New with True Image - Couple basic kinda questions ???
Hi all,
Im new with true image 2010.
I have a couple basic kinda questions that some more novice users could probably answer pretty quik if you don't mind. This will help me decide if i'm going to buy the program or not.
Let me start by explaining simply my main reason and use i want for the program (and of course since using it will use for other basic reasons and features as well but....)
Mainly because i am a company and i am also a pretty good novice when it comes to computers and tech stuff and pretty much know what i am doing real well but.. Lets see.. OK mainly because lets say you have system errors and most of us know a lot of time to diagnostic those error and fix them take 2-3-4-5 hours when how i have all my systems set up and backed up pretty well and often. I normally just reformat the computer as it's faster and easier a lot of times. Plus since i use HP and we have recovery partitions drives built in. So anyways..
I just used the upgrade to switch to Win7 and well as we all know that is a BS process to go through every time. Basically have to go back to vista then run the upgrade again. As my factory OS is vista. So im trying to figure a way out since i can not put the Win7 on the recovery drive for an easy way to reformat like normal.
So best bet is to use a ghost image right after the upgrade of win7 that i can fall back on with a clean install so to speak, if i have to reformat. Which in my case i seem to do like every 3-6 mths anyways or maybe longer sometimes .. so anyways. Since the repair disc in the backup and restore section of Win7 i have created but that doesnt really doesn't do it plus the actual "create a system image" feature doesnt work to well on Win7 when using the upgrade way. this is like the only way we can make it work like a so called recovery partition for the win7 so i dont have to go threw all that crap each time and go back to vista and run the upgrade again etc etc...
Best way and a good trick actually if any of you need to or want to do it this way as well to save you a little time.
so anyways here are a few questions i have.
1: What is the best way to burn to disc a complete sytem image so i can reformat/restore to day one of Windows 7 install that i do ?? As through the program it only seems you can backup the image of C drive to an external.
or where you can back it up to main C drive as well in your folders but then it advises you to burn to other removable media but the file is in one file and like 35gb so cant burn that to disc obviously. So whats the best way ??
2: On the DiscCleanser, it claim and says it will permanently delete the partitions and all the partitions data. Well my question here is. Is that referring to ONLY the ones the programs makes or will it try and remove and delete my factory recovery partition drive as well and the data on it or others i have ???
3: Where does the Secure zone create the partition automatically at ??
as it says before use when you go to set it up it creates it automatically.
4: also same question as above but with the one-click backup. ?? As when i clicked that it tried the same thing and said the same thing but also actually opened the Disc drive like to enter a Disc but said on the program it self it was creating a partition 9then opens the drive automatically) so how does that work exactly. What does it do, both ?/ creates one on the drive and burns to disc at same time or what ???
5: the File shredder, almost same question as #2. Does it mean destroy ALL my files and folder if i click it and go through it, or only the ones i have backed up just so there is more room for bakups ??
I wanted to ask these first before i even tried them just for safety reason so i didnt click them and it start deleting stuff and screwing me all up right off the bat.. lol. Better safe then sorry. and really with those wordings.. lol Plus because when i clicked a few others it seem to start RIGHT AWAY making partitions and didnt ask me where and seems to be trying to create them in sports they shouldnt be or that i didnt want them.. so i canceled the process right away as soon as i seen that it was trying. then even noticed on the main home page of program all of a sudden after that also had a new backup showing under "recent back ups" with was labeled "system backup"
which i didnt actually even make or make yet. It cam from when i clicked that one-click back up then canceled it as seen it was trying to make that partition on its own real fast and i canceled it real quik.
I have only made one so far. Which is a Backup >> backup wizard >> Cdrive >> stored to my docs folder.
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Thanks in advance for any and all help or ideas / pointers with this above. as i need to know asap and fast because im trying to do this as exlained as like a fresh clean install back up of a fresh install of the win7 upgrade .. so i haven't even installed my programs back or personal files. Which i need to do asap as well. so i need to figure this out and do the backup so i can get back to normal and put my stuff back on then make another backup as well with all my stuff and programs back on. that way i can fall back to that.. but more important.. so if needed i can fall back to like its a fresh upgrade/install of win 7. instead of going through that whole reformat proess to fatory vista then also the damn whole upgrade process again as well.
Thanks again. As i need this and any help or answers as fast as i can get them.
