Disk Copy Software

Hi there

I have three separate questions, all relating to disk copying:

1) I would like to back up my recovery disk (worried about losing it) - is it best to use disk image software or can I use something like nLite to make a copy of the OS and drivers? Or is there a freeware option available? Will I be able to repair my Vista in the event of a failure without having to start from scratch (I have Vista Home Premium).

2) I have in the past used Nero to copy disks (you can copy a disk directly from another disk without having to first save the file to the HDD). Is there any freeware programme available to do the same thing? (my version of Nero won't work on Vista)

3) If I use SyncToy to do backups of my files, do I still need to use another programme to burn the disks? Will I be able to use Synctoy to burn to multiple DVDs/CDs (if the size of the backup becomes too big for one)?

Hope you can help!

 

This should give you all the information you'll need to do the job.

http://support.dell.com/support/top...pe=&os=&component=&lang=&doclang=&toggle=&dl=

 

Buy Acronis True Image Home ($50) to image your drive. You can set this to a max image size of 4.3 GB and burn the images to DVDs. If you have C:\SWSETUP burn this to disk and delete it before imaging. System Restore can get quite large so you may want to delete all but the last restore point before imaging, use the Disk Cleanup utility for this.

 

Sorry, don't understand this. Could you explain more.

Is there any freeware version that does the same as Acronis?

 

I prefer Paragon Drive Backup

 

To make copies of ISO/Image Files like your backup disks, etc., I highly recommend ImgBurn. It is a fantastic freeware burning program developed by the original creators of DVD-DeCrypter, who most folks have heard of.

It is under 2MB's in size, updated frequently & makes exact copies of your disks and has a verify option that is checked by default. The verify function checks the disk against the original ISO/Image file, etc., to ensure it is a perfect copy. That is VERY important when you start talking about OS disks that need to be bootable and possibly save your system.

I use it to burn copies of my DVD's and it is highly recommended by that crazy group at CDfreaks.com for burning disks--and superb at burning Double Layer- DVD 's.

After you have it installed, you can just right click on an image /ISO file, click on burn w/ ImgBurn and you're in business.

Below is the download link and simple tutorials.

ImgBurn Download Page

How to create an image file from a disc with ImgBurn

How to write an image file to a disc with ImgBurn

Oh, I sent you a PM about Acronis

 

Doesn't ImgBurn make a copy on your HDD and then you copy that back onto your DVD/CD? Is there any free equivalent to Nero for burning direct from CD/DVD to CD/DVD?

If I use ImgBurn, can I still use SyncToy? Or is that redundant?

 

Yes, sorry, I'm used to making copies on a desktop that has dual drives- that way you can use ImgBurm in the "build" mode and make a direct copy......

not sure about synctoy--sorry

I hope you enjoy acronis..........

 

You could look in the free software sticky...

 

SWSETUP folder contains the preinstalled software installer packages that came on your laptop and possibly some that you have added, it gets quite large. It isn't necessary that this folder be kept on the drive.

One of the problems when backing up Vista is it's size, burning this folder to DVD and removing it decreases the image size.

I don't know of a suitable freeware program for imaging Vista.

 

I'd never trust 'on the fly' copying. Use ImgBurn and check the 'delete ISO' box.

 

Ok, I have seen some REALLY bad reviews of Acronis on Amazon. The programme costs £40 here, so a lot of money, and I really don't want to spend this amount on something that may not work.

Is there any other software (esp freeware) that will do the same thing as Acronis (i.e. create a bootable recovery backup image?) and also run incrimental backups?

Also, if I download the trial version of Acronis and then create the recovery image and write it to DVDs - let's say the system crashes at some future point and my trial version has expired by then - will I still be able to use the recovery bit that I created?

 

I doubt it, you have to have the bootable Acronis CD if you can't get into the system or for a full image restore. I haven't used the trial version but I doubt that it would let you create one, you could always try and see.