compatibility mode.

Not sure what you mean by the CD not working in compatibility mode. You're not trying to run the CD from within Windows are you?

The rescue CD contains its own Linux OS so you have to boot from the CD not the hard disk that contains your operating system.

:cool:

TOG

fwor

I've used both Clonezilla and PING successfully in the past - though the user interface of both takes a bit of getting used to.

As TOG suggests, you won't find any disk cloning s/w that doesn't require its own boot disk or partition. You can't clone a Windows system partition while Windows is running, because system files are constantly changing and the result would be internally inconsistent.

i8change

Originally Posted by Toxteth OGrady
Not sure what you mean by the CD not working in compatibility mode. You're not trying to run the CD from within Windows are you?

No, it is a compatibilty mode for the boot disc. It creates a Linux rescue disc that is more compatible, as described below.

If your PC refuses to boot with the rescue CD, then return to this wizard and click the 'Advanced' button. This allows you to create a special 'compatibility mode' disc which should allow even the most stubborn PC to boot with the rescue CD.

My PC must be even more stubborn than "the most stubborn PC."

mr_fishbulb

Take a look at this - http://www.paragon-software.com/home/db-express/

I take images of my C drive whilst running Windows. It's free too.

i8change

Originally Posted by fwor
As TOG suggests, you won't find any disk cloning s/w that doesn't require its own boot disk or partition. You can't clone a Windows system partition while Windows is running, because system files are constantly changing and the result would be internally inconsistent.

It was the equivalent of the Netbook initial status restore that I was hoping for.

The wifes Samsung N130 can do a "complete backup image of the C: drive, to another drive." It can then do a "Complete restore of that image back onto the C: drive." Using the "Samsung Recovery Solution" it boots up in restoration mode, restores everything and then reboots when the complete restore is finished.

We had to do an "Initial status backup" when we first got it but it works OK. They seem to be set up to get round the lack of optical drives.

Do some Imaging software work from a partition, without a rescue CD?

i8change

Originally Posted by mr_fishbulb
I take images of my C drive whilst running Windows. It's free too.

Thanks I will look at the Paragon Backup manual.

Can it restore an Image of your freshly loaded OS from a partition on the same drive, without needing to resort to a recovery CD?

I am happy to re-install the OS, from the Windows CD, if the drive happened to fail, but want to be able to take an image of a freshly installed OS and restore it occasionally if needs arise.

gaming_guy

i8change wrote: »

Do some Imaging software work from a partition, without a rescue CD?

Clonezilla certainly can - i had it on a separate partition before moving it over to my PXE server

closed

Backup to an external drive is better. If you can't get any of the linux solutions to work, a pe disk is always handy, and doesn't take long to create if you have an os disk (or files) available.

To have a recovery partition, you're still going to need a dos or linux environment to restore it, and it's no use if the hd fails completely.

Is the machine XP/Vista/W7?

mr_fishbulb

i8change wrote: »

Can it restore an Image of your freshly loaded OS from a partition on the same drive, without needing to resort to a recovery CD?

No I think you still need the recovery CD. It's just the backup part which you don't need to boot from CD.

Although as others have said, best not to keep your backups on the same physical disk - USB drives are cheap