disc imaging info

magoo · 03. Feb 2010, 06:41 AM

Hi Im a novice in disc imaging but currently using Acronis true image - I have just downloaded Comodo Time Machine which looks easy to use - are they comparable in terms of function or should I use both - magoo

Ritho · 03. Feb 2010, 11:38 AM

Magoo, I would not recommend using Comodo Time Machine, at least not yet. I don't think it is ready yet for main stream use. Comodo has the habit of releasing programs before their really ready for the average user.

Acronis True Image is primarily a drive imaging program, but it does have a feature called "Try & Decide" that works some what like Comodo Time Machine. Although Time Machine has more in common with Windows own built-in "System Restore" feature.

Comodo's product is not a true drive imaging program and as such it is not a viable replacement for True Image.

I would recommend avoiding Time Machine until it is a little more mature.

magoo · 03. Feb 2010, 11:44 AM

many thanx Ritho - message received and understood - will stay with Acronis for now - magoo

aqua · 03. Feb 2010, 12:04 PM

go to giveaway of the day,and they have a free paragon hard disk manager 2009 [today]
check for yourself.

PsychEroc · 03. Feb 2010, 05:04 PM

I would generally agree with Ritho.
I still have not heard a convincing argument for why CMT is better than Win7 System Protection/Restore.

DLC50 · 05. Feb 2010, 04:20 PM

I could give you several, but I have had several distasteful memories related to system restore. It is much improved in Win 7 though.

jim · 05. Feb 2010, 05:08 PM

I hesitate to talk about anything paid on this forum but you might like to read my article before making any final decisions.

http://www.techsupportalert.com/cont...re-windows.htm

PsychEroc · 05. Feb 2010, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim

I hesitate to talk about anything paid on this forum but you might like to read my article before making any final decisions.

I haven't tried that one, but I don't mind shelling out the dough for the advanced features of Acronis TI 2010, albeit it a flawed release.
You can't find the "Try & Decide" or "RealTime Backup" features in other freeware or commercial programs (similar things exist, but not the same functionality).

Given the site that your article's on, most readers may ask: You mentioned finding problems in the commercial disk imaging programs, but have you found the same problems in the freeware ones? I would suggest at least mentioning the freeware alternatives or linking to the category.

jim · 07. Feb 2010, 03:17 PM

Quote
Finding decent, reliable imaging software has been a bit of a problem for me. That is until now. I have tried most of the well known ones – including Ghost, Acronis True Image, Paragon and quite a few others (both free and paid). All of them have give problems (usually validation) of some sort or other.
Unquote

As I said - everything I tried (and it was many) gave me problems. Others may have found differently but, barring try before buy with paid for stuff, we can only go by what others report so Google for reviews. When it comes to free stuff, just do what I did and try it anyway. Easy to dump if it doesn't suit.

The article was quite long anyway and was to illustrate MY final solution. Others have reviewed all free (and paid for elsewhere) products and you should be looking at those reviews too.

wdhpr · 07. Feb 2010, 04:38 PM

Its curious that some have problems with various imaging software and others do not. It makes me wonder if there maybe other issues in play. Such as hardware, improperly created partitions or even a registry problem. I have used Acronis from the beginning it has always worked well for me with 0 validation problems. I have had to do a full restore on 2 occasions, both were flawless. I have two internal hardrives a Seagate which includes software with a version of Acronis. The other is a Western Digital both are ATA drives 150 gig each.

Cheers
Wdhpr

03. Feb 2010, 06:41 AM	#1 (permalink)
magoo Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 2	disc imaging info Hi Im a novice in disc imaging but currently using Acronis true image - I have just downloaded Comodo Time Machine which looks easy to use - are they comparable in terms of function or should I use both - magoo

03. Feb 2010, 11:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
Ritho Foundation Editor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Planet Earth Posts: 1,391	Magoo, I would not recommend using Comodo Time Machine, at least not yet. I don't think it is ready yet for main stream use. Comodo has the habit of releasing programs before their really ready for the average user. Acronis True Image is primarily a drive imaging program, but it does have a feature called "Try & Decide" that works some what like Comodo Time Machine. Although Time Machine has more in common with Windows own built-in "System Restore" feature. Comodo's product is not a true drive imaging program and as such it is not a viable replacement for True Image. I would recommend avoiding Time Machine until it is a little more mature. __________________ The smallest good deed is better than the greatest intention.

05. Feb 2010, 04:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
DLC50 Full Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 57	I could give you several, but I have had several distasteful memories related to system restore. It is much improved in Win 7 though. __________________ [I]"The only real security that a man can have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability" [/I]

07. Feb 2010, 03:17 PM	#9 (permalink)
jim Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: near Ashford Kent England Posts: 304	Quote Finding decent, reliable imaging software has been a bit of a problem for me. That is until now. I have tried most of the well known ones – including Ghost, Acronis True Image, Paragon and quite a few others (both free and paid). All of them have give problems (usually validation) of some sort or other. Unquote As I said - everything I tried (and it was many) gave me problems. Others may have found differently but, barring try before buy with paid for stuff, we can only go by what others report so Google for reviews. When it comes to free stuff, just do what I did and try it anyway. Easy to dump if it doesn't suit. The article was quite long anyway and was to illustrate MY final solution. Others have reviewed all free (and paid for elsewhere) products and you should be looking at those reviews too. Last edited by jim; 07. Feb 2010 at 03:21 PM.

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03. Feb 2010, 11:44 AM	#3 (permalink)
magoo Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 2	many thanx Ritho - message received and understood - will stay with Acronis for now - magoo

03. Feb 2010, 12:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
aqua Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 116	go to giveaway of the day,and they have a free paragon hard disk manager 2009 [today] check for yourself.

03. Feb 2010, 05:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
PsychEroc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 221	I would generally agree with Ritho. I still have not heard a convincing argument for why CMT is better than Win7 System Protection/Restore.

05. Feb 2010, 05:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
jim Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: near Ashford Kent England Posts: 304	I hesitate to talk about anything paid on this forum but you might like to read my article before making any final decisions. http://www.techsupportalert.com/cont...re-windows.htm

07. Feb 2010, 04:38 PM	#10 (permalink)
wdhpr Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The north Coast Posts: 1,117	Its curious that some have problems with various imaging software and others do not. It makes me wonder if there maybe other issues in play. Such as hardware, improperly created partitions or even a registry problem. I have used Acronis from the beginning it has always worked well for me with 0 validation problems. I have had to do a full restore on 2 occasions, both were flawless. I have two internal hardrives a Seagate which includes software with a version of Acronis. The other is a Western Digital both are ATA drives 150 gig each. Cheers Wdhpr