Imaging Differences between Backup by Files and Backup by Storage Structure

Andy,

I'm not sure if we are discussing the same topic but that's not quite true. It depends on the sector spread in the source partition. I've copied a 500 GB WinXP partition to a 10 GB partition with IFW. WinXP contained 5 GB of data. Now that really is copying to a smaller partition. 500 GB to 10 GB.

The people who don't know about hidden partitions are those who bought their computer with the OS already installed. WinXP, Win7 and Win8.

Edit.... The next challenge will be EFI systems. They have an EFI System Partition and a Microsoft Reserved Partition preceding the OS partition. The Microsoft Reserved Partition isn't visible in Disk Management.

 

Brian,

I have mentioned in #13,

there are some sector based imaging softwares that can restore independend to sector spread. Not just Paragon, Acronis can also do that.

Depending on the sector spread in the source partition is IFW. Maybe its IFW's limitation

Migrate to UEFI, Paragon has supported already
http://www.paragon-software.com/technologies/components/migrate-to-uefi/

 

Andy,

Thanks for the Paragon link. I note it shows an upgrade to a larger HD.

The TeraByte apps have supported EFI systems since ver 2.74.

 

Paragon has another feature called "Migrate to SSD"
http://www.paragon-software.com/technologies/components/migrate-OS-to-SSD/
The latest version support of GPT/uEFI configurations to successfully clone, migrate, or restore a 64-bit Windows configured to the uEFI-based boot mode
http://www.paragon-software.com/home/hdm-professional/release.html

 

Hello Jim, thank you for that link, i was already beggining to read material on ImageX those replies and suggestion that was taking place on Imagex on other forums.
I was starting to have high hopes for that tool already ( since i like freewares) , too bad it can't restore bootsect , why would they even say it as an another imaging tool, its kind of a limited and not a full fledged imaging solution, not for Vista or Win7 no. Although it would work fine for Winxp, i made an image and havn't restored it (would do when time calls), this is not a complete baked cookie, but i will make an image just in case.

 

In ADK or WAIK, there are some other tools like bootsect.exe, bcdboot.exe and bcdedit.exe.
bootsect.exe - Boot sector restoration tool
bcdboot.exe - Bcd boot file creation and repair tool
bcdedit.exe - Boot Configuration Data Store Editor

 

Thanks for those commands i presume those apply for Win7 too.


I thought you guys should check this out after restoring the wim file and checking the defrag tool showed something like this.

Most of the files are written to one side of the track, not having lots of gap in between, maybe because it being a file based backup, i wouldn't have seen the same pattern after restoring it with Clonezilla or Drivesnapshot or any tool.
This although wouldn't add up to any increase in performance but would put a little as much strain on the Disk.
hmmm not a bad tool at all...

 

pinso,

I have said in #27

Reordering sector spread is depending on software itself. Some sector based imaging softwares like Acronis will also do that. I find that after I tested more imaging softwares. I think that is why they can restore to smaller partition without compact or resizing.
Sadly, DriveSnapshot and IFW could not do so.

 

hhmmm thanks for the heads up, got it.