Imaging Software

I'm going to need a little help here.

I need to find the right imaging software that will allow me to restore an image to different hardware than when the image was created. I don't forsee this happening, but in the event that my drive crashes or I get a new motherboard it would be very nice to have.

 

hello n8chavez,
shadow protect desktop and paragon drive backup 9.0 both offer this option.
not sure if paragon drive backup offers for function on xp or not.
i know it will on vista.
i can find out for you if you wish.
what is your current hardware?

 

I guess I don't really understand why imaging has to be hardware dependent. IFW offers byte-for byte imaging. Does that mean that it is still hardware dependent?

I've having a hard time justifing a product that costs $80. I just wish it had the compression I need that would allow me to image to CD. ATI seems to the the only produxt that does.

 

n8chavez,

TeraByte's TBOSDT has scripts for restoring to different hardware. I haven't properly tested them.

 

Just wait till you have to reinstall your O.S. and all your proggies.

Using ShadowProtect gives you peace of mind (beautifuly spoken, if I may say so myself ).

 

Pete,

What are these drivers and software?

I've read through the TBOSDT scripts and they are just related to booting. SATA and IDE drivers. No other drivers or software.

 

Well that what I mean. Shouldn't reimaging your drive, regardless of hardware, at least be able to let you boot up and have your software available? True, you might have to add drivers? Okay, so let Windows do its thing or, better yet, use driver magician.

 

Shadow Protect is the best out there imo.Give it a whirl!

 

Driveclone Pro has this ability.

Some features:
1. Imaging
2. Backup
3. ISR

 

n8chavez,

Not really. The restored OS on different hardware usually doesn't boot due to different IDE/SATA drivers for the different motherboards. So you can't get into Windows.

Pete's HIR gets around this.

 

Acronis Universal Restore

 

You'll have to forgive my ignorance on this one but what does HIR mean?

 

Hardware independent restore.

 

Duh, that seems painfully obvious.

Thanks Brian

 

For anyone that is interested there is a student discounted version of SP available here that brings the price down to $60

 

Very interesting...according to this review Drive Snapshot is an HIR imager; it can restore to bare bones systems. Can anyone verify this?

 

Pete,

I just restored a Dell Optiplex image to a Compaq computer. Prior to running the TBOSDT script I just had a black screen with a recurring reboot. After running the script, WinXP booted and slowly found new hardware. All OK after 10 minutes or so.

I'm sure it's a lot easier with SP HIR but I've paid for this and it works. TBOSDT is not for beginners.

 

n8,

Drive SnapShot is "no different" from ordinary image/restore software. It can't do a HIR.

 

I did the restore again. I quite like the technique now as I already have TBOS and the script on a CD and it only takes 10 seconds to boot the CD and start the script. Interesting. Certainly not time consuming on the second attempt.

 

n8chavez,

You are covered. You have TBOSDT so you can do a "HIR" restore if you have a need.

 

Any idea on how I would use this? I have no clue.