Ditch the CD
Although TIHome is designed to use an external, Linux based recovery CD/DVD/UFD for restoration after a disk failure, there is a safer and more reliable solution available. Rather than installing a replacement disk after a failure, install a second disk prior to a failure. Once the new disk is in place, and the OS is running on the original disk, recover a previously saved TIHome image to the new disk utilizing WINDOWS. By manipulating disk settings in SETUP, the computer can then be booted from the replacement disk to verify that recovery has been successfully accomplished. Unlike booting from the recovery CD, the process can be repeated as often as necessary to get a valid alternate disk. And, to make the newest disk the OS source, use of SETUP and a switch of the data cables on the motherboard allow you to operate the replacement disk as the primary. Once done, you then have two up-to-date and proven bootable system disks, selectable through use of SETUP. By creating new images on whatever schedule the user chooses and periodically recovering in WINDOWS to the alternate disk, a perfect backup is always available without reliance on a chancy Linux based recovery that may not recognize all peripherals, or even run.
Perhaps you might be interested in reading about the procedure used by Xpilot. Check item 11 inside my signature index below.
GroverH, congratulations on your designation as Forum MVP. I have no idea how this award was determined, but you certainly have my vote.
I checked the XPilot reference and found that we both achieve the same result; a proven backup disk available for use in the event of a disaster without resorting to a restore to the failed or a replacement disk. Differences are: his disks are external, mine are internal; he makes a mechanical change out, I do it electrically by turning the disks off and on in SETUP; he uses the CD to do restores, I do it in WINDOWS; he apparently runs from the restored disk after a change out, I run from the alternate disk after a restore only long enough to verify full functionality and then revert to the primary disk for subsequent use.
... and periodically recovering in WINDOWS to the alternate disk, a perfect backup is always available without reliance on a chancy Linux based recovery that may not recognize all peripherals, or even run.
This is a good method made practical by the introduction of SATA drives and supporting BIOSs that give much more flexibility in boot drive selection than was available with IDE. It could still be done with IDE but requires more work unless you used Xpilot's caddy mechanism.
I have never been a fan of the Linux-based recovery CD and have written various posts saying it is the Achilles Heel of TI but if you demonstrate before a disaster that it works on your hardware it is a reliable restore mechanism.
From my soapbox: If you fiddle with PCs more than the average person, it is worthwhile to buy a couple of disk caddy/racks and stick in your desktop. It makes it so easy to change the boot drive for whatever reason, have a special drive for gaming only etc. This can be done without playing with the BIOS and having a large number of drive ports. You can even use Xpilot's method of image backups.
The second one makes it very fast to write data file backups, or to use as a first or second level storage media for image backups. The drives can also be easily completely removed from the PC for even more secure off-line storage.
Murgatroyd & JustPlainFred,
Thank you for your comments. More info about the MVP program can be found at the link below. The MVP program is in its infancy and you will see the MVP icon appear on other forum contributors as well.
http://forum.acronis.com/forum/8360
I would also concur with what SeekForever has stated. I am using an Antec Easy Sata hot swap caddie. No tray needed and make for easy swapping.
For storage of my backups, I use both other internal disks or a eSata Docking unit which works from eSata or USB connectors. Using MudCrab's DriveNotify program makes using an external disk very easy to use as a trouble-free backup medium.
The most important part of all of this is that the user has an ongoing procedure for testing to make sure their backups can be restored when a crisis arises.
In my opinion, the mistake most often made by a new user is that they do not create the Rescue CD and do not perform any type restoration to make sure they can actually perform a restoration. They have not proven that their backup strategy works. Sadly, there has been far too many postings where no restoration tests are performed. A crisis happens and they are unable to replicate their equipment for a variety of reasons--which include wrong type backups; all drives not visible to Rescue CD; corrupt archive, and the list goes on. Prior testing could have solved these issues in a non-crisis situation.