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.