Drive Image Restore

heavy · 10. Aug 2009, 05:24 PM

Can someone tell me the easiest way to be able to restore a DriveImage backup? Does DriveImage have to be installed?

J_L · 10. Aug 2009, 08:46 PM

First of all, what program are you using for your drive images? Include the company name please.

heavy · 11. Aug 2009, 04:06 PM

JL,

Sorry about that. I am using DriveImage XML from Runtime Software. Basically, I really like the program but whatever information I find is very spxxxx on how to use the backup to restore the drive.

tony · 12. Aug 2009, 09:47 PM

I have to say I am a great fan of Macrium Reflect, it has saved my OS a lot as I found out I had a faulty hard drive on a new computer. It backed up my whole 'C' drive and easily loaded everything back. I just made the rescue disk, and everything is so easy to use. But to answer your question I hope I have the right answer for you and this is copied straight off the FAQ on the site..

Q. How do I restore an image back to a working state?

A. Note that you must put the image into an existing partition. If necessary create a new partition with Windows Disk Management first. You do not need to format the drive. The size of the partition you create will determine the size of the drive - for example if you create a 20GB partition and then restore a 10GB size image to it, the size of the drive will still be 20GB.

To start Windows Disk Management click:

Start>Control Panel>Administrative Tools>Computer Management>Disk Management

If Windows Disk Management does not start, you can use the following commands from the command prompt:

net start dmserver
net start dmadmin
diskpart

To restore an image to an existing partition, click Restore in the main program window.

Note on boot drives: If you want your computer to boot from the new partition you must set it to "active" with Windows Disk Management.

If I have it wrong then please tell me I have the wrong end of the stick

heavy · 13. Aug 2009, 04:11 PM

Tony,

Thanks for the reply. I downloaded Macrium Reflect and am going to give it a shot as you seem to be sold on it.

kendall · 13. Aug 2009, 04:50 PM

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the free version of Macrium Reflect does not offer incremental or differential disk imaging?

Somewhere along the line, I picked up a free copy of the commercial version of True Image. It's old, but it still does the job. I made a complete disc image, and now I do just do a incremental or differential image. It's fast. I'd hate to think that I'd have to a complete re-image of both my drives on a monthly basis....

heavy · 14. Aug 2009, 04:05 PM

Kendall,

I use True Image 10, but in the past I had a backup, not True Image, that was no good and I was forced to format and start from scratch. Now, I am looking for a second program to do a full backup in case one fails.

chris.p · 14. Aug 2009, 04:44 PM

Any method of creating an image can potentially fail for a number of reasons.

One of the most important components of drive imaging is to test the image. If you don't do this, there is a chance it may be dud. You need another machine to test it on.

In order to have the best chance of getting a good image, make sure that all system files are included by default - don't use compression, as that is a major cause of failures - and check the image integrity after creating it.

Also be aware that imaging a partition then trying to install it on a bare disk might not work, and ditto for a full image to a partition. Ideally it needs to be like-for-like.

10. Aug 2009, 05:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
heavy Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 6	Drive Image Restore Can someone tell me the easiest way to be able to restore a DriveImage backup? Does DriveImage have to be installed?

13. Aug 2009, 04:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
kendall Foundation Editor/Forum Manager Intern Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 1,770	Correct me if I'm wrong, but the free version of Macrium Reflect does not offer incremental or differential disk imaging? Somewhere along the line, I picked up a free copy of the commercial version of True Image. It's old, but it still does the job. I made a complete disc image, and now I do just do a incremental or differential image. It's fast. I'd hate to think that I'd have to a complete re-image of both my drives on a monthly basis.... __________________ <-------Is looking for his brain....

14. Aug 2009, 04:44 PM	#8 (permalink)
chris.p Foundation Editor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 1,600	Any method of creating an image can potentially fail for a number of reasons. One of the most important components of drive imaging is to test the image. If you don't do this, there is a chance it may be dud. You need another machine to test it on. In order to have the best chance of getting a good image, make sure that all system files are included by default - don't use compression, as that is a major cause of failures - and check the image integrity after creating it. Also be aware that imaging a partition then trying to install it on a bare disk might not work, and ditto for a full image to a partition. Ideally it needs to be like-for-like. __________________ . . . . . . . Web Business Management

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

10. Aug 2009, 08:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
J_L Co-Author, Best Free Security List Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,483	First of all, what program are you using for your drive images? Include the company name please.

11. Aug 2009, 04:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
heavy Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 6	JL, Sorry about that. I am using DriveImage XML from Runtime Software. Basically, I really like the program but whatever information I find is very spxxxx on how to use the backup to restore the drive.

12. Aug 2009, 09:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
tony Foundation Editor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Wales Posts: 119	I have to say I am a great fan of Macrium Reflect, it has saved my OS a lot as I found out I had a faulty hard drive on a new computer. It backed up my whole 'C' drive and easily loaded everything back. I just made the rescue disk, and everything is so easy to use. But to answer your question I hope I have the right answer for you and this is copied straight off the FAQ on the site.. Q. How do I restore an image back to a working state? A. Note that you must put the image into an existing partition. If necessary create a new partition with Windows Disk Management first. You do not need to format the drive. The size of the partition you create will determine the size of the drive - for example if you create a 20GB partition and then restore a 10GB size image to it, the size of the drive will still be 20GB. To start Windows Disk Management click: Start>Control Panel>Administrative Tools>Computer Management>Disk Management If Windows Disk Management does not start, you can use the following commands from the command prompt: net start dmserver net start dmadmin diskpart To restore an image to an existing partition, click Restore in the main program window. Note on boot drives: If you want your computer to boot from the new partition you must set it to "active" with Windows Disk Management. If I have it wrong then please tell me I have the wrong end of the stick

13. Aug 2009, 04:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
heavy Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 6	Tony, Thanks for the reply. I downloaded Macrium Reflect and am going to give it a shot as you seem to be sold on it.

14. Aug 2009, 04:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
heavy Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 6	Kendall, I use True Image 10, but in the past I had a backup, not True Image, that was no good and I was forced to format and start from scratch. Now, I am looking for a second program to do a full backup in case one fails.