Windows Complete PC Backup VS. Acronis True Image

[rainwalker]

Hey All,

I've been eyeing the $70 student copy of Vista Home Premium and - so far - can only find one major component missing from it: Windows Complete PC Backup. After hearing about various 3rd party imaging software, I'm seriously considering Acronis' True Image. Before I make the decision, however, I just wanted some opinions about whether True Image will be everything that (or more than) Complete PC Backup is. Here's what I'm looking for: a splittable image (so that I can put it onto multiple DVDs - I can remerge and restore myself, if the system ever fails), scheduled backups, and an easy restore process - I don't care how long it takes or whether it will or won't only backup specific files/file types; whatever will get the job done, as lightly and effectively as possible is what I'd prefer.

Thanks for any help!
-rainwalker

 

[bigi]

Acronis is great for all that you specified and more. There is a separate thread going on this...
It is only $31 or so @ the egg.
Very highly recommended!!!

 

[Kappo]

Not sure about the GUI PC backup, but imagex that comes with the vista deployment tools is REALLY awesome. Has a learning curve if you arent fimiliar with windows tools though.

 

[Markbnj]

There's also a free one recently available that I have tested, and like a lot. It's gotten a couple of good reviews. If free is interesting, check it out.

 

[rainwalker]

Originally posted by: Kappo
Not sure about the GUI PC backup, but imagex that comes with the vista deployment tools is REALLY awesome. Has a learning curve if you arent fimiliar with windows tools though.

Yeah, I think I'm trying to primarily compare it to the GUI backup, "Windows Complete PC Backup"... does imagex ship w/ Home Premium? And is this comparable to "RIS" (something I read about on another thread)?

Thank you both for the opinions.

 

[mechBgon]

RIS is Remote Installation Services, used in business/corporate situations. Vista Business and Ultimate offer the full system-image backup that's missing from the home versions, and it can indeed split backup images to multiple DVDs if you like, or other sorts of media like external hard drives. http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/mechBgon/Vista_complete_backup.gif As you can see, it'll also do file backups.

 

[rainwalker]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
RIS is Remote Installation Services, used in business/corporate situations. Vista Business and Ultimate offer the full system-image backup that's missing from the home versions, and it can indeed split backup images to multiple DVDs if you like, or other sorts of media like external hard drives. http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/mechBgon/Vista_complete_backup.gif As you can see, it'll also do file backups.

Ok, great - I didn't know that a Windows Complete PC Backup image could be split to DVDs. I'm actually working on Business right now, but I need Vista w/ Media Center & a backup solution on my desktop pc and would rather shell out $70 for an academic Home Premium than $2XX for Ultimate. So, I guess my only two questions left are whether I'll get the same functionality out of something like Acronis' True Image as Windows Complete PC Backup and whether I can use imagex for free for all of the same functionalities with Vista Home Premium. Can someone fill that out for me?

Thanks Again,
-rainwalker

 

[mechBgon]

I used TrueImage 9.0 at one point. It was sort of fun (ok, Lightscribe is not a TrueImage feature per se, but whatever). But when it came time to restore from the backup disc, I had only a 50% success rate 🙁 The baseline image worked, but the fully-configured one did not. So YMMV. Make multiple backups.

 

[Navid]

I have Vista Business and am running its 64-bit version.

I was not happy with the Vista file backup because it does not backup .exe files (old drivers I like to keep) and it does not let you choose which folders to backup!

I was not happy with Vista complete PC backup because it is not as flexible as True Image for my needs at least.

I got True Image 10 download from newegg for $32.00.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E1681528708SF
It is compatible with the 64-bit version and does everything I need.