Has anyone tired any other backup products?

[unimpressed]

After watching version 7 crap out on the rescue cd boot up, I am seriously consdiering looking at other products. What good is a HD backup that don't boot? Folks, it can't be that difficult. If Micro$oft can do it, anyone should be able to do it. Why not simplify it and just boot to DOS so that it works every time?

[myst2004]

Why not trying Symantecs (formerly Powerquests) V2i Protector 2.0
Ghost

or

Deploy Center (Powerquest) 5 (with DOS Boot-Disks)?


But I have restored so many systems (MS) with Trueimage 7, and if the diskgeometry is without fault, there have been no mistakes in my cases.

[sapperdeflabber]

I am personally very disappointed about the lack of adequate and promptly customer support.

[Detox]

Once again, I have moved an imaging software comparative thread out of the Acronis forum. That forum is for Acronis issues. Here is software & services you will find several previous threads discussing this topic as well.

[GlobalForce]

Unimpressed, check out this comment (http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?p=171777&postcount=41), but let the page load (it's an unusual link).
You can get it here (http://www.drivesnapshot.de/en/index.htm).

GF

[al92lt1]

HI,
I bought Acronis 7 and 8 and every backup was corrupt. I backed up to CDs, DVDs, local hard drives and external hard drives. Tech support was unable to help me, finally they stopped responding altogether. I finally got a refund.

I then bought Norton Ghost 9.0, it also comes packaged with Norton Ghost 2003. I couldn't even get either one to install properly. I never got any response from their online tech support. Phone support is $29.95 a call and a waste of time and money.

I have been using PowerQuest 2002 for several years, but have been looking for a backup program that could backup from within Windows. It works great, but you can't use the computer during a backup (about 45 minutes to back up 5 gigs of data on my 80 gig hard drive).

I finally found the answer. It's called Image for Windows and includes another application called Image for DOS. It works perfectly. I back up my hard drive in about 6 minutes while still working in Windows. Backups to CD or DVD are bootable. It costs less than a support call to Symantec. I tested every feature for the past 2 days and I am totally sold on it. I emailed tech support several times with questions and got an answer within the hour. You can get a fully functional trial version at http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/. If anybody has questions, feel free to contact me. :-*

[nod32_9]

The old Drive Image 4 works well for me. Those proggies that don't run in windows environment are more robust.

[maddawgz]

Snapshop is great...I hated Acronis to many whistles and bells..

[no13]

Whaqt about Norton/Roxio's GoBack 3 ??

[mercurie]

Fellow Creatures,
I have yet to find use (translation: spend $$$) on anything that I liked (translation: this is great) and the products I have spent $$ on I really am not all that impressed. I use a older version of BACKUP MYPC (ver. 2.85 does that sound right, not sure). I got real serious and bought a Iomega External 40 Gig HD and loaded their auto backup software and never used it :o but I also ordered for free a Norton Ghost 2003 disk through them and image to the external HD monthly. But all the magazine articles you read are right about this process. WHAT A PAIN IN THE REAR!!! :P

[nod32_9]

Go Back runs in the background, which will reduce the performance of your PC. Go Back is NOT an imaging software. Therefore, it does not back up EVERYTHING in your partition. But it's still better than windows system restore.

[mercurie]

Creature Nod,
That is exactly right. Lots of people confuse that "revert back" stuff as a backup plan. NOT!!! Better then nothing, but is useless if HD fails. Make no mistake that is not a backup your system or files plan. ;)

[GlobalForce]

Drive Snapshot 1.3 tutorial (http://www.tinyapps.org/drive_snapshot_review/).

GF

[no13]

What about Digital Dolly
http://www.download.com/Digital-Dolly/3000-2248-10220910.html?tag=lst-0-1

Software Publisher's Description

Digital Dolly is hard-disk-partition image and cloning software that runs completely from a bootable CD-ROM. Digital Dolly can back up and restore hard-disk partitions directly to and from Windows file servers, and supports most common network cards. Simply put the CD-ROM into the drive and reboot. The system will auto-detect and configure the network card. There is no need to customize a boot disk for every machine. System administrators can remotely control the whole backup/restore process. Digital Dolly supports creating, cloning, and resizing FAT16, FAT32, NTFS, and Linux ext2 partitions and works with IDE, SCSI, USB, and FireWire drives.
CNET User Opinions
77% 23% (13 votes)

[mercurie]

GlobalForce,
Is this free? I am just checking a few threads at lunch and can not hang around to long, I intend to look into this Drive SnapShot.

