I want to create a backup that will completely restore my system

A while back on another computer I had Norton Ghost. Norton Ghost allowed me to completely restore my system to an ideal, clean state when my system became hosed by viruses and such. I think I had Windows 2000 at that time.

I now have Windows XP and have finally gotten the system to a mostly ideal, clean state, and no matter what happens I would like to be able to restore it to this state, with ALL programs installed, not just critical windows components. Would Norton Ghost be my best bet? Is there a better program, and preferably a freeware solution?

 

The problems I've been having with ghost this week make it hard for me to recommend, but when it works, its hellishly sweet. I've heard MANY people on this board recommend Acronis True Image as an alternative, and there's a trial version you can use to check it out for yourself!

As for freeware, you could try DriveImage XML

 

Personally Owlbug I have used Acronis True Image and have had no success, though as Mada Milty pointed out others have. My fav is Power Quests True Image, works like a charm for me, and is small like the "original" Ghost. Just my 2 cents worth

 

I just chated with an Acronis Live Chat Employee, the program sounds like what I want. The other program, DriveImage XML, doesn't offer enough information. I guess I could try it since it is free...

BCGray, what problems have you had and what system are you running?

 

>> I now have Windows XP and have finally gotten the system to a mostly ideal, clean state, and no matter what happens I would like to be able to restore it to this state, with ALL programs installed, not just critical windows components. Is there a better program, and preferably a freeware solution? owlbug <<

The following webpage link lists several freeware imaging tools:
Free Hard Disk Backup | Restore and Image | Cloning Utilities​

Good Luck!

 

It appears from searching the web that PowerQuest's Drive Image line has been eliminated or swallowed up by Norton.

 

Maybe I could get a little more direction from you guys.

I am looking to be able to Backup my entire system to CD (no DVD burner) and have the ability if my computer gets hosed to boot from my Backup Startup CD and completely restore my system. I don't think all of these programs do this, and I'm having a difficult time figuring out which will do this for me.

 

I tried Back4Win. I don't think that's what I'm looking for - if it had the options I was looking for I couldn't find them. I'll try another.

 

Dang Owlbug your right Symantec has gobbled up another great program , that means that within a year it to will be bloated Dang.

The problems I have had with Acronis True Image are to numerous to mention here, suffice to say I could never get it to do what the Powerquest could.

Others praise it highly so that would be my second choice.

 

If you want some of the crap you have in your comp I would get a external hard drive and move what you want to keep to that. Than reformat with your xp disc. Done deal. start fresh.

 

I have had to completely restore my computer twice that I know of for sure. Acronis True Image has work perfect every time. Dumped Ghost long ago and switched to True Image. Use the trial and see for yourself. I have 3 computers depending on True Image. Plus you can make incremental backups as you go along. I back everything up on a second harddrive. Using the same harddrive won't help you if it blows up.

 

Taht's why I'd like to put the backup on cds, I'll always have that restore point and I won't have to reload all my programs. I am going to look into getting an external hard-drive for my laptop, but that's down the road a bit. Especially if I decided to invest in Acronis, which sounds like a good idea.

 

good for you! Acronis is the best backup prog(in my mind), so i think you wouldn't be upset! good luck!

 

I've always had pretty good luck with the original Norton Ghost program - the restore disks on my commercial eMachines years ago was a Ghost image. I usually just disable the "services" that Ghost loads so they are not running till I want to do a back-up. Have been thinking about checking into Acronis, though . . .

 

Check out the MG links that I posted in

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=93051

for more choices. Bazza

 

Don't spend Money!

I have been using DRIVEIMAGER and DRIVECLONER for years-they work perfectly without any faults, and are available here on Magor Geeks. Also, the included help files are excellent for novice or pro alike.

 

I wasn't able to find either of those under backup; I searched Major Geeks and neither turned up, either...

 

These two programs were originally produced by Lexun Freeware. The site is now closed, and more's the pity. You're right, I cannot find them on MG any more, so here are two good links for download:

http://www.woundedmoon.org/win32/drvimagerxpsetup_2.2.html

http://www.sofotex.com/DrvClonerXP-download_L7530.html

Both are about a half a megabyte, and it is amazing what such small programs can do. I would also recommend that you do a search for his other programs on the internet using Lexun Freeware-you should be able to find all of the following:

LEXUN Backup Solution
Lexun RegScrub
DriveImagerXP v2.2
Drive Cloner XP v2.1
LEXUN CookieMonster v1.1
LEXUN DrvCare XP v4.
LEXUN DrvCare VISTA v5.

In particular, REGSCRUB has a famous reputation as perhaps the best registry cleaner in existence, bar none.

Enjoy, my friend.......

 

SO YOU WANT TO BACKUP

use backup in accessories/system tools, backup to D:\ or any logical drive no matter what happens boom u get to restore it bck even if u crash ur windows

 

MS Backup is a usable, although primitive, utility to be sure. However, it is not installed by default in WXP Home, and is almost never provided by OEM's on recovery CDs. More impotantly, it is designed for backing up Data like files and folders, NOT a complete installed OS. Even the system state backup is only a partial copy of the current registry settings. It will NOT provide an image or a copy (those are two different things, by the way) of the OS, ready to go for a reinstall. DrvImager XP and DrvCloner XP will do exactly that, as will several other of the programs that were previously mentioned in this post.
MS Backup should, as a practical matter, only be used for personal data that might be otherwise lost in an OS failure. And on that note, the best solution is actually to run at least two separate hard drives, with the OS on one and a volume on the other that is mounted to the "My Documents" folder. That is true security that MS Backup can't provide.