Windows Vista Backup

Hi All,

My laptop suffered a nasty virus attack and I was forced to format the hard drive and start again. I used the Acer recovery discs which set the system back to its factory settings. This included Windows Vista, but as it was in February 2007. Next I had to download and install all the Windows Vista updates and of course reload all my other programs.

Now this is all done, can anyone recommend a good way (free if possible!) of making a backup recovery set of discs that would be a complete copy of my hard drive along with Windows Vista just in case this happens again.

Thanks.
aliens (Tony)

Not free - but I use Acronis True Image (Home Image 2009).

Normally quite a few cheap copies on eBay - but make sure you get the Vista version.

Hi,

Thanks, I will take a look on EBay. Will the Vista version also work on Windows XP as I have another laptop running Windows XP?

Best Wishes,
aliens

You might want to look at Macrium ReflectFree before going for a paid solution.

Just had a look at the box Acronis came in and it doen't list any system requirements, just says back up your PC.

Edit - The Acronis fact sheet for Home 2009 says :-

Windows Vista (all Editions) (x32/x64 SP1)
Windows XP Home (x32 SP3 / x64 SP2)
Windows XP Professional (x32 SP3 / x64 SP2)

Another Edit :-

The Macrium looks interesting, but it seems to indicate that File and Folder backup is not included in the free version.

Edited by deleted (Fri 07-Aug-09 11:01:11)

Hi,

Thanks, that looks quite good. Off to download that next!

Best Wishes, aliens

Hi,

Thanks for all your help.

I will download and try the Macrium, but maybe also need to think about buying Acronis?

Best Wishes, aliens

Before you decide take a look at Paragon Express, it's free and I've been using it for 6 months backups now. Can backup while doing other things and make a CD for restore when hard drive crashes.

Hi

Thanks, I will take a look.
Can you do a complete hard drive backup onto DVDs with this program?
Best Wishes, aliens

Not sure, I use a portable hard drive, best try it, it's free.

In reply to a post by aliens:

Hi

Thanks, I will take a look.
Can you do a complete hard drive backup onto DVDs with this program?
Best Wishes, aliens

Yes you can. Excellent prgram and lots of other uses via its CD backup system and also able to access any backups made to extract individual files if necessary.

Hi,

Is this possible even with the free version?

Have you tested this?

Best Wishes, aliens

you should always try to use the very best when it comes to making a disk image. this is probably one of the very best and is free if your quick
Paragon System Backup 2010 Release Candidate*
http://www.paragon-software.com/home/systembackup/

In the screenshots it says that the program expires on 3/7/2009.

Hi

Thanks, I am off to download it next.

Best Wishes, Tony

Hi,

Oh dear, I have just taken a look and yes, that is what is says. So I guess this one is not so good after all!

Tony

well i would download it as i am not seeing that my end

Unfortunatley it wouldn't suit my needs becasue of the system requirements (one hard disk with only one partition with at least 60% free space).

Sorry for the late reply. Yes the free package does all that, well at leats the one I got of a magazine some time ago. It was versin 9 Personal Special Edition. It even does incremental sceheduled backups.