By the way I really do not mind not using the system while stuff is being imaged. I just hate to have to boot into DOS, would like to stay in windows. Does that really change anybodys opinion or mind on which product is best?
Thanks, a useful thread as I am in the market for possible alternative solutions to this very much needed PC task. :)

[GlobalForce]

Mercurie, I haven't tried this myself yet, but I trust the advice of a resident guru here, and am leaning heavily toward this product. It's not free (about $40 or so), but it's one of two pay-for's profiled at TinyApps.Org (http://www.tinyapps.org/) (how-to link).

Thirty day trial download here (http://www.drivesnapshot.de/en/down.htm). I like that it's light and doesn't install, also not a resource hog like some of the others I've read about. Check the spec's, 140kb executable requiring only 2Mb disc space. I'm willing to bet there's no pop-up ads to keep reminding you to buy either (I do not know this, although I do not think tiny would promote this otherwise).
Sound's pretty efficient to me!

Late In : From another thread in this forum, Back4Win (http://www.alistairgeorge.com/b4win/) courtesy of "BigC". Hope you don't mind, Master Jedi. :-\ free version available scroll to bottom of the page.

GF

[al92lt1]

I tried most all of the well known drive imaging programs, but the most reliable was PowerQuest Drive Image 2002. It always worked flawlessly and never let me down. It saved me many times. However I longed to be able to run a backup from within Windows and maybe even to back up to a DVD. I tried PowerQuest 7 against your recommendation and found you were right. It was bad news. I then tried Acronis True Image 7, it also offered the features I was looking for but was even worse. I was still determined, so I tried the new Norton Ghost 2004, it was the worst of them all. I remembered FRED LANGA liked Boot IT, so I gave it a try and found a bit to confusing. I was resigned to sticking with PowerQuest Drive Image 2002 when I noticed Image for Windows on the Boot IT website. I downloaded a fully functional trial and tested it for several days. I backed up my hard drive to CDs, DVDs, remote USB hard drive as well as my second local hard drive, all from within Windows, within a matter of minutes! I could not believe it. I crossed my fingers and tried several restorations from various sources. The CDs and DVDs are even bootable. No problems whatsoever. Image for Windows even includes Image for DOS, and the website gives lots of tips and free add ins as well as instructions for creating a single boot floppy to create or restore an image. The entire program costs less than $30.00 or about the same price as one support call to Symantec. I had several questions before and after I purchased the program and every email I sent was answered within one hour. I can't say enough about how good this program is. With Drive Image, I made a backup about once a week. It meant I couldn't use the computer for about 2 hours while the image was being created. Now, using Image for Windows, a backup takes about 8 minutes and I can continue using the computer. Email me if you want more info, or go to their website: http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/

[GlobalForce/Incog]

I recall seeing this somewhere, just can't remember. Anyway, take a peek, you can find info on their homepage,

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/

Thanks for the input, al92lt1.

GF

[mercurie]

GlobalForce,
No Mercurie is big, big fan of BigC Master Jedi ;D. Oh and you saw the terabyte link here somewhere I remember that one too. That is another one for consideration I think. ;)

[no13]

Similar discussion
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=47082

[Lou_Dinunzio]

Link below has ecellent assortment of software.

Believe they all have 30 day trail.

http://www.paragon.ag/

[GlobalForce/Incog]

Question Lou, have you tried that ExactImage 6.0? I see it back's up without leaving windows.
Seems to cover all the important bases. Comes in two flavors.

This one for Fifty,
http://ei.drive-backup.com/

and this one for a Hundred (wow), better make morning coffee too!
http://ei.drive-backup.com/corporate/professional/index.htm

Any comments on either of these products? Anybody?


GF

[no13]

sorry for the scanty details that follow...
There was an article (I didn't see it, techies in college told us) on the web saying that system restore data can be compressed and sent to an iso (winrar will make iso's) and the iso can be written as an iso to the cd...
again, sorry for the stripped details, but I just remebered this and thought you guys would like to know.

[iain]

I am having serious problems with Ghost 9.0 (2004), as reported in the thread to which no13 provided a link above.

