Creating HD Images - How do YOU do it?

[itakey]

I am loading up my brand new machine which I will be overclocking and I plan to create an image of the drive with only the drivers installed so I have a good base to come back too.

I was curious to hear how you guys do it?

Do you load on a program like Ghost or Acronis and create the image to a second HD or a USB external? Or do you remove the HD from the computer, put it into another machine, and then create the image?

I already do it both ways but was curious to hear how you guys all do it when building new machines???

 

[Balwyn]

My main OS is win XP on an Nvidia Nforce 3 based RAID 0+1 HD array.

I image and restore this OS by running Acronis 8 from a CD under Bart PE (similar to windows PE) and dump the RAID image to an external USB drive. I prefer to do this way rather than running acronis from the main OS directly as I am guaranteed that no XP files are in use at the time of the image.

I also tried using the Acronis Linux based CD method and this would have been successful except that no Nforce 3 raid drivers were available for linux, hence the Bart PE route.
Bart PE lets you run whatever XP drivers you want.

Been using this method for at least 2 years with no issues

 

[itakey]

That sounds like a great idea. I haven't used Bart PE for quite a while though. How do you get Acronis installed into Bart PE so I could do as you've mentioned?

I simply want to create backup images of my drive. I have a USB external that I would like to dump them on too.

And what version of Acronis are you running? I thought I read that you had to be on 9.0 or higher for it to work. I use a version 7 that was a free legit download. Any way to get that loaded into bart PE myself easily?

DriveImage
Bart Plugin for Drive Image

Ever use Drive Image? I like Acronis.

Any more tips and specifics will be helpful.
Thanks!

 

[SerpentRoyal]

Bootit NG is a drive imaging/non-destructive partitioning/boot loading software in one package. Boot the software using a floppy or boot CD. Nominal imaging speed is 1400MB/min.

I always create an as-loaded image of the OS. Much faster than zero filling and reloading windows.

First step is to zero fill the HDD. Partition the HDD with one primary active C partition and an extended logical partition D. Install windows to the C partition. Boot into windows and change the optical drive to M drive.

Reboot with Bootit NG and create an image file of the C partition (OS). Store this image file in the D partition.

BING is fully operational for 30 days. Download at terabyteunlimited.com.

 

[itakey]

Thanks SerpentRoyal for your process. Ok, so I don't want to lose what Balwyn said either since I do like Acronis

Serpent, so can you explain a little more about exactly how you use the C and D partitions. So is the extended logical partition simply formatting a drive so it has 2 partitions? I think what you are saying is that you create the C drive as normal, and then have a separate partition on the same disk as D. You then boot up the program with a boot disk so it is not even into windows yet and you create a full image of C and copy it to D. My guess is you then copy off the images from D to store them in a safer place like on a USB external HD?

Question, how come you make your DVD/CD Drive M? Just a preference?

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: SerpentRoyal
I always create an as-loaded image of the OS. Much faster than zero filling and reloading windows.

First step is to zero fill the HDD.

Just a hint, you don't ever need to zero fill an HDD, unless you contract a boot sector virus, or you manage to somehow irreparably destroy your boot sector yourself, which is very hard to do, on accident.

 

[SerpentRoyal]

Some HDDs may require a zero fill for proper detection. WD Raptor would be one example.

 

[itakey]

Still trying to figure out the best way to go about doing this...
Serpent, can you reply to my comments to your post above?

 

[SerpentRoyal]

Use Bootit NG (BING) to non-destructively create an extended logical partition AFTER the C primary active partition. Now restart with BING to create an image file of the C partition. Select the new extended logical partition as the destination for the image file. You can also write the image file to an external USB HDD or thumb drive, but the speed will be slower. The resulting image file will be 60 to 70% of the original C partition.

 

[SerpentRoyal]

Originally posted by: itakey
Thanks SerpentRoyal for your process. Ok, so I don't want to lose what Balwyn said either since I do like Acronis

Serpent, so can you explain a little more about exactly how you use the C and D partitions. So is the extended logical partition simply formatting a drive so it has 2 partitions? I think what you are saying is that you create the C drive as normal, and then have a separate partition on the same disk as D. You then boot up the program with a boot disk so it is not even into windows yet and you create a full image of C and copy it to D. My guess is you then copy off the images from D to store them in a safer place like on a USB external HD?

Question, how come you make your DVD/CD Drive M? Just a preference?

Can't help you with TI cause I dumped this bloatware at version 6. Too buggy and bulky. BING fits in a floppy. You can also create a BING boot CD. No need to install BING since it is designed to run directly from the boot floppy or CD.

The default installation for windows is the C primary active partition. You can use BING to non-destructively re-size/shrink the C partition to create free space for another extended logical D partition (after C) on the same HDD.

To change drive letter, go to Control Panel/Adminstrative Tools/Computer Management. Go to Disk Management to change the drive letter of the optical drive.

 

[itakey]

About how big do you usually create your extended logical partition? I have a 500GB. Should I just split it right in half? I was considering creating a second 100GB partition when I was creating it but then thought I should just keep it one.

Also,
I like to use Acronis for its scheduling functionality, BING doesn't do this right?

I use the earlier version of Acronis which is 7. Its straight forward and works really good. I am just trying to get around installing it onto the HD that I am cloning.

 

[perdomot]

I still use Norton Ghost from a floppy and it works just fine for me. I make an image on another hdd in my rig that has a partition dedicated to images and I also make a restore dvd in case the image on the hdd gets corrupted.

