Looking for Freeware Drive Image Tool

Hi folks,

I have a Gateway M-6862 that came with Vista Home Premium 64-bit SP1.

The laptop came with the OS on the D:\ drive and of course C:\ drive for the use.

I want to start over Fresh … since I think I have some Malware and I have installed and uninstalled many software and games so my Registry is all cluttered up.

But, I like to save me the hassle and the grief next time around … when I have already downloaded all the darn Windows Updates … and SP2 and on & on.

So, I like to know what you guys can suggest to me … a Freeware that is dummy proof and Dependable ... to make image of the Hard Drive after I make all the installation before I install all other 3rd party junk … so the next time I want to start fresh I just slip in the DVD or CD data in and viola I am done … and go from there!

Thanks,

G!

 

I use Acronis True Image 2012 for that, it's the best for this, but I have never heard of a free one, sorry

I usually take 3 Images of my HDD:

1) Install Windows, Activate, set all folders and settings, install all windows updates, then BACKUP

2) Install Office 2010, install Office SP1, update again, backup

3) Install drivers, setup all power management profiles, then backup

4) install all software and games

This way, if there was an SP 2 for Office for example, and I felt like it is time to clean up the system a little bit, I restore back to Image # 2

If I upgrade to the next version of Office when it's released, I would restore back to image #1

If I simply want to do a regular restore to cleanup stuff and install the latest apps again with newer versions, I go back to image 3

Good luck on your hunt

 

You could use the Windows Image tool included with Windows.

 

Paragon 2011:

Free Hard Drive Backup Software: Paragon Backup & Recovery (Advanced) Free Edition - Full Features & System Requirements

Cheers
3Fees

 

Hi BoldExtreme, goofball & 3Fees (or is it 3 Penguins),

Thanks a bunch for your inputs ... really appreciate it.

Q: I also saw the Macrium Reflect under the Free Tools section here. Is this any good and "Reliable".

Thanks again!

G!

 

Try EaseUS Todo Backup Free ver.3. It features a very easy way to make a WinPE bootable CD which has Backup, Clone and Recovery all on the cd. For making trouble free Backups and Recovery use the WinPE cd.

 

Second vote, I use it for Vista and win 7, wizards are built in and make it very easy. Also if you have an external USB hard drive I would put the image on it.

 

I've used both of these imaging programs before and both work just fine. Agree with JOSEA that using a USB (or eSATA) external HDD is the way to go... way better than using DVD or BDR.

If you are not trying to image RAID, the free version of Macrium Reflect is also excellent. I have the paid-for version and it works with RAID, but the free version does not. The paid-for version also has a Windows PE environment.

 

All three below are freeware and great for occasional use:

DriveImage XML

Macrium Reflect FREE Edition

Clonezilla

 

What brand Hard Drive? There are versions of Acronis linked to certain HD brands. Seagate calls theirs 'DiscWizard', Western digital has one and probably many of the other brands do too.

 

I just started using windows 7 system image. Just like posted above it works fine. I tested it out after creating the image and it worked flawlessly. It is free and your computer already has it on there which is nice.

I did exactly what you are doing, I reinstalled windows, all my programs and drivers (minus games) and then created the image. Now I should never need to reinstall windows again.