I wonder if, when people say Ghost 9.0 is no good, they have experienced something like this:

* It can almost always create the image successfully, but when it verifies the image (either as part of the job or when I verify it manually in the image browser later), it says 8 or 9 times out of 10 that the image is "invalid or unsupported". if it tries to verify it as part of the job, but is unsuccessful in this way, it deletes the image it's made.

* however on every occasion, without fail, that it tells me the backup image is invalid, I am able to mount, browse and extract files from the offending image with NO problem at all. Now whether the image would be good for a system restore, I don't know, but I am reluctant to count on it!

* I have troubleshooted this in great detail and can testify that it is totally unrelated to any other programs or services or to XP SP2. I've installed Ghost on a new Win XP SP1 installation and it still rarely works.

* I suspect it MIGHT be something to do with using a SATA drive (backing up to an external USB2 drive), from what I gather about problems with Drive Image (which Ghost 9.0 basically incorporates).

Any ideas, thoughts, similar situations??

thanks
iain

[GlobalForce]

This subject is fairly new for me iain, but instead of searching for problems, I googled "successful ghost image"
(without quotes). You'd be suprised the results! (sorry no link, search pages change).

Give this a try and see if it helps.....

GF

[iain]

Thank you, I have tried that now - yes it does turn up some relevant stuff, but nothing specific enough (ditto looking for various other combinations). It's sooo mysterious and annoying. Other people may be experiencing problems with SATA but haven't realised that's the cause yet (after all, Ghost 9 is very new). On the other hand, it might be some bizarre idiosyncracy (excuse spelling!) of my system. However that seems unlikely because I built it myself for max compatability with most things (Intel D865PERL board, Pentium 4, DDR400 RAM etc).

Hmph, I say, hmph! I don't know what to do - I'm reluctant to spend more on a different program, but I'm obviously panicy about not having proper backups...

iain

[GlobalForce]

I'm not sure how relevant this info will be as applied to your particular dilemma iain,
but I'll keep the thought upstairs.....

Thread
http://short-media.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11413
Forum
http://short-media.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=25

Don't panic, or spend more money! 8) The solution will surface.....
Beyond the "Web (http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/Help/search.html)" (clk more on bottom).

Perhaps you could trial another imaging software for those "proper backup's",
then re-address the issue?

GF

[iain]

Thank you, I have followed these links here and there but still haven't found a solution. :-(

The key difference between most of the SATA stuff on the forum and my situation is that I have had no problem at all installing and using the SATA drive. I haven't needed and havent' used any particular controller drivers for it, nor has this caused any difficulties with Windows or Ghost detecting the drive in the first place.

It really does seem to boil down just to the unreliability of Ghost. What I'm interested to know is, when other people say that Drive Image or Ghost 9 has been 'unreliable', are they referring to the same behaviour that I'm describing..?

[GlobalForce]

I was hoping for you to return with the good news and the uncovered solution. You no doubt have seen this, "Radified (http://ghost.radified.com/)".
I'm not really sure what else to suggest. It's unfortunate anyone who's been through this successfully has not replied.
I'll still keep a head's up for you just in case.... ;)

Edit, Granted these are a little dated, they may trigger something you're overlooking. ???

Ghost Tutorial (http://www.symantec.com/techsupp/ghost/ghost_2003_info_tutorial.html), Ghost Errors (http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ghost.nsf/8f7dc138830563c888256c2200662ecd/f2ab72b48c454ac4882568ab006f9318?OpenDocument&prod=Norton%20Ghost&ver=2003%20for%20Windows%202000/NT/Me/98/XP&src=sg&pcode=ghost&svy=&csm=no), Restore Ghost Image (http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ghost.nsf/pfdocs/2000030611414425?OpenDocument&ExpandSection=1), SATA Switch (http://forums.scotsnewsletter.com/index.php?showtopic=8423&st=0&#entry101592), Creating Ghost Images (http://users.pandora.be/soulmaniacs/ghost.html#section_03), Ghost Implementation (http://www.binaryresearch.net/technical_support_symantec_ghost.htm).
Your suspicions (http://reviews.cnet.com/Norton_Ghost_2003/4852-3682_7-20186188.html?pn=2&ob=0&fb=2). While you're at it iain, google "usb ghost image". Good Luck!

If you solve this mystery, post back. I'd like to hear about it.


GF

[iain]

Many thanks. I will look into these other links and see what I find.

Sorry for the delays in between my posts - I'm just busy at the moment. I appreciate your help though, and will let you know what happens.

:-)