Image backups of bootable partitions [Archive]

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ratbag

03-31-2005, 02:43 AM

I am trying to create test PC. The vision is to have a small partition at the start of the disk (8Gb), which I use for running whichever OS I am working on and a larger partition at the end of the disk (30Gb) where I keep images backups of this partition loaded with different OS’s and different patch levels. There is also some free space in the middle (it is an 80Gb disk), which I plan to deploy as needed.

So far, so easy.

So I installed Windows XP patched up to the very latest in the 8Gb partition. I did an image backup of the partition with Paragon’s Rescue Kit 4.0 booted from a CD and put the result in the 30Gb partition.

When I restored the image back into the same 8Gb partition it came from and tried to boot it, I got:

NTLDR is missing
Press Ctrl-Alt-Del to restart

So my question is: is this software just not doing a proper backup and restore? Or have I misunderstood how partitioning works?

Sterling_Aug

03-31-2005, 06:57 AM

The first one is correct.

Try using Symantec GHOST8 version or higher. It makes perfect backups of partitions and restores them with very little effort.

Damodred

03-31-2005, 07:52 AM

Acronis True Image work just as good and I think is cheaper!

BipolarBill

03-31-2005, 08:49 AM

Ghost comes free with many motherboards and is also included in many bundles. Acronis isn't.

Damodred

03-31-2005, 05:51 PM

it does?
Actually never heard of, or seen for that matter. But is interesting to know. Perhaps you have an example, getting goodies like that can help me chose my next motherboard

BipolarBill

03-31-2005, 06:23 PM

You can always check Newegg for photos of motherboard bundles to see what's included.

Sterling_Aug

03-31-2005, 07:02 PM

I know several of my Tyan boards came with Ghost, but the older version do NOT work with Winb2k nor XP.

04-01-2005, 07:04 PM

Just bought Drive SnapShot (all upgrades lifetime free) and it makes an image of my boot/system partition when I had all me software on, e.g., AV, firewall you name it, and it did even flinch. I was testing only and wanted a quick output.

This prog is superb.

<http://www.drivesnapshot.de/en/home.htm>

This is going to be my main imaging prog from now on. Even Steve Gibson of SpinRite takes advice from Tom the soft de of DS. There is a pre-Windows app too for imaging out of Windows.