Questions about Image for Windows

I'm interested in getting IFW as I understand from what I've read here that it's a pretty good software. Currently using EaseUS Todo Backup version 2.5 (free) but am not sure if it would work flawlessly when/if needed.

Questions:
1. Any additional charges when updating this program?
2. What is the best bet to use for Win 7, 64 bit: Image for Linux or for DOS?
3. I intend to do manual images only as I do them once monthly only. Possible? No incremental ones either as I put the Ext HDD away until I need it to do images.
4. Verify Image?
5. Ability to Explore Images in Windows Explorer (NOT virtual)

Think that's it for now.

I look forward to your thoughts, expertise and opinions. What image software is concerned I'm a complete noob so please be gentle with me eh? TIA

 

niki,

The 3 TeraByte Ver2 imaging apps were released almost 5 years ago and there have been 80 free updates in that time. There is no talk of Ver3 and in the past new versions were announced a year ahead so I wouldn't be concerned about being caught with an old version. Folks who owned Ver1 could buy Ver2 for half price.

I prefer IFW but it doesn't matter which one you use as they all produce the same image file. The main advantage of IFW is you don't need to get out of Windows to create your image.

The answer to your other questions is "Yes".

 

Thanks Brian K.

I phrased the above question wrong I think. What I wanted to ask is if there is a free ability included to make a BOOTABLE disk and which one to choose to make this bootable disk - Linux or DOS?

Great to have all the other questions answered as YES! TIA

 

niki,

All 3 apps can create bootable CDs.

For IFW I prefer this WinRE disk, made in a few minutes. This is probably the easiest CD or USB flash drive for a beginner to use.
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/howto/tbwinre_tutorial.htm

For IFD and IFL, there is makedisk.exe in the downloads. It will create a bootable CD or USB flash drive. For working with USB external HDs, IFL does have advantages over IFD.

General help...

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/howto/index.htm

If you are considering buying the software, get the Bundle. You will kick yourself later if you don't.

 

I agree 100% Brian. niki, when I was looking at TBU products, I decided upon the bundle, because it is the very best deal period in the disk imaging market, and the most reliable of such programs in my opinion. The bundle will cover all the bases you will likely ever need, and some you may never need, but always good to have them available.

Thank you Brian for being such a helpful voice here at wilders. Your help and direction, and knowledge of disk imaging is very much appreciated my friend.

Best wishes to you niki, and you too Brian.

Jim

 

@ Brian K: Sorry for not having been able to reply sooner. I bookmarked your links Brian and need to read them thoroughly. When glancing over the provided info I really felt overwhelmed, seems way too complicated for me in being able to create a bootable CD.

When I got this new desktop Win 7, 64 bit, the IT who installed and set up, transferred all the info from XP to this one, made a total of 2 Recovery Disks for me. So now I'm not sure if these disks would be sufficient or if I still would need a bootable IFW disk? If I do, which bundle should I get then since I don't see it? In addition to being a complete noob in this, I'm also in my seventies and comprehension is way down compared with a few years ago. TIA

@Jim1cor13 Thank you for your best wishes and responding!

 

niki,

No problems. Forget the IFW CD. Make an IFL (gui) CD. One CD will suit all your needs. Don't be concerned about the myriad of options. Accept the defaults.

 

niki,

To create an IFL boot CD is easy....

double click makedisk.exe, next
Default Settings
dot in I accept the agreement, next
enter Producy Key (if you have one), next
select your CD burner drive letter (you can use a CD-RW or a CD-R disc). Or USB flash drive.
Finish

 

Thanks for getting back to me. Does this mean that I have to purchase both the IFW backup/image software and the IFL gui for the Bootable CD? Now I'm totally confused... TIA

 

IFW includes IFD and IFL -- no extra purchase is needed.

 

Oh, that's great. So no extra/additional software for IFL needs to be downloaded? Thank you very much MudCrab.

 

You should never trust a imaging software until you´ve done at least 5 or 6 successful restores ime. Just because the imaging software manages to produce an image without errors does not in any way say that the restore will be ok, unfortunately.
If you want to be sure that a imaging software is reliable you should really try to restore at least one time before putting any trust in it, so you have at least one working image to rrestore to. I know it can be a dilemma, but that is my experience. First time I installed a imaging software I was prepared to reformat and install windows from scratch.
It is a well known fact that no software is compatible with all the possible configurations of computers that is out there.
I am a nerd, so I have Image for Windows as my core imaging software, I trust it with my life (figuratively speaking ) it has never failed. I always take an image with IFW before I try new imaging software and then I use the other imaging software to take backups and do restores until it fails for whatever reason. I dont care why it fails, once it fails to restore it is not trustworthy imo.

I guess someone already told you but it is one time fee for Image for windows. Personally I have had my IMF since 2007 and got all the updates for free. I imagine there will be a upgrade fee for version 3 when it arrives, but that is years from now considering how long it has been developed and been free upgrades.

 

I use IFL, and agree that it's very easy to use and very powerful. I only use it as a bootable flash and don't have it installed. (Thank you YUMI.) IFL is one of the best imaging applications out there. You can't go wrong with choosing it.

 

best thing since sliced bread, afaic.

it's fast, never failed on me in hundreds of imaging/restore, and it's not a bloated monstrosity.

the price is more than decent and they don't try to bleed you every year to pay for updates.

frankly, i wonder why anyone would bother with anything else.

 

niki, this isn't intended for you.

I frequently restore my OS image and this is currently my favourite auto restore method.

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/howto/howto-ifl-bootfile.htm

It is very flexible. I can even restore my son's OS from my computer without having to walk to his room. Not that I'm wary of exercise.

 

Thank you all so much for responding. I really appreciate it. Today I downloaded the manual and it's so detailed that my head is spinning due too way to much overload and way over my (confused) head. I need something way more simple and trusted that's just as good as IFW. I've never created a bootable disk and just used to create images with Acronis v8 (was free and simple) and EaseUS Todo Backup Home v 2.5 Of course these freebies don't come with a recovery disk. Never had to restore either. To try it out I was just way too scared. I'm not a tech at all, just self-taught and no-one to help me except for forums.

 

Brian,

Since my question falls under this generalized topic, how do l 'tell' IFD/IFL to also restore my Win7 MBR (with partition table)?

Cruise

 

Cruise,

Under what circumstances would you want to do this?

 

Brian, I don't know what happened but when I tried booting up this morning I got a fatal error and W7 won't boot up (none of the repair functions on the installation disk are of any help)! When I boot into WinPE it doesn't see my internal drive/partitions!!!

I'm thinking that my partition table may have gotten blown-out.

Cruise

 

Cruise,

That sounds serious. So when you went to bed last night, all was OK. But this morning it's not OK. You didn't do anything to your computer in the meantime?

Can you boot from your BIBM CD and tell me what you see in Partition Work?

Edit... Is this your laptop with Win7 64 bit?

 

It's possible the drive has lost connection or needs complete power reset. I've seen that happen.

 

Well, I've been so busy at work I haven't been on my system for a few days, but all was well last I used it.

I can't seem to find my BIBM CD, but I'm still looking ....boy, when it rains, ir pours!!!

Yes.

 

Tried that, but no joy.

 

Does the drive still show up normally in the BIOS?

 

Hi MudCrab,

I never thought of looking in the BIOS, but I'll check that out when I return home in a couple of hours.

Cruise