Image For Windows

Discussion in 'backup, imaging & disk mgmt' started by Stigg, Apr 15, 2014.

  1. Stigg

    Stigg Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    Posts:
    454
    Location:
    Dededo, Guam
    Hi all...

    I searched for a thread about "Image For Windows", but couldn't find one.
    I am looking for a second backup program to go with "Macrium Reflect".

    Reliability, reliability, reliability is the feature I am looking for.

    Is "Image For Windows" that program?

    I have heard some positive comments, but just want to know what you think.

    Thank you...
     
  2. safeguy

    safeguy Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2010
    Posts:
    1,795
    Pretty sure you would get an unanimous "yes" as an answer.
     
  3. moontan

    moontan Registered Member

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2010
    Posts:
    3,931
    Location:
    Québec
    been using it for a couple of years.
    it has never failed on me in hundreds of imaging and restore.

    that's all i use for imaging.
    it's small, fast and can be run from a USB key at boot time.

    probably one of the best software purchase i've ever made.
     
  4. The Seeker

    The Seeker Registered Member

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2005
    Posts:
    1,339
    Location:
    Adelaide
    Get it, you won't regret it.
     
  5. The Shadow

    The Shadow Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2012
    Posts:
    814
    Location:
    USA
    IFW and Reliability are synonymous. Imho IFW and its siblings, IFL/IFD, are the very best of disk-image backup software!

    The thread you are looking for is under "Terabyte Product Release Thread" not too far below....
     
    Last edited: Apr 15, 2014
  6. routerguy99

    routerguy99 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2008
    Posts:
    109
  7. Stigg

    Stigg Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    Posts:
    454
    Location:
    Dededo, Guam
    Wow!
    What a great endorsement of this product.
    No negatives at all yet.
     
  8. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2014
    Posts:
    14,883
    Location:
    Slovenia, EU
    One question. Does IFW support UEFI with secure boot?

    hqsec
     
  9. MudCrab

    MudCrab Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2006
    Posts:
    6,483
    Location:
    California
  10. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2014
    Posts:
    14,883
    Location:
    Slovenia, EU
    @MudCrab thank you for an answer!

    hqsec
     
  11. oliverjia

    oliverjia Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2005
    Posts:
    1,926
  12. Stigg

    Stigg Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    Posts:
    454
    Location:
    Dededo, Guam
    I have decided to try it. :thumb:
     
  13. Stigg

    Stigg Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    Posts:
    454
    Location:
    Dededo, Guam
    How do you schedule backups with this?
     
  14. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2005
    Posts:
    12,174
    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    See page 194 in the userguide.
     
  15. Stigg

    Stigg Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    Posts:
    454
    Location:
    Dededo, Guam
    Thanks.
    I will have a read.
     
  16. Stigg

    Stigg Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    Posts:
    454
    Location:
    Dededo, Guam
    When I installed Image for Windows, it presented me with numerous optional settings. Technical stuff.
    Did you guys change any of those settings?
     
  17. MudCrab

    MudCrab Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2006
    Posts:
    6,483
    Location:
    California
    Default is usually fine. I usually just uncheck the options to create the IFD/IFL boot media since I do that manually as needed.
     
  18. Stigg

    Stigg Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    Posts:
    454
    Location:
    Dededo, Guam
    Thanks MudCrab.
     
  19. clubhouse1

    clubhouse1 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2013
    Posts:
    1,124
    Location:
    UK
    Now I don't understand this. I gave it a try and wow!! So many options, its the complete antithesis of AX64...I have win7 32bit...I use AX64 as a backup for my system because I fiddle with the system files, registry etc as a way of getting a better understanding, if I mess it up or I do get a cunning infection AX64 saves my Ass!...And its simple and almost idiot proof in its design...My question is, what advantage does or would IFW give me with its plethora of options?
     
  20. Stigg

    Stigg Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    Posts:
    454
    Location:
    Dededo, Guam
    I just scheduled a monthly Full Backup and a weekly differential/incremental backup, but I fail to understand and what point in the scheduling that the differential or incremental backup is selected.
    How is Task Scheduler going to know whether I want a differential or incremental backup?
     
  21. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2005
    Posts:
    12,174
    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    clubhouse1,

    Just use the defaults. The hundreds of options are for the "pros".
     
  22. oliverjia

    oliverjia Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2005
    Posts:
    1,926
    For me, I don't trust any disk backup images that are NOT made of a FRESHLY installed OS. A freshly installed OS has the least chance of being infected, hence the best time to backup your OS is right after installation of OS.
    If you use your OS for a while, you NEVER know IF/WHEN your computer has already been infected by virus. Nowadays virus infection is normally very hard to notice/identify, as most viruses evolved into information-stealing type and won't delete or duplicate your files.

    What is the point to make an image of your OS if it's already infected? That's why I never use AX64 type of programs.

    IFW could have a bit learning curve but once you master it, you'll feel right at home with the greatest tool in hands. Terabyte website provides help documentation to help and I find these documents are great learning materials.


     
  23. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2005
    Posts:
    12,174
    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    Stigg,

    At this stage I'd use differentials rather than incrementals. Maybe use incrementals later when you understand what is happening. Although I only use differentials.
     
  24. Stigg

    Stigg Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    Posts:
    454
    Location:
    Dededo, Guam
    Hi Brian K.

    I understand everything in regards to the difference between differential and incremental backups, but the shortcoming of Image for Windows is that it relies on the end user to point it to either:
    The Full Backup or
    The Incremental Backup
    to get it to do either of them.

    So, the problem is there is no way to tell Image for Windows whether you want a differential or incremental backup using a schedule.
    I have spent many hours trying to find it, but it seems that it can only be done manually with end user intervention.

    I like to have my backup regimes work automatically.
    In my opinion, if you rely on manually backing up, you will eventually come unstuck.


    Here is the information straight from the user manual (Page 52)
    The above works manually, but not with an automatic schedule as far as I can see.
     
  25. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2005
    Posts:
    12,174
    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    Stigg,

    I create differentials on a schedule. There are two batch files. A full backup batch file and a differential batch file. The full backup must always have the same name and the differential backup must always have the same name. For example, full.tbi and diff.tbi. In the differential backup batch file I have further lines to rename diff.tbi to something else. I keep the most recent 15 daily differential backups. I do full backups manually every 2 to 4 weeks but I could easily have the full backups scheduled as well. But I don't.
     
  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.