PS` sorry so long..lol. But wanted to make sense and so others could see the idea. Maybe useful for others as well. It's kinda common sense also but easily passed by and not thought of this way to make it work like a recovery drive (so called).
Thanks. =)
Hi thanks for the input.
Yeah i have a external HD, a few of them.
that is what i will be using but as explained. I want to back up complete system image as soon "right after" the fresh upgrade. That way it kinda makes up for a so called system reformat r recovery but to the start of windows 7 upgrade install and with nothing else on it.
then i will of course make another one once programs and personal files are added back.
As i back those up with my person files as it is already on my external HD.
im pretty much only going to use this for that reason to make to image right after the upgrade process so i dont have to go through all that crap of reformatting back to vista first then go through the whole upgrade process again.
So once i do do this. I can just recovery right back to day one fresh upgrade install of win 7
So i haven't even added my extrl HD or any files or anything yet. As im waiting to do this and take care of it so i can make that backup or image so i can fall back on if needed. Before i go copy over or install all my stuff back on.
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also i already made a back up as said above.. but also want it on disc as well as i plan on coping that one over to my extrl HD as well but just incase have it on disc as well. thing is as i also said above. That file the way the program does is to big and of course we all know cant go on disc that way. So as you didnt answer really those question or that question either but... That's what i need to know as well how to set it up or change settings so that it can split that up so it can fit on discs as well.
Kinda seemed like on the one-click it was trying to or wanted to do it on disc.. but just seemed weird how it was auto doing it so that's why i also asked about that part as well.
I think i checked out the link your talking about but ill check again. I don't think it answered or mentioned anything about what im asking on these parts at least above.
Ill check again right now tho
Any other help or answers for anybody to come are much appreciated as well.
oohh and i also already did the boot rescue feature. Did that first thing. Didnt try it tho to see if works as wanted/needed to take care of the main issue here first and get that image backed up before i can or want to do anything else so it like stays as a fresh upgrade/install image.
edit:
Plus didnt think i will really even need that. as if i wanted to so call reformat with this after upgrade image. To like start fresh with a win7 install. i would / could just recover using that backup file into the restore part of the program. Dont think i would really need the rescue boot
I started using TI when XP came out and BU at least once a week that image to another drive or 2 for my insecurities fix, I never want to reinstall another OS the second time. With a fresh OS like Win7 I make 3-4 images a week so I’m able to have different clean/fresh images to fall back on in a year or so. Having a few 1T drives I make “C” drive around 40G and the rest for “stuff”. An additional thing I do is use todays full image BU and put it into another drive to make sure it works and use it for a few days and image that one and continue that process of testing the BUs. This even though each image is validated.
oohh and i also already did the boot rescue feature. Did that first thing. Didnt try it tho to see if works as wanted/needed to take care of the main issue here first and get that image backed up before i can or want to do anything else so it like stays as a fresh upgrade/install image.edit:
Plus didnt think i will really even need that. as if i wanted to so call reformat with this after upgrade image. To like start fresh with a win7 install. i would / could just recover using that backup file into the restore part of the program. Dont think i would really need the rescue boot
That's precisely the point of the bootable Rescue cd - to be able to restore an Image that was previously made, whether it is an Image made right after your fresh format/reinstall or an Image made at any point afterwards.
So you have to make sure it works by seeing if it will boot. If it does, do a "dry run" and see if it will let you choose an Image for restore. Stop at the point where there is a "Proceed" button otherwise the restore will overwrite your system drive.
If u register your program at the Acronis site you can download the ISO file of the CD recovery disk and burn it.
Volia- now you have a CD without having to install TI on your fresh Win 7
You could do this from another PC if needed
I would not trust discs to backup my data. I would use drives
oohh and i also already did the boot rescue feature. Did that first thing. Didnt try it tho to see if works as wanted/needed to take care of the main issue here first and get that image backed up before i can or want to do anything else so it like stays as a fresh upgrade/install image.edit:
Plus didnt think i will really even need that. as if i wanted to so call reformat with this after upgrade image. To like start fresh with a win7 install. i would / could just recover using that backup file into the restore part of the program. Dont think i would really need the rescue bootThat's precisely the point of the bootable Rescue cd - to be able to restore an Image that was previously made, whether it is an Image made right after your fresh format/reinstall or an Image made at any point afterwards.
