Best Program to Backup An Entire Hardrive?

[MAME]

Trying to backup someone's entire drive. Which software is best for something like this?

 

[xtknight]

You'd want disk imaging software like Acronis True Image or Norton Ghost. I don't know which of those is the best.

 

[Schadenfroh]

I have used Norton Ghost in the past, it will get the job done. But, I have not tried any of the new versions, arconis might be better, the version of ghost I use is from around 2000.

 

[redbeard1]

Windows (NT) Backup? It's free and built into Windows, though it may not have been installed originally on the system. It will backup to a file.

 

[WildHorse]

I've been having good luck with Acronis True Image Workstation with Universal Restore

 

[Gooberlx2]

I'll vote Acronis True Image....mostly because something on my filesystem completely fubared last night. Happily, I was able to fully restore to a perfectly working backup image from earlier this year.

...it did remind me that I need to make more regular backups though.

 

[supaidaaman]

stupid question...but how exactly does imaging software work?

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Originally posted by: supaidaaman
stupid question...but how exactly does imaging software work?

Depends on your setup. You can do automatic backups to another PC. You can create an image and burn it to CD.

It really depends on what you have. If all you have is a single PC, you probably have to burn an image to DVD (or DVDs )

The easiest way is to backup to a networked drive somewhere.

EDIT: We mostly sue Norton Ghost at work. Why? We know it works and always has.

 

[Pirotech]

Originally posted by: xtknight
You'd want disk imaging software like Acronis True Image or Norton Ghost. I don't know which of those is the best.

here is the answer:
http://www.techsupportalert.com/drive-imaging-reviews.htm

i'm for true image too, several years ago Norton Ghost was really the best backup sollution, but now it's left much to be desired.

 

[gizbug]

Is there a recommended softare to just back up files from a HD to a DVD? Or is something like NERO the best bet?

 

[Pirotech]

Originally posted by: gizbug
Is there a recommended softare to just back up files from a HD to a DVD? Or is something like NERO the best bet?

it depends on what exactly you want. i mean what kind of files. if they are pictures, videos, etc, nero would be enough, if you need to backup the whole system or make differential backups you need to use 3d party backup software, i think the best choise would be true image.

 

[SinNisTeR]

I tried Acronis once and it left me hosed. I use a very simple piece of software that I've used many times over.

http://drivesnapshot.de

 

[Archman]

Originally posted by: gizbug
Is there a recommended softare to just back up files from a HD to a DVD? Or is something like NERO the best bet?

I use Cobian Backup (this is the main site) and here is a great review and this review and this last review.

This is the best and simplest FREEWARE program I have found to back up files, and a system Throw this together with NASLite+ (NASLite+ review)and you have a cheap and inexpensive way to create a Network Assisted Storage (NAS) device