HDD Disc Imaging Question

[MetalMetroid]

Hello, What is the very best and easiest way to create an image of my C drive.

I want to format C soon with a fresh install. After I get Steam, programs, window, and all my settings installed and configured, I would like to create an image of that onto my external HDD.

Why I want to make an image is so that later when I feel like starting over with a clean slate I could wipe C clean and install my image from my external backup onto C with all my settings and programs intact.

What would you suggest?

Thanks.

 

[umbolo]

Install Acronis True Image, great application.

 

[tuskenraider]

^^^ +1

 

[unhappy_mage]

DriveImageXML from runtime.org is also an option. It's free, so you can try it and move to something else later if you don't like it with no extra cost.

Whatever you use, make sure you can restore from bare metal if that's your goal.

 

[gjvrieze]

another vote for Acronis True Image

 

[MetalMetroid]

Hey guys, thanks for the info.

I decided to go with unhappy_mage's suggestion of DriveImage XML.

The thing is I have a problem. I went and made a backup of Drive C onto another HDD (M) and then did a restore onto another HDD (E). Both were previously blank. I used DriveImage XML for both the backup and restore.

So I wanted to test it out. Turned off my PC and swapped the "Real" Drive C for Drive E which is the restored exact copy of "Real" C. Boot and I get and error message stating that I need to insert a boot disc and press enter.

I don't understand. Shouldn't it just boot up like normal, am I missing some sort of boot data?

I'm sorry but my knowledge of this stuff kind of ends here.

 

[unhappy_mage]

That's strange. I would think it'd restore the whole MBR, but I guess not. Perhaps you need to recreate that with fdisk /mbr or whatever they're calling it these days.