Free Image Program that restores ALL partitions

Discussion in 'backup, imaging & disk mgmt' started by TheMozart, Feb 24, 2012.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. TheMozart

    TheMozart Former Poster

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2010
    Posts:
    1,486
    Is there any free program that can backup an entire hard drive, all partitions as well and then restore all partitions again to the same hard drive?

    I have C: D: and E: that I need to back up as I am installing Linux on the same hard drive which will mess up everything. And if I want to restore C: and D: and E: again, I need a program which restores everything the way it was before I installed Linux.

    Any ideas please?

    Thanks.
     
  2. MerleOne

    MerleOne Registered Member

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2006
    Posts:
    1,336
    Location:
    France
  3. TheMozart

    TheMozart Former Poster

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2010
    Posts:
    1,486
    Does HDClone restore ALL the partitions as well?

    Because once I install Linux it will delete C: and D: and E: and create one Linux partition.

    SO when I then restore with HDClone, will HDClone restore C: and D: and E: and all the data on those partitions?

    And how do you restore? Does HDClone come with a bootable CD or USB ISO file?

    Thanks.
     
  4. MerleOne

    MerleOne Registered Member

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2006
    Posts:
    1,336
    Location:
    France
    HDClone Free can restore the whole disk as it was before th Linux install, so you'll get all your partition as they were, but no longer a linux partition. If you want to restore all partition plus keep the Linux partition I guess you'll need another tool, plus a solution to have the windows partition also bootable.

    I suppose BootIt Bare Metal from TerabyteUnlimited can do all this but it's not free.
     
  5. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2005
    Posts:
    12,513
    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    Not necessarily. As MerleOne pointed out, BIBM will let you keep all those partitions and let you have Linux as well. It's not free but it would have to be one of the most useful apps available.
     
  6. TheMozart

    TheMozart Former Poster

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2010
    Posts:
    1,486
    I couldn't end up using HDClone Free because it only copies the ENTIRE drive, but I only wanted the partitions and USED DATA to be copied and backed up, not an entire sector by sector copy.

    Is it possible to backup an ENTIRE hard drive and all it's partitions, e.g C: and D: and E: but only copy the DATA on those partitions and NOT a whole 500GB sector by sector copy?

    Any other ideas anyone?:blink:
     
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2012
  7. andylau

    andylau Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2006
    Posts:
    698
    OS partition makes image or clone partition
    Non-OS partitions use "file sync"
     
  8. TheMozart

    TheMozart Former Poster

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2010
    Posts:
    1,486
    English please? :)
     
  9. aladdin

    aladdin Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2006
    Posts:
    2,986
    Location:
    Oman
    +1

    Best regards,

    KOR!
     
  10. andylau

    andylau Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2006
    Posts:
    698
    Which word is not English?:D


    OK, I write the whole words for you


    OS partition : makes an OS image for your OS partition or just clones partition by using any imaging apps

    Non OS partitions : use "file sync" software to sync your data
     
  11. TheMozart

    TheMozart Former Poster

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2010
    Posts:
    1,486
    So what do you recommend I use? :blink:
     
  12. andylau

    andylau Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2006
    Posts:
    698
    Just gives you some examples,

    Imaging App : Paragon, Redo Backup and Recovery, etc...

    File sync : FreeFileSync
     
  13. TheMozart

    TheMozart Former Poster

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2010
    Posts:
    1,486
    None of those copies an entire hard drive + their partitions + DATA only.

    Any other ideas?
     
  14. treehouse786

    treehouse786 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2010
    Posts:
    1,411
    Location:
    Lancashire
    pretty sure active@ disk image can do what you want.

    when backing up just select whole disk and it will backup all partitions and mbr (data only)
     
  15. TheMozart

    TheMozart Former Poster

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2010
    Posts:
    1,486
    Know any free alternative?
     
  16. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2005
    Posts:
    12,513
    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    What are your plans if there isn't a free app?
     
  17. TheMozart

    TheMozart Former Poster

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2010
    Posts:
    1,486
    Off topic Brian. Is there a free one at all? Any ideas?
     
  18. nikanthpromod

    nikanthpromod Registered Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2009
    Posts:
    1,369
    Location:
    India
    what about macrium free and todo backup?
    those are free and can restore partitions.
     
  19. pandlouk

    pandlouk Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2007
    Posts:
    2,976
    Odin, Clonezilla, Redo Backup and Recovery can image all the partitions of your disk and your mbr.

    Paragon and macrium reflect free editions could do this too but I haven't checked the last versions of them (is something changed and they don't allow the user to do it anymore o_O ).

    Panagiotis
     
  20. mirimir

    mirimir Registered Member

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2011
    Posts:
    9,252
    Just use a different hard drive. Or do you like living on the edge?
     
  21. TheMozart

    TheMozart Former Poster

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2010
    Posts:
    1,486
    I have a hard drive that contains C: and D: and E: with data on them all.

    Can macrium free and todo backup backup the entire hardrive + partitions but DATA ONLY? And then can they restore the C: and D: and E: and all the data to the hard drive if the hardrive has been formatted?
     
  22. TheMozart

    TheMozart Former Poster

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2010
    Posts:
    1,486
    Are you sure Odin and redo and clonezilla can do what I want done? To back up the DATA only on C: and D: and E:, and then if I wiped the whole hardrive and all the partions...can Odin and redo and clonezilla then restore all data + create C: and D: and E: again automatically for me?
     
  23. pandlouk

    pandlouk Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2007
    Posts:
    2,976
    Yes, they can.
    Odin and clonezilla can be a bit tricky; odin does not include a recovery platform (you must use a winpe of your own to run it) and clonezilla does not have a guide interface (is a bit difficult for novices).

    Redo backup is very easy to use and will do exactly what you want... plus it includes a browser so you can navigate in the internet while imaging/restoring.;)

    Panagiotis
     
  24. TheMozart

    TheMozart Former Poster

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2010
    Posts:
    1,486
    Thank you my friend :) I will use Redo Backup :thumb:

    I didn't know Redo can do everything I want. I will test it today.

    Appreciate your help.
     
  25. TheMozart

    TheMozart Former Poster

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2010
    Posts:
    1,486
    I used Redo to do a backup, but it split the backup into dozens of files. Any way to make it one file instead?
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  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.