 

[SerpentRoyal]

Depends on how many image file you want to keep. Most of the issues are directly linked to corrupt/damage OS partition. That's why I only keep OS data in the primary active C partition. You can create an unlimited number of partition inside the extended logical partition. For example, D for program, E for personal privy data, and F for the image files.

My OS partition is under 900MB...less than 1 minute to backup/restore windows. The resulting image file can also fit on a CD.

BING does not automate. I prefer speed, reliability, and stability over bells and whistles. BING is 100% reliable for me since 2001. I cannot say the same for TI or Ghost/Drive Image. BING is also very generous with upgrade. My original copy from 2001 is still good for upgrade today.

 

[itakey]

So do you actually install all of your programs on another partition too?

I already keep my data separate from a network drive so I typically won't store a ton on it, but I do have things like my Outlook and stuff like that. I would like to keep my backups down to as small and easy as possible.

How exactly does an extended partition work technically? Is it looked at as an extension of the main/C drive, versus as a completely separate partition?

 

[SerpentRoyal]

Why not? I specify partition D. Not that some applications like Office will dump some data in the C OS partition. The extended partition works just like another HDD. If I click on Windows Explorer, I will see WXP (C), DATA (D), MISC (E), and BACKUP (F) under My Computer. PartionMagic will show one C primary active partition and one primary extended logical partition. Within this primary extended logical partition, we have DATA (D), MISC (E), and BACKUP (F).

These D, E, and F partitions act just like the C partition. You can move data in/out of each partition. You can also use FAT32 with D partition, and NTFS with E partition. Note that W9x can only read FAT and FAT32. Vista will only install in an NTFS partition.

 

[itakey]

Thanks for the specifics.

I've formatted and partitioned many drives in my day, but I've always left programs on the C, and then all of my data and backups on the other partitions.

So is there a way to make it default to your extended logical partition when installing programs, rather than have it always default to C:/programs??

 

[SerpentRoyal]

Many programs will allow you to select the location via a CUSTOM button. A few poorly coded applications (like flash) will automatically install in C.

 

[itakey]

I'm aware that you can install in another location, but was curious to know if windows had some area where you could set a different default. Guess not.

Since most programs would need the original installed registry to run I think i'll just keep my OS and the programs all on one drive. If you took just your program partition and loaded it elsewhere the programs wouldn't run on a newly installed version of windows, right? I know that programs like to utilize the user specific application data and local data folders so it might not be that productive in the end to install programs on a separate partition. UNLESS you are trying to keep down on space.

 

[SerpentRoyal]

Vendors can design quality proggies that can run in *.exe form without the need to link-up with the windows registry and user profile. Most free applications work this way. Symantec/Norton products are the worst so I avoid them at all cost.

 

[itakey]

So I decided to rip the drive out, put it into my other machine, and create an image. I then copied it to a 200GB IDE drive I have. Put it in and it runs like a dream and hasn't skipped a beat. I think I have decided to run my OS on the 200GB as one partition, which will then leave the 500 GB for storage and play.

I'll definitely consider BING in the future since it sounds like it is on point. For now, it is back to my old version of Acronis

 

[SerpentRoyal]

BING is not for noobs. It takes a little research to understand BING's user interface. Once you are familar with BING, then you will have a very fast and light imaging program that is OS INDEPENDENT. Yes, BING does not require an OS to function. If BING can read your BIOS, then it shoud be able to image/partition the HDD.

 

[darkenedsoul]

So is it recommended to set up Bart PE for Acronis if using RAID configurations? Just so that the device is recognized when you need to do a restore? I have Acronis Workstation 9.1 with Universal Restore and Drive Cleanser package. I decided to do a clean install of the new system vs trying Universal Restore (at some point I do want to try that out to see how it does....). I resized the 1Tb drive RAID 0 down to 2 partitions for future (blech) Vista installation. For Linux I'll use Wubi/Ubunti (pretty slick installer, I set it up on this system I am logged in here with). I also have VMWare 5.53 running Fedora Core 7 pretty well with the ATI X1600 (MS Virtual PC blows chunks trying to install Core 7, I had no visible display when at login after the install, the graphics driver or whatever they are using sucks for Virtual PC 2007....).

So anyways, Bart PE for doing imaging vs up in the OS? I can understand why due to some files possibly in use but usually on a restore that I've done with Acronis all went well and system was fine (replaced a failing HD on other system some time ago which new box replaced). I've had good luck on restores from images using Acronis. I dumped Ghost 9.0 due to it not playing nicely with McAphee Antivirus....

 

[stingygrrl]

Originally posted by: darkenedsoul
I dumped Ghost 9.0 due to it not playing nicely with McAphee Antivirus....

Mcafee is generally thought to be the worst AV suite, right behind Norton. Look for Kaspersky free after rebate- it's around quite a bit, and I'd expect some deals for Black Friday.

Also, you guys do know that if you have a seagate or maxtor drive, even external, you can run Seagate Diskwizard free (= Acronis 10)

 

[itakey]

Originally posted by: stingygrrl

Originally posted by: darkenedsoul
I dumped Ghost 9.0 due to it not playing nicely with McAphee Antivirus....

Also, you guys do know that if you have a seagate or maxtor drive, even external, you can run Seagate Diskwizard free (= Acronis 10)

Anyone know if this specific version of Acronis 10 that comes free with Seagate and Maxtor will run in Bart PE? Is that plug-in available? I know that Acronis harbors that plug-in closely.

 

[nyker96]

I use Acronis, that works nicely, except you need to burn a PE CD to recover in case your win xp is unbootable. with these two you are protected.