Imaging a Boot Hard Drive

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b4u

Golden Member
Nov 8, 2002
1,380
2
81
Good Day,

I do believe this as already been questioned hundreds of times, but can't find a complete post that answers what I want, so here I am ... again:

Next weekend, I'm going to format a Windows 2000 Pro system, to reinstall all again from new. This is a time-intensive action, so I'll just make it one more time.

First, I would like to know which would be the best program around to make an image of the complete HD, after installation of the base software. I'm looking for a trustable software, that can do the job, without giving me trouble.

Second, I would like to ask what would be the steps to making the job ... I'm thinking:

[1] Format and reinstall fresh Win2000 Pro, configure domain access, put latest SP;
[2] Install web access, install MS Office, install firewall, and other base software;
[3] Install software that makes image;
[4] Make image of HD (this will also include the image software in the image, right?)
[5] Install som eother minor software (this will NOT be in the image)

Am I correct in my thoughts? (eheh damn english of mine :D) ... or what would be the best practices?

Now, what I also want to ask:

Imagine my OS gets currupt. Having the image will save my time, but an installation of the image software must be available in the system, and in condition to run ... right?

What if I'm not able to run the image software, because of some curruption in the registry? Will I have to take the HD and connect to another PC for writing the image again?

Will the image of a HD save the partition info? (For example, if I have a 40Gb disc splited in 10Gb+30Gb)

Will the software still recovers the image correctly if I exchange the HD (for example for a larger one)?


Thanks for the answers.
 
EagleKeeper

EagleKeeper

Discussion Club Moderator<br>Elite Member
Staff member
Oct 30, 2000
42,589
5
0
Originally posted by: b4u
Good Day,

I do believe this as already been questioned hundreds of times, but can't find a complete post that answers what I want, so here I am ... again:

Next weekend, I'm going to format a Windows 2000 Pro system, to reinstall all again from new. This is a time-intensive action, so I'll just make it one more time.

First, I would like to know which would be the best program around to make an image of the complete HD, after installation of the base software. I'm looking for a trustable software, that can do the job, without giving me trouble.

Second, I would like to ask what would be the steps to making the job ... I'm thinking:

[1] Format and reinstall fresh Win2000 Pro, configure domain access, put latest SP;
[2] Install web access, install MS Office, install firewall, and other base software;
[3] Install software that makes image;
[4] Make image of HD (this will also include the image software in the image, right?)
[5] Install som eother minor software (this will NOT be in the image)

Am I correct in my thoughts? (eheh damn english of mine :D) ... or what would be the best practices?

Now, what I also want to ask:

Imagine my OS gets currupt. Having the image will save my time, but an installation of the image software must be available in the system, and in condition to run ... right?

What if I'm not able to run the image software, because of some curruption in the registry? Will I have to take the HD and connect to another PC for writing the image again?

Will the image of a HD save the partition info? (For example, if I have a 40Gb disc splited in 10Gb+30Gb)

Will the software still recovers the image correctly if I exchange the HD (for example for a larger one)?


Thanks for the answers.
Click to expand...

I keep a Ghost image of my OS partition on a seperate partition (same physical drive) and also on a CD. When I need to (and it has happened), I boot to a DOS prompt, naviagte to the proper drive, drill to the Ghost directory and start a re-image.
All of the above recovery steps are in a .BAT file on the emergency boot disk

Multiple Partition info is not saved the way that I do it. My backup is by partition not the drive.
One can also backup the drive, but it would be easier just to have a backup drive at that point.

I have not had a problem recovering onto a larger or smaller partition. Note that the smaller partition has always been large enough to hold all the data.

 
S

Sid59

Lifer
Sep 2, 2002
11,879
3
81
Ghost is the way to go.

It's best to only clone your OS partition. You're more likely to mess up or just to reinstall the OS than having the entire drive.
You should always backup your important data in the event of a melt down.

I like to keep 2 GHOST images.
1. one that your mentioned above. A very basic installation before the bloat starts. - usually saved onto a DVD and seperate hard drive
2. another image backup with everything installed. usually done every few months. this gives me a point a solid restore point.

i have a Good Ghost Guide on my site.
 
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