Using Macrium Reflect Disk Image Backup Software.

Guide To Creating a Disk Image with Macrium Reflect

Creating an image of your hard disk is the best way to protect your data and operating system from disk failure or accidental deletion of critical system files. Fortunately, with Macrium Reflect this process is not only incredibly fast but also extremely easy.

Macrium Reflect can create file backups as well as disk images. However, for this tutorial I'll take you through the steps required to create a full image of 'Drive C' using the backup image wizard. After completing these steps you will have created an image and saved your options as a XML definition file for easy re-running.

XML definitions provide a convenient way to store your backup options. Using an XML definition you can schedule a backup, generate a VBScript file for complex scenarios or simply create a desktop shortcut for instant running of your backup by clicking the shortcut icon.

OK, Here's Hoe its Done.

1. Start Reflect and take the option "Create a backup image" to start the backup wizard.
2. Click "Next" on the first introductory wizard page. On the second wizard page, select "Full" as the image type and cli
3. The next page shows your disk partitions (drives). You can save multiple partitions from multiple disks in the same image file but for this example click drive (C:) in your list then click "Next"
4. ck "Next"

You now have to pick out where you want to store your image file.

Reflect can store pictures on one or many DVDs however it is far better to choose a native or network drive. By using a local or network drive you'll simply access your image files for restoring and you'll browse your pictures in Windows explorer. This isn't doable if the image file spans more than one DVD.

It is best to make a replacement directory for your images. Click the dropdown list for "Native Laborious Disk" and choose "Browse for folder". This opens a customary windows directory selection dialog. Navigate to the drive where you would like to store the image file and click the "Make New Folder" button. Name this folder one thing meaningful, like "Drive C Pictures" and click on "OK" in the dialog to pick out it.

1. Leave the "Use image ID as the file name" option checked and click "Next".

   An image ID is used to identify a backup set. A backup set comprises of a full backup and all subsequent Incremental and/or differential backups. It is a unique 16 byte Hex value (128 bit) and guarantees that you won't have any file name conflicts when creating multiple backups in the same directory.

2. The final page shows a summary of your selections. The "Advanced" button allows you to configure compression level, password / encryption and many other options. For this example we'll just leave them as the defaulted values and click "Finish"

You now have the option to save this definition and / or run this image now. Change the file name to "C Full Image", leave both options checked and click "OK".

That's it! Your backup will now start and you have saved the definition of this backup as "C Full Image.xml".

To re-run this backup simply select the XML definition and click the "Execute" button.



You can also create a desktop shortcut to run the backup by clicking the shortcut icon. Simply click the "Create Desktop Shortcut" button



In the next tutorial we'll create an incremental image of this full image and schedule these to run automatically to keep your PC protected.

Disk Image Backup Software Review Acronis 2010

Last year's Acronis True Image finally revamped their interface to create a genuinely user-friendly experience, however didn't specifically pile on the advanced features. This year, Acronis is making an endeavor to rectify that, with True Image Home 2010 bringing several new additions aimed principally at the experienced user.

Windows seven is at the center of things, with full support for the new OS now in place. The foremost attention-grabbing side is what you can do along with your backup sets. True Image 2010 permits you to save your backups as virtual laborious disk (.vhd) files, thus you'll access and edit backed-up files in an exceedingly virtual machine on another Windows 7 Skilled or Ultimate PC. It additionally offers those users the flexibility to boot directly from the Windows 7 image.

The task scheduler currently includes options for periodic backups, and tasks can be suspended and moved around terribly simply, however that is nothing compared to the new Nonstop Backup. Enable this mode and Acronis will copy changes each 5 minutes; you can then use the Time Explorer to retrace your steps and decide out the precise moment - presumably limited solely by disk house - at which a specific file went awry.

Acronis True Image Home 2010 - Time Explorer

The restore part regresses back to an explorer tree that is smaller and fiddlier than the remainder of the software, however the sheer flexibility it brings over Windows' own Previous Versions tool is tremendous.

