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    Backup entire disks

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by Jlacy, Jul 2, 2007.

  1. Jlacy

    Jlacy Notebook Enthusiast

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    What software do you use to backup both the OS and all your files to a single DVD? I need to be able to format the drive and boot/restore from dvd.

    Hopefully some simple software to use.

    Thanks
     
    Jlacy, Jul 2, 2007
    #1
  2. wave

    wave Notebook Virtuoso

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    Arcronis True Image is what I use. Norton Ghost is another.

    Booting from the DVD will be the biggest problem. Do you use AHCI or did you turn it off in the bios? Alot of rescue systems do not support it.
     
    wave, Jul 2, 2007
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  3. Jlacy

    Jlacy Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks, why they make these programs so difficult is beyond me. It's no wonder people don;t backup more. ATI tells me it can't register because of a firewall. I don't have a firewall turned on.

    I could not find AHCI in the bios. I guess I'll give up again because I don;t have a week to work out all these issues. This is just stupid to have to go through all these changes.
     
    Jlacy, Jul 2, 2007
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  4. wave

    wave Notebook Virtuoso

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    The problem is the new hard disk sata controlers. The recovery system either runs on an older Linux kernal or some (very few) run on Windows PE. Both dont support many of the new controlers. If it is a Windows system often it is easy to update the drivers. On linux it is a bit harder and sometimes you would need to do a kernal update.

    Turning of AHCI often helps because then the SATA controler acts like a PATA controler that almost every system can use. But it doesnt work for Raid systems and does hurt the performance a bit. On laptops this is less of a problem because the hard disk is slower anyway.
     
    wave, Jul 2, 2007
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  5. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I know for a fact that I have driver issues with my restore CD, but it does work...it just takes a little longer. One of these days I'm going to work on that...

    But anyway, I'd recommend Acronis over Norton any time and any day...and I've used both quite extensively.
     
    Greg, Jul 2, 2007
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  6. Jlacy

    Jlacy Notebook Enthusiast

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    I got ATI to burn an image ( iso) burned it to dvd and tried to boot with it.
    It did not see it as a boot file.
     
    Jlacy, Jul 2, 2007
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  7. Arla

    Arla Notebook Deity

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    Personally I use Ghost, has worked flawlessly for me. Plus I can make backup DVD's very easily, although I use a backup external hard drive (boot to external hard drive, restore from there).
     
    Arla, Jul 2, 2007
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  8. Jlacy

    Jlacy Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have ghost 12 installed, can't figure out how to make a file that will boot from cd/dvd.
     
    Jlacy, Jul 2, 2007
    #8