Difference between Drive image programs and just copying everythign over?

[MustangSVT]

What is the difference besides the compression on files?

I have winXP and i tried the built in back up in XP.. after i got my computer messed up with SIS UDMA DRIVERS (Rollback gives BSOD and same thing when rebooted from safe mode after removing it), i tried the restore from backup. I did use full back up and backed up everything, it did use 1.6gb (this was done right after fresh installation) so it looked like it made exact image, but after restoring, i had same sis drivers causing same problem.
so after reinstalling XP, reinstalling drivers, and tweaking everything, its working perfectly.

I would like to save the image of my system drive so if some driver files get curropted, i can restore the computer and would be back to normal working condition (of course only with software problems, not hardware failure).

now my question is, since I have 120gb hdd space with 6 partitions I dont have problem just copying EVERYTHING in C: . i read up on drive image softwares (norton Ghost, Power quest Drive image, drive copy... etc) and only advantage seems to be file compression and being able to split the back up file into certain sizes. also they allow network backup... and i do NOT need those functions, this is just home computer mostly for gaming.
If I copy (selecting C: press control C (copy) and choose drive D: (backup drive) and press control V (paste)) the files over, will it copy all the files? or would it still leave some behind?

 

[Stratum9]

It's my understanding that certain Windows files cannot be copied while in use. So yes, you would not copy the whole drive. I use Norton's Ghost which makes an exact compressed duplicate of the partition, including the boot sector. You can't run it from Windows of course because the files would be in use.

 

[FoBoT]

imaging software is good, but DON'T buy powerquest drive image pro/imagecenter, we use it at work and have had issues restoring images over the network

 

[MustangSVT]

<< It's my understanding that certain Windows files cannot be copied while in use. So yes, you would not copy the whole drive. I use Norton's Ghost which makes an exact compressed duplicate of the partition, including the boot sector. You can't run it from Windows of course because the files would be in use. >>



hmm good point, what if i start the computer with the startup disk (from win98) that has xcopy32 command on it and do this?
XCOPY32 c:\*.* d:\backup\ /E/v

shouldnt that copy EVERYTHING over?

 

[XZeroII]

no, wont work. There are still hidden files and boot files that will not be copied. Trust me, I've tried it way back in 95 and it wouldn't work. Pick up Norton Ghost, I've used that and it works w/o a hitch.