So you have to make sure it works by seeing if it will boot. If it does, do a "dry run" and see if it will let you choose an Image for restore. Stop at the point where there is a "Proceed" button otherwise the restore will overwrite your system drive.
oohh ok. i think i seen what you mean but.. i am kind of referring to where i reformat where my system is still bootable and all. like say 6 mths goes by and i just decide after an install of a program or something that my system starts being a little slow or messes with something that i dont have to to hunt down and fix that but the system is still bootable that i can just open TI and run the backup image from the fresh upgrade/install to be able to go back to that starting point. Kinda like a reformat so called but with my win7 OS.
See what i am trying to say ?? or another example: like just 6 mths from now my system is slow or something or acting a little weird and i feel like just reformatting. i can do it the way im explaining as like i do now or before. if it starts running slow or gets a virus that i don't have time to look up or remove (if AV programs don't remove for me or something) then i just do a fast reformat instead. its easier to do that a lot of times then to actually take the time to hunt down and fix the problem.
So basically are you telling me that we can not restore the image we back up by just using the TI program and load it and restore ?? That we have to use the bootable rescue way to do it ??
Thanks for the help and feedback. any on the other questions / subjects i also asked above ??
Thxs =)
If u register your program at the Acronis site you can download the ISO file of the CD recovery disk and burn it.
Volia- now you have a CD without having to install TI on your fresh Win 7
You could do this from another PC if neededI would not trust discs to backup my data. I would use drives
Cool. thats a REAL good idea of this matter.
thxs i have and i will check it out and see where that is. Plus if it will work. Which it should =)
Cause like in this case. i would as i just did have to do it this way in these steps.
(Note: this is steps start to finish to get to the point i need to be at for this here to what im trying to do)
1: reformat back to vista
2: do all updates
3: run win7 assistant
4: run win7 upgrade
5: run win7 updates and HP updates
6: install IT, run it and back it up. All up, complete "c" drive.
then if something was to happen "real bad" -or- just if i felt like reformatting one day just for the heck of it to be back at so called 'factory' but it win7 upgrade. I could just do it this way, to get back to like a fresh install of win7:
1: open IT and run/open my restore backup file
2: be back at the fresh install of Win7 upgrade.
That's it.
See what i mean ??
oohh and of course besides that above. i would use the bootable features or rescue if needed if that was ever to happen as well since i have the program and all of course but... My main reasons isnt really for that circumstance.
or am i confused here some where here with how the program and/or features work ??
i didn't think need to use the rescue to do it i am thinking that can just use the restore from right inside the program itself and open my BU file and so called reformat back to fresh upgrade win7.
Sorry if sounds a little confusing or that i am as i have been looking and reading into other programs as well so i have quite a few different ones in my mind and thoughts that work different ways so... but as i said above is pretty much how i want/need a program to work so i can do it that way.. or any other better way if possible to make it work like im needed.
Wish i could just make a recovery partition win win7 on it like my factory HP vista and how vista sets it up like that.
I had thought you didn't want to do step 6 in your list.
That is why I suggested downloading the CD
If you don't mind installing TI on your clean Win 7 install then you can create an image from running the installed programme.
Note that when TI restores it restores from a Linux environment NOT a Windows OS if the disk you wish to restore is the system drive which it is in your case. Whether you start from the programme in the OS or the CD it boots into a Linux environment to do the work. The drivers are usually not as efficient as the Window driver especially for very new hardware so it can be slow to save and restore
Given that you are only going to do it once to get a clean image I would do it from the Boot disk to make sure it can read your hardware from the Linux environment. Make sure you validate the image after you make it. I would backup the complete drive.
As suggested I would then go though the wizard to try a restore up to the Proceed screen then cancel
NOTE THE PROGRAM DELETES THE PARTITION/DRIVE FIRST SO ONCE YOU CLICK PROCEED WHAT IS ON THE DRIVES IS TOAST!!!!!!!
THIS MEANS THAT IF ANY HP RECOVERY PARTITION THAT YOU USE TO REBUILD VISTA WILL BE GONE SO MAKE SURE YOU BACK IT UP AS PART OF THE DRIVE BACKUP IF YOU WANT TO RETAIN IT ON THE DRIVE.
