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sc456a

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What should I use to create an image on a USB drive?

I have a failing SATA drive in a workstation which I want to create an image of and save the image to an external hard drive which is connected via USB.  Then I want to restore the image to a new hard drive.  I'd like to use a boot CD as I think it would have the best chance of success.  Any suggestions?
Thanks,
SC
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jamietoner
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You could use an imaging program like acronis or ghost, but if the drive if failing i personally wouldnt suggest taking an image to backup data ( i would not trust the image from a failing hdd as my backup of important data). I would suggest copying the data to the external hdd, then replace the failing drive, Reinstall the os, drivers and programs, then take an image (so you have a known good image to restore to later if anything should happen in the future), Then copy the data from the external hdd, I have seen many issues with restoring images taken from a failing hdds and they usualy end up with a clean reinstall of the os and if the image was the only backup, lost data.
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Gary Case
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sc456a

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Thanks gary - however I do get the "Paste Pending" message (Paste Pending for Image Create to be exact).  What's that about?
-SC
That means it's ready to create the image ==> Now you have to choose the destination for the image (where do you want it stored).   So at that point, you have to do as I said in #6 => choose the destination.   On the left side of the display, you'll see HD-0, HD-1, CD-Z  etc.  (these are the hard drives and optical drive(s) in your system.  Select the one you want to use for the image (if you only have one internal drive and one external drive, that will be HD-1);  then select the partition you want it stored in (in the center of the display => that will probably be the only one on the drive); and then click on Paste.   You'll have to name the image (8-characters, no spaces => old DOS filename restrictions); and then choose the size of the blocks (just use the default); and decide if you want the image verified (doubles the time it takes) ... and then it will create the image.
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ASKER

Gary:
The machine just hangs when creating the image, but I suspect it is due to the drive.  Thanks!
-SC
Probably so ... but just to be sure:

=> Did you check the USB 2 support box in the Setting?
=> Did the USB drive show up okay in Boot-It (as HD-1)?
=> Did you WAIT for a long time (hour or more) to be sure the little status bar was truly not moving?  (the one thing I don't like about Boot-It is it does not give good "in progress" status -> just that little bar)