The other headline feature is an Online Backup facility - a second line of defence. Upon buying True Image 2010 you'll get 2GB free storage for 90 days, once that it will cost you £3.ninety five a month - the value of the software once more over a full year - and then 60p per month for each additional 5GB. It works as you'd expect, with no major surprises. We can see the appeal of having both on-site and off-web site backups handled by the same piece of software, though Acronis doesn't have the best data for client support, that is worth bearing in mind.

The remainder is according to last year's True Image. On first run you still get the Acronis One-Click Backup, that takes a picture of your MBR and system partition and scans your PC for appropriate external locations. If it can't notice any it can automatically produce a Secure Zone on the system partition - not an ideal resolution however it ensures you are still in a position to run the backup, even on the foremost ill-ready PC. Attempt&Decide remains, for testing system changes while not applying them, and you'll alter the boot sequence and create Rescue Media from among the software.

In all, it's a positive step forward. The net backup component might or could not prove a tempting proposition for the money depending on your desires, but virtual hard disk support and also the Nonstop Backup feature are each excellent additions to an already comprehensive, however reasonable, home backup suite.

Disk Imaging Software Features, and Disk Image Backup Software restore Comparison.

For me, hard disk imaging is one of the most important things to do after I’ve finished setting up a computer system the way I want to. It is the very best way of restoring the computer back to the way it was and also the best way to clone multiple computers with the same hardware. I’ve always been using the good old Symantec Ghost for DOS version to do all that and only recently I’ve been using Macrium Reflect full edition on my new laptop because it was sponsored by Macrium.

Drive imaging software comparison.

Since Symantec Ghost Corporate Edition DOS version has been so reliable for me, I never wanted to try out other products including the famous Acronis! However, many years have gone by and I believe the technologies must have improved a lot. Will Symantec Ghost still remain as my favorite disk imaging software? Well I wanted to post this a while ago but was caught with Norton 15 being released and then Paragon Backup & Recovery 10 Suite. Do note that I am only comparing shareware disk imaging software and the free ones are not included in the list. I hope that this comparison will be able to help you decide which disk imaging is worth buying

These are the disk imaging software that I have been tested

1. Acronis True Image Home 2010
2. Active@ Disk Image
3. DriveClone Pro
4. Macrium Reflect v4.2 Build 2028 Full Edition
5. Norton Ghost v15
6. O&O DiskImage Professional
7. Paragon Drive Backup v9 Professional
8. R-Drive Image v4.6
9. Windows 7 built-in Disk Imaging
10. StorageCraft ShadowProtect Desktop Edition

I wasn’t ready to completely take a look at Active@ Disk Image as a result of the recovery disk feature not being out there within the trial version. I emailed them to request for a full version to review however never gotten any reply from them.

Ghost fourteen didn’t support Windows seven, therefore I waited for Ghost 15. When Ghost 15 was officially released last week, they said that they currently don't have any free copies out there for the press. Thus I went ahead and paid $69.ninety nine to buy a full version once they have tried testing.

Once finished testing Ghost fifteen, I then found out Paragon has recently replaced their Drive Backup Professional 9 with Backup & Recovery ten Suite. I’ve requested for a full trial version and that they appeared to be quite reluctant to supply me with a version that I will fully check on. I’d terribly much like to check and include Paragon Backup & Recovery ten Suite within the review, however sadly I don't have the funds to buy the total version. If they ever offer me with a full version, I can surely update this review.

Macrium, O&O and StorageCraft happily provided me with full version for testing without any delays. I managed to “realize” the full version of Acronis, DriveClone, Paragon 9 and R-Drive so I didn’t should contact them and can’t tell if their support is sweet or not.

All disk imaging software includes mount/unmount image, verify/validate image, scheduler for automatic creation of backup disk images, raw imaging (sector to sector), and support for Windows 7. So I can not embody these five features to the comparison table below.

Features Clarification:

1: Boot Menu = The imaging software adds the overall time table to Windows start-up boot menu allowing you to steer the software so that backup/pick will happen while not booting in Windows or employing the overall Rescue Disk.
Norton LightsOut
2. An equivalent Backup = In a position to mechanically produce non-forestall backup each X mins
3. Virtual Environment = Risk free environment for testing new software and visiting websites with potentially harmful content.
4. Restore to Different Hardware PC = In another words, it’s called Universal Restore. You can restore the backup image onto another computer without even having the same hardware.