Usually people are advised to make a test restore to a spare drive to make sure everything will work when needed but that may not be able to be done in your case
See this helpful advice which refers to a HP machine with a recovery partition
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=218533
Important
I don't know what will happen to the HP recovery system if you try to install Windows 7 over the Vista partition. Remember the MBR of the drive is most likely modified so you can boot to the recovery partition to reinstall Vista. This may get wiped when you install Windows 7
Check with HP
Thanks Tatou for the input and help so far.
Yes i already have installed the upgrade of Win7 and it does not wipe out the recovery partiton at all. thing is that way when and if need to reformat from win7 you can go back to vista using the recovery drive.
i also did like your idea of the iso boot cd. All though i do not like the idea of it being a linux environment at first. As i kinda really dont care how it has to be done whether it's cd boot to restore (after back up so can restore win7 upgrade install) so yeah from a disc or an HD. easiest would be best of course. thats why i was thinking if i could take and burn a backup to disc (but it only backup and replace the main system OS and not mess with the recovery partition) as when i did the first backup i only backed up the C drive thinking it would only wipe that one out and restore it and not mess with the recovery drive at all. that is also why i asked one of those other questions above about the partitioning feature where it wipes out the partitions. i asked that for that exact reason.
but anyways back to the main part here we are talking about... yeah i don't mind either way, disc or EHD.. but would like if i could and the program can.. do it by just backing it up on a bootable disc so that if and when something real bad complete failure i could just load the disc and back up right to point for fresh clean win7 upgrade state. OR for any other reason like for whatever just one day want to reformat because maybe running slow lately or something i could just open the program and load my backup file and restore to that same fresh upgrade win7 install point.
So basically like right now. It is nice and fresh install/upgrade still. so make 2 backups. One for disc bootable just incase and then one file that i can open up with the program and restore to that upgrade win7 point.
make sense ??
You only have to make one image and store it somewhere other than on the drive/partition you are restoring to
Then you can decide whether you are going to run TI from the installed TI on Windows 7 or the Boot CD
I am not sure you can make a bootable disc that contains the Linux OS and TI that you can insert, boot and have restore automatically to the partition
So what does this program do then basically... 3 main important questions for me.
when you first run the program and do the rescue media disc. What is that exactly and what does it do and/or also back up and the same time when you first create it ??
also are you all saying that it can not restore from the program and only a bootable or rescue and not just by loading the back up file for the C drive and restore it right from inside the program by doing the backup, creating the file, placing it in the default directory which is inside your doc folders (or where ever you decide to put it) and then opening the program up, licking restore, loading that file and click restore ???
also the fact of what you said that it will not just do that C drive only that if you try that and restore it will end up erasing the factory recovery partition ??
i don't understand either why and how it is and would do a linux system at first as i dont want that on or near my system just to be able to back up and recover.
So what does this program do then basically... 3 main important questions for me.when you first run the program and do the rescue media disc. What is that exactly and what does it do and/or also back up and the same time when you first create it ??
also are you all saying that it can not restore from the program and only a bootable or rescue and not just by loading the back up file for the C drive and restore it right from inside the program by doing the backup, creating the file, placing it in the default directory which is inside your doc folders (or where ever you decide to put it) and then opening the program up, licking restore, loading that file and click restore ???
also the fact of what you said that it will not just do that C drive only that if you try that and restore it will end up erasing the factory recovery partition ??
i don't understand either why and how it is and would do a linux system at first as i dont want that on or near my system just to be able to back up and recover.
So what does this program do then basically... 3 main important questions for me.when you first run the program and do the rescue media disc. What is that exactly and what does it do and/or also back up and the same time when you first create it ??
Some basics - sorry if you know this
You have one drive with two partitions C and D (HP recovery)
You have your Operating System on your C partition. You boot from the C partition and the OS Vista loads
You run True Image from Vista. It allows you to create an image of your single drive and store it on another drive while your Vista is running. It is stored as a large file called a Tib file in the place where you wish. You can copy the file wherever you wish. It is best stored on an external drive.
You run True Image from Vista. You make what is call a rescue disk. It contains a copy of True Image and a copy of Linux. It is bootable. I will explain what it is for later.
You wish at a later date to make your drive exactly the same as when you made the tib file.
You have two options.
(a) Run True Image from the Vista OS so you can point the programme to where the tib file is and tell it to use the information in the file to make the drive exactly as it was i.e restore the drive
HOWEVER YOU CANNOT RUN THE ACTUAL RESTORE PROGRAMME UNDER VISTA FROM THE VERY DRIVE YOU ARE OVERWRITING AS THE OS IS DESTROYED SO THE DRIVE CAN BE REBUILT FROM THE TIB FILE.
