Good imaging tools or backup software.

May 11, 2008
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Hi, to backup my data i use syncback free. Which works great by the way.
http://www.2brightsparks.com/syncback/syncback-hub.html


But i would like to create an image backup of my OS partition.
I used to use norton ghost for this but i am wondering if this still works since i use windows 7-64 now. I was wondering if there is something that i should keep in mind. I do not know how the partition tables are different or something like that.

What is the best image software out there for windows 7-64 ?
Or will my good old norton ghost still function with a huge 50GB backup ?
Can i use that image backup to replace my HDD with an SSD ?
 

xSauronx

Lifer
Jul 14, 2000
19,582
4
81
ghost will work, but you need to be over v 11.5 (iirc) to support the offset partition that xp uses [and that is a pretty old version anyway, so you may be well past that]

acronis true image works ok, can be had cheap or free if you arent in a hurry.

windows 7 has a backup image software built in. wont do incrementals but you can just take an image and replace it every once in a while for nada.
http://windows.microsoft.com/is-is/windows/back-up-programs-system-settings-files#1TC=windows-7

if you are replacing a HD with an SSD i think its suggested that you do a fresh install. its pretty fast to install windows and software on an ssd
 
Last edited:
May 11, 2008
22,551
1,471
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Thank you for your reply.

I was afraid that i would have to do a clean install when installing on an SSD.
I have a lot of different program settings that i need to do again after a fresh install. That is why i hoped that an image of my current install would work.
The norton ghost that i have is part of a slipstreamed windows rescue cd called BARTPE. I will check on the version number.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BartPE

I will read into the W7 backup option, thanks for the link.
 
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Binky

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
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4
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Macrium reflect free

Or, your hard drive manufacturer may give you a free version of Acronis true image. I know WD and Seagate do.
 

ichie

Member
Dec 30, 2013
40
0
0
I had used Ghost before, but I think it is out of data now.
My tool is aomei backupper, it has an edition especially for windows 7.
About replacing your HDD with an SSD, there are many tutorials in their website teach you how to do. You can back up first or just clone.
I think you'd better visit and try.
Good luck.
 

PliotronX

Diamond Member
Oct 17, 1999
8,883
107
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Through my bit of research Macrium Reflect and Paragon Backup are the top two tools. Active@ Disk Image is what we have to use at work and its not multithreaded, very slow.