OS back-up software

[pchan]

Hi,

Is there any software that can back-up my OS to a CD or DVD-Rom ? In the event there is a data corruption or hard disk crash, I can easily restore it. I am not too concern about application software or even data.

Thanks in advance.

[waheed]

Why not try to make an image of your hard disk. In the event of a corruption, you can restore your PC to its original state (when you created the image).

Take a look at Acronis True Image:

http://eu.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/

[pchan]

Hi Waheed,
Thanks for your suggestion. Will image work if I replace the hard drive with a new one ? If yes, this will meet my requirement.

[redwudz]

Sure, as long as the new drive (Or partition) is as big or bigger than the original.

One thing to be aware of, if you make a image of a drive that has spyware or corrupted files, you will have a exact copy of your problems. I like to make my first backup before I install any software, then incrementally until I need it for backup.

[bevills1]

FYI most new drives come with CD and instructions that help transfer current OS drive without need for imaging which is much simpler IMO.

[pchan]

My objective is to get a clean snap shot of my hard drive and keep it. If anything wrong, I would restore it to this state. In this way, I can avoid messing with Microsoft activation. I am not sure if M'soft would let me re-activate my Xp and Office.

[bigstusexy]

As listed in your other thread pchan, reactivation is not an issue on the same machine. Only time you'll have a headache is when you change too much hardware in the computer, say like the motherboard and hard drive (at the same time), basically thats a new PC to Microsoft. If your drive dies, if you need to reinstall thats no issue. The changes that would cause you to need to register will cause you to need to reregister too.


In short go reformat you'll have no problem.

[ahhaa]

Your best bet is to use the cloning software that comes with a new hard drive- they are incredibly cheap these days. You will have a lot of confidence if you simply:
a. attach new HD to EIDE cable
b. clone drive as per included software
c. remove original drive and substitute clone for it (check jumper!:])
d. give backup drive a try
e. put backup in safe place and replace original drive

Now everything is duplicated- if you bought a bigger drive, you could also have left the new drive in and stored the original...