So after you point to the tib file TI loads a Linux environment into the RAM of the PC and runs from there restoring the image to the drive. When it has done this you can reboot and you should be back to the original state of the drive. NOTE i HAVE NEVER DONE THIS. I USE OPTION (b)
(b) You can boot from the rescue disk into Linux and from that run True Image. You then select the tib file you wish to restore and the programme deletes the information on the drive or partition selected and recreates what is stored in the Tib file.
OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN'T LOAD THE TIB FILE FROM THE DRIVE OR PARTITION YOU ARE RE-CREATING
ALSO NOTE THAT THE DRIVE AND PARTITION LETTERING SYSTEM IN LINUX IS DIFFERENT FROM WINDOWS SO IT PAYS TO NAME THE DISKS AND PARTITIONS SO YOU CAN IDENTIFY WHICH IS THE CORRECT ONE TO RESTORE TO.
also are you all saying that it can not restore from the program and only a bootable or rescue and not just by loading the back up file for the C drive and restore it right from inside the program by doing the backup, creating the file, placing it in the default directory which is inside your doc folders (or where ever you decide to put it) and then opening the program up, licking restore, loading that file and click restore ???
See above explanation
also the fact of what you said that it will not just do that C drive only that if you try that and restore it will end up erasing the factory recovery partition ?? i don't understand either why and how it is and would do a linux system at first as i dont want that on or near my system just to be able to back up and recover.
You can just save the C partition and restore it alone if you want to. You don't have to image the drive
There is an option c as well. You can create what is called a WINPE disk. This is a cut down version of Windows on a bootable CD with True image on it. You boot it just like the Linux disk but it loads Windows. BUT BECAUSE YOU DID NOT BOOT FROM THE VISTA DRIVE YOU CAN RESTORE THE TIB FILE TO IT.
There is information on the GroverH sticky about this
You run True Image from Vista. You make what is call a rescue disk. It contains a copy of True Image and a copy of Linux. It is bootable. I will explain what it is for later.You wish at a later date to make your drive exactly the same as when you made the tib file.
You have two options.(a) Run True Image from the Vista OS so you can point the programme to where the tib file is and tell it to use the information in the file to make the drive exactly as it was i.e restore the drive
HOWEVER YOU CANNOT RUN THE ACTUAL RESTORE PROGRAMME UNDER VISTA FROM THE VERY DRIVE YOU ARE OVERWRITING AS THE OS IS DESTROYED SO THE DRIVE CAN BE REBUILT FROM THE TIB FILE.
So after you point to the tib file TI loads a Linux environment into the RAM of the PC and runs from there restoring the image to the drive. When it has done this you can reboot and you should be back to the original state of the drive. NOTE i HAVE NEVER DONE THIS. I USE OPTION (b)
(b) You can boot from the rescue disk into Linux and from that run True Image. You then select the tib file you wish to restore and the programme deletes the information on the drive or partition selected and recreates what is stored in the Tib file.
awesome, thanks. Those two answer basically exactly what i needed to know and was trying to ask.
OK so it doesnt actually install linux then it just boots and runs it from the drive only to be able to have an OS to run the program with.? Good deal.
Yes im using it with win7 not vista but i get what your saying.
Yeah i also dont need to or really want to do the whole drive. Just the fresh clean upgrade install of win 7 so i can fall back on that exact spot if and when i need to instead of restoring the whole thing back to vista then go through that darn upgrade process again.
Ok not sure if this was asked or covered yet here but.. can this back up same as mentioned above and what you have explained but.... can it do it to disc instead of EHD ????
As i would want and need the function for them split up that bakup file so can fit on disc.. that way i can do a backup on disc (and be able to restore from there as well) and also on my EHD's. So that way i have 2 copies of my backup spot there basically.
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I normally would just run the new win7 image feature or backup feature but.. They do not work correctly plus i would have to do the upgrade process to begin with to even be able to run those that it makes as vista doesnt have that feature of course so.. defeats the purpose.
Thanks again =)
See Tatou:
Just for your general knowledge to know. This is what im talking about with that feature i posted about.
http://www.sevenforums.com/performance-maintenance/36783-create-system-…
Alot of other having the same issue. Not just posted in this thread but.. a lot of other threads on this site and more.