Re: Acronis TrueImage 2009


"teabag" <nobody@xxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:YZGdnTyrZrt9RG_UnZ2dnUVZ8tydnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi Anna,

Years ago, on a Pentium II system with twin 8GB HDDs, I found I could
restore a clone more quickly than I could wipe C: and reinstall (a full
retail version of) Win98SE, modem drivers and everything else. But I don't
know much about NTFS or WinXP Pro yet.

Making the image or clone (I recognise these words are not synonyms),
whilst my 3.2GHz system is in perfect health, doesn't worry me at all.
Changing the boot sequence in BIOS does not faze me either, but I do want
to be sure I can restore an image or clone, when the C: drive is infected,
when Windows is not running, and when I have no internet access to help.

As I see it, Casper with the start-up disk, will cost U$60 whereas Acronis
True Image will cost £25.
Acronis can do more than Casper but on common ground Casper is more
convenient than Acronis.

I note that if a USBEHD is not running when I boot with its start-up CD,
Casper will not see that drive; maybe the same would happen with Acronis?

I shall stick with my plan to buy Acronis software but I won't buy a
USBEHD; instead I shall get a 3rd Seagate internal HDD similar to the ones
I've already got. By swapping the drives about, I will be able to practice
a 'restore' and convince myself that I, and the software, can do it.
Subsequently a drive bearing the clone will be kept remote and recreated
irregularly.

I should have made clear I do use USB sticks to hold, conveniently
accessible, backups (simple copies) of all my correspondence and
accounting data. Incremental cloning is not an essential feature so far as
I am concerned.

Thank you for your 3 responses to my original post, your advice has been
most helpful.

teabag


teabag:
First, let me make it clear (as I hope I have done so throughout this
thread) that I am not in any way trying to dissuade you (or anyone else)
from using the Acronis program rather than the Casper 5 program if that be
your choice. My only objective was (and is) - as this thread evolved - to
explain why I preferred the Casper 5 program as a comprehensive backup
program for the vast majority of PC users in comparison with other
disk-cloning/disk-imaging programs, including the Acronis program. Again, I
fully recognize (as I have previously pointed out) that many users have
specialized needs/objectives that can be better met with the Acronis program
for reasons we have already discussed, however, I maintain that for the vast
majority of PC users the Casper 5 program is the better choice as a routine
comprehensive backup program.

So now that we've got that out-of-the-way...

1. If the cost of the program is of *paramount* importance to the PC user,
then it's "no contest". Obviously the Acronis program (or some other
less-expensive program) would be the way to go. You're correct that the cost
of the Casper 5 program is $59.90 (to be precise) - considerably more
expensive than the Acronis as well as other disk-cloning/disk-imaging
programs. We've never been thrilled with that aspect of Casper, especially
since that cost includes an additional $9.95 for the bootable "Casper
Startup Disk" (CD), an obviously essential component of the program, and to
our way of thinking should be included in the basic $49.95 cost for the
program. We have expressed our dismay to the developer over this and we're
hopeful that at the least the program to create the "Startup Disk" will be
included in the basic price of the program in the not-too-distant future.

However...

While the cost of the program is significantly more expensive than most
other comprehensive backup programs, in our view it's still well worth the
additional cost considering its overall effectiveness and the fact that one
will be using the program many, many times over the weeks, months, and years
ahead. We've introduced the program to many users (including former ATI
users) and I can't recall a single person who regretted his/her purchase.

But like most other things in this world, "yer pays yer money and yer makes
yer cherce".

2. I'm not entirely clear on the info you provided in your first paragraph.
There are really no terribly significant differences between the pre-XP OSs
and the current XP OS in terms of the basic disk-cloning/disk-imaging
processes. The fact that you "don't know much about NTFS or WinXP Pro yet"
is not of any major import re the topic we're discussing.

3. As to your comment that "I do want to be sure I can restore an image or
clone, when the C: drive is infected, when Windows is not running, and when
I have no internet access to help.", this should not be a problem with
either the Acronis or Casper (of for that matter, any other
disk-cloning/disk-imaging) program. That's what these programs are designed
to do. It has nothing to do with "internet access".

4. You say "I note that if a USBEHD is not running when I boot with its
start-up CD, Casper will not see that drive; maybe the same would happen
with Acronis?". I'm at a loss to understand that comment. Can I assume
you're referring to a situation where (using Casper as the example) you've
previously cloned the contents of your "source" HDD to your USBEHD which is
serving as the "destination" drive for the contents of your system? And now
(for one reason or another) your source HDD has failed and you're attempting
to restore the system by cloning the contents of the USBEHD back to the
internal source HDD (assuming the latter is non-defective), or a new
internal HDD that you installed in the event of the original HDD becoming
defective? Is that the situation you're referring to?

Assuming it is, there should be no problem using Casper's bootable "Startup
Disk" CD to access the Casper program and simply undertake the disk-cloning
process through that means. Is that not clear to you? Obviously you would
power-on the USBEHD during the process. How else could the system recognize
the USBEHD if it was "not running"? But perhaps I misunderstand your
comment.

5. As to your proposal to install three internal HDDs and use some technique
involving "swapping the drives about", frankly I find that methodology
rather awkward & unduly complicated in terms of establishing & maintaining a
comprehensive backup system, but if you feel comfortable with that approach,
that's all that counts. Again, when all is said & done, the objective is to
maintain as up-to-date backup of one's system as is practicable. Our goal is
to accomplish this in as simple, direct, & straightforward manner as
possible - and to do so reasonably quickly. It's for those reasons that we
prefer the Casper 5 program.

6. There's no question that those ubiquitous flash (pen, thumb) drives are
handy devices for "on-the-fly" backups, so I think you're wise to use them
for that purpose. They are not, however, the most reliable of devices in our
experience and should not be used (in our opinion) to serve as the *sole*
backup device for "mission-critical" data. Just peruse this newsgroup and
similar ones dealing with XP-Vista issues and you'll see what I mean.

Anyway, good luck with your approach(es) re maintaining comprehensive
backups of your system. As a general proposition you've made a wise decision
to do so; so whatever approach(es) best meet your individual needs should
surely suffice.
Anna


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Cant boot. Trying recovery console. How long to examine disk
    ... Acronis True Image Home will do. ... you'll be "cloning garbage to garbage". ... The disk cloning program that we greatly prefer is the Casper 5 ... I think that being the case, if one does NOT want to swap drives (which is a ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Acronis TrueImage 2009
    ... by using an internal HDD. ... restore a clone more quickly than I could wipe C: ... As I see it, Casper with the start-up disk, will cost U$60 whereas ... Acronis can do more than Casper but on common ground Casper is more ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
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