gigelkent
asked on
How to make a restore DVD
I've read other threads, nothing interesting showed up. Everything points to Acronis True Image or Symantec/Norton Ghost.
I want to create an image of a hard drive, compress is (perhaps), and throw is on a bootable DVD (emphasis on DVD). At this point just have a couple of confirmations before your hdd gets blown off and away we go.
The reason I don't want to use commercial products is because I want to offer some of my clients restore DVDs. It would get too costly to use those products.
I woud like it to be as easy as e.g. a Dell or HP restore CD/DVD.
Thanks.
I want to create an image of a hard drive, compress is (perhaps), and throw is on a bootable DVD (emphasis on DVD). At this point just have a couple of confirmations before your hdd gets blown off and away we go.
The reason I don't want to use commercial products is because I want to offer some of my clients restore DVDs. It would get too costly to use those products.
I woud like it to be as easy as e.g. a Dell or HP restore CD/DVD.
Thanks.
You could look at BootitNG also. http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/bootitng.html not free, but interesting reading.
Acronis trueimage 9 will allow such behaviour.
You can burn a snapshot of the harddisk directly to DVD and add a special acronis bootloader.
This way all you need is the backup DVD.
Please take a look at: http://www.acronis.com/oem/products/pc/
Acronis True Image OEM for PC vendors, the complete disk imaging, backup and disaster recovery solution, is specially designed to meet a PC manufacturer' needs.
The product creates a compressed image of the original system and stores it on a hidden hard drive partition.
Additionally, Acronis True Image installs the proprietary boot manager that allows the launching of the system recovery routine in case any malfunctions occur. Pressing F11 at boot up creates the complete restoration of an image without using the computer's operating system.
The OEM setup includes an option to create a bootable emergency CD with the original system image. This image can be used in the event of a physical hard drive crash. (seemy to be outdated, cause direct DVD support was recently added)
New! DVD Burning — Save backups directly to DVDs without using 3rd party DVD burning software. (Acronis True Image 9.0 Home)
Tolomir
You can burn a snapshot of the harddisk directly to DVD and add a special acronis bootloader.
This way all you need is the backup DVD.
Please take a look at: http://www.acronis.com/oem/products/pc/
Acronis True Image OEM for PC vendors, the complete disk imaging, backup and disaster recovery solution, is specially designed to meet a PC manufacturer' needs.
The product creates a compressed image of the original system and stores it on a hidden hard drive partition.
Additionally, Acronis True Image installs the proprietary boot manager that allows the launching of the system recovery routine in case any malfunctions occur. Pressing F11 at boot up creates the complete restoration of an image without using the computer's operating system.
The OEM setup includes an option to create a bootable emergency CD with the original system image. This image can be used in the event of a physical hard drive crash. (seemy to be outdated, cause direct DVD support was recently added)
New! DVD Burning — Save backups directly to DVDs without using 3rd party DVD burning software. (Acronis True Image 9.0 Home)
Tolomir
The clients machines are they are all the same?
here is a step by guide create a restore disc using Norton Ghost
Required tools & setup
The screenshots from this tutorial are from a Windows XP machine. The software used is Nero 6 Ultra Edition. If you are using a different Windows operating system or burning program the instructions will differ slightly, but the process is still the same.
http://www.tech-forums.net/computer_articles/restore/restore-disk.php
--------------------------
How to Create a Bootable Restore DVD for Use with ImageAll (IDE/SATA-Based DVD Drives Only)
This article will explain how to create a bootable DVD (or CD) disc that uses ImageAll to restore an entire hard drive. Please note that these instructions only fully apply to DVD drives that use either the IDE or SATA interface.
Here is a list of the hardware and software you will need to complete this procedure:
Image for DOS
IMGFLPYD (Not needed in all cases; please refer to the instructions below)
RAM drive software
DVD-burning software that supports the creation of bootable DVD discs
IDE/SATA-based DVD burner drive
Floppy diskette drive
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/kb/article.php?id=264
==========================
Acronis True Image 8.0 Review
RE: Disk Imaging software versus Regular File Backup
Rating: 5/5
Regular file backup programs such as Genie Backup Manager are fantastic for backing up personal files such as downloads, documents, emails, pictures, bookmarks, and the like. And as we learned previously, Regular file backup is also a great way to archive files onto a more permanent location (such as CD-Recordable) in order to save space on the hard drive.
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/company/inpress/2005/03-23-infopackets-trueimage.html
==========================
Merete
here is a step by guide create a restore disc using Norton Ghost
Required tools & setup
The screenshots from this tutorial are from a Windows XP machine. The software used is Nero 6 Ultra Edition. If you are using a different Windows operating system or burning program the instructions will differ slightly, but the process is still the same.
http://www.tech-forums.net/computer_articles/restore/restore-disk.php
--------------------------
How to Create a Bootable Restore DVD for Use with ImageAll (IDE/SATA-Based DVD Drives Only)
This article will explain how to create a bootable DVD (or CD) disc that uses ImageAll to restore an entire hard drive. Please note that these instructions only fully apply to DVD drives that use either the IDE or SATA interface.