The Importance Of using Computer Drive backup Software.

PC Drive backup software is hitting the main street these days as a must have software. If you have ever been through a pc crash and lost simply a few files, then you understand specifically how many problems this can cause. The most effective means to avoid losing all of your files is to seek out a method to securely keep a copy your system. The most recent information says that one out of 10 hard drives fail every year leaving its users annoyed and frustrated with their computer.

I do not want to frighten you but the thought of losing all the knowledge and files on my pc gives me nightmares. I keep business records, pictures, videos and all sorts of stuff that I've got collected on my computer. Losing all of that will really cause me problems. Backing up your laptop is very necessary, but it is one of these things that you simply don’t feel like doing. Performing frequent backups not overly difficult but it just takes time and energy.

There are a number of advantages to backing your computer with a sensible PC backup software program. If you select the correct program to make a copy your computer it can have a feature called information deduplication. The de-dupe feature can save you ninety% - ninety five% of the bandwidth and ninety five% of the time it takes to backup your system. Another feature to seem for in a very backup program is one that allows you to back everything up remotely.

I've found that if a program could be a straightforward to use and fully automated company laptop backup software program then you or your administrator will be a lot of apt to use it. The nice part regarding this if you've got workers operating out in the sphere the systems get secured on a regular basis. This can make sure the if you have got a laborious drive crash or get a pandemic you'll be able to have your PC back up and running quickly. Imagine if you worked 20 hours putting along a project only to lose all the work you probably did because of a system crash.

Investing in PC Drive backup software is one of the most vital investment you can make. Assume that it is very cheap insurance. The little little bit of time and cash you put into it currently can save you or your company time, cash or heartache. It does not matter if you employ your computer in a company workplace or for personal use you not wish to lose any of your valuable data. Using the right PC backup software can ensure that you can restore your computer should something happen to it!

What Drive Backup Software is Best for You?

Statistically speaking, most people will eventually have to go through a computer crash or data loss. Unfortunately, this is often typically do to our own error. When it comes to data loss, we tend to have to make sure we are adequately prepared.

Software error, injury to a drive and laborious drive failure can additionally occur. Loss of information is a matter of great concern as it can cause major damage. Take a scenario where your company's billing records amounting to immeasurable greenbacks is handled by computers. It could be that your exhausting drive has failed or you by mistake deleted a vital file. How frustrating can this be once you stand to lose a nice deal of cash or may even have to tempolrarily close down the company!

Loss of information can be terribly expensive, no matter if you are using it for personal or business purposes. Since this could happen any time, you have to be ready for this experience.

There's little that you'll do to prevent loss of data. Backing up vital and priceless files is not too laborious with sensible backup software.

If you were like most individuals who assume about this, you would naturally would like to understand as to what will be the simplest software for backing up your data. The answer will rely on your specific needs. There a number of drive backup software programs that are on offer on the Web and one search is probably to bestow lots of choices.

You will most likely need to appear for a backup software program that can keep a copy completely different types of files like, emails, music, video, money records, billing and/or invoice records, information entry files, images, operating systems, programs and downloads and different necessary files specific to your need.

Backing up your pc files is once you shield, archive and preserve data in another location (such as an external onerous drive Backup, DVD-ROM or alternative storage media). If you get a drive backup software program that provides regular backup schedule times, it will also automatically keep a copy your knowledge files at predetermined intervals set by you.

The software that you'll select ought to additionally be user friendly therefore that even beginners can backup in your computer. Irrespective of the amount of information saved, the software that you selected should be able to handle the task while not a lot of fuss.

There are a selection of backup software out there for purchase and download off the Internet. You'll choose the one that suits you best. Simply take care that user friendliness is of priority. Create certain you are doing not select an excessively complex program because it could be counterproductive to your intensions. Simply remember that the most effective backup software program that you procure, ought to be the one that has options that fit your purpose and which will be installed and operated with ease.