Here is a list of the hardware and software you will need to complete this procedure:
Image for DOS
IMGFLPYD (Not needed in all cases; please refer to the instructions below)
RAM drive software
DVD-burning software that supports the creation of bootable DVD discs
IDE/SATA-based DVD burner drive
Floppy diskette drive
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/kb/article.php?id=264
==========================
Acronis True Image 8.0 Review
RE: Disk Imaging software versus Regular File Backup
Rating: 5/5
Regular file backup programs such as Genie Backup Manager are fantastic for backing up personal files such as downloads, documents, emails, pictures, bookmarks, and the like. And as we learned previously, Regular file backup is also a great way to archive files onto a more permanent location (such as CD-Recordable) in order to save space on the hard drive.
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/company/inpress/2005/03-23-infopackets-trueimage.html
==========================
Merete
Bear in mind that you cannot use the same image for every PC as Windows XP requires that the hardware to which it is registered remains the same (ish) - It will allow slight changes of hardware with time...but this restricts the amount of 'imaging' that you can do from a mass production process.
As said: Acronis True Image OEM for PC is the solution, they will change you about $25 for each pc, should be possible.
At least you are getting a full backup solution, something everyone needs today.
Tolomir
At least you are getting a full backup solution, something everyone needs today.
Tolomir
ASKER
The images won't have to be done for mulitple PCs since I mont a system vendor. Even so, it can be done if you sysprep XP.
The images will be for clients that I've done work for and installed a fresh load. E.g. someone brings in a system, i blow everything off, install os, install updated drivers, install updated apps, configure/tweak etc, THEN take snapshot, and turn it into a bootable dvd.
Again, I don't want to use any commercial product and I've looked at the ones you guys are bringing up. Acronis Ture Image OEM seems the best deal, but still ... I know there's gotta be some linux/opensource imaging program. Anyways, I appreciate it guys. Let me know ...
The images will be for clients that I've done work for and installed a fresh load. E.g. someone brings in a system, i blow everything off, install os, install updated drivers, install updated apps, configure/tweak etc, THEN take snapshot, and turn it into a bootable dvd.
Again, I don't want to use any commercial product and I've looked at the ones you guys are bringing up. Acronis Ture Image OEM seems the best deal, but still ... I know there's gotta be some linux/opensource imaging program. Anyways, I appreciate it guys. Let me know ...
Alright, this is what I've found:
http://wiki.linux-ntfs.org/doku.php?id=ntfsclone
The ntfsclone utility efficiently copies, backups and restores an NTFS filesystem to/from a file, partition or standard output. It is part of the ntfsprogs suite, its full description along with some usage examples can be found in the ntfsclone manual.
http://wiki.linux-ntfs.org/doku.php?id=ntfsprogs
This way you can even burn the (splitted) image on DVD. But the complete support regarding recovery is missing.
Tolomir
http://wiki.linux-ntfs.org/doku.php?id=ntfsclone
The ntfsclone utility efficiently copies, backups and restores an NTFS filesystem to/from a file, partition or standard output. It is part of the ntfsprogs suite, its full description along with some usage examples can be found in the ntfsclone manual.
http://wiki.linux-ntfs.org/doku.php?id=ntfsprogs
This way you can even burn the (splitted) image on DVD. But the complete support regarding recovery is missing.
Tolomir
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
http://www.thefreecountry.com/utilities/backupandimage.shtml
has a bunch of free duplication software.
has a bunch of free duplication software.
Hi Gigelkent,
I think this is what you are looking for,
http://www.backup.comodo.com/
Automatic file backup and recovery for Windows XP and Windows 2000
>Easily backup files or folders anywhere on your computer, network, CD-RW/DVD or FTP server
>Protect yourself against ever losing those critical files that took hours to create
>Quickly recover your data in the event of data loss
>Schedule backups to run automatically at a time that suits you
>Synchronized backup feature - save a file and it gets copied instantly
>Send E-mail notifications to team members about the status of a backup job
>Save Disk space by compressing your backups as ZIP files
>Configure in minutes with our intuitive interface
Yes, it IS Free !!
Regards,
Engineer_Dell
I think this is what you are looking for,
http://www.backup.comodo.com/
Automatic file backup and recovery for Windows XP and Windows 2000
>Easily backup files or folders anywhere on your computer, network, CD-RW/DVD or FTP server
>Protect yourself against ever losing those critical files that took hours to create
>Quickly recover your data in the event of data loss
>Schedule backups to run automatically at a time that suits you
>Synchronized backup feature - save a file and it gets copied instantly
>Send E-mail notifications to team members about the status of a backup job
>Save Disk space by compressing your backups as ZIP files
>Configure in minutes with our intuitive interface
Yes, it IS Free !!
Regards,
Engineer_Dell
You can contact Symantec and get a corperate license for Ghost, this will cut your costs in creating and providing the restore DVDs
eb