Disk imaging is the process of making an exact copy of everything on your hard drive. Why is this better than backing up?  Well, when you backup you usually only backup your data files, email, address book, etc.  Almost all backup programs can’t make an exact copy of the hard drive because the files used to run Windows, etc., can’t be copied while Windows is running.  Also, for example, if your hard drive were to crash, you’d have to replace the drive, then install everything, including Windows from scratch.  You’d then have to do all of the updates to all the hardware and software and reinstall all the drivers.  This is a long and tedious process.  Even for the experienced, it can take several hours.

If you just backup data files, you have to make sure you backup all the folders your data files are in.  These folders can be all over the place, and many times when you install a new program, the data files you create with that program will be in a new directory, which you have to add to your backup program.

If you image your drive, you don't have to care where the files are located because the whole drive is copied, so you have the piece of mind knowing everything is backed up.

Also, when you just backup folders, you have to make sure you aren't using any programs which have any data files, email folders, etc. open, because they can't be backed up if the are open.  With the drive imaging, you can go on working and the program will backup everything, and the computer will not slow down appreciably during the imaging process.

I always make an image of a computer when I first get it and call it original image, then after I install all my programs and data files I create an image called first setup.  These images are kept separate from my weekly and monthly images, so in a worst case scenario, I can go back to a clean image.  Personally, I use an external hard drive, which is at the computer, and an identical drive which I keep in a safe deposit box.  I swap them once a week so that I always have images in a different location in case the house burns down or someone breaks in and steals the computer equipment.  I also copy all my software disks, software updates, etc. to the external hard drive.

If you want to try some new software you can run an image, then install the software.  Later, if you decide you don't want the software, you can restore your image and the changes the software made to your computer are completely gone.  The newer versions of True Image also have a module called Try & Decide which allows you to install software and then if you want to keep it, True Image will save the info to your computer, and if you don't want to keep it, the software will delete all traces of it.  This feature alone is superb.

Using True Image

NOTE: I'm updating this discussion on January 1, 2009 since Acronis, like many other companies, continues to upgrade to newer versions.  I actually started the discussions during version 8.  Since then, they have had versions 9, 10, 11 (9-11 are similar), and now 2009, 2020, and 2011.  Since the versions up to 2009 are basically the same, some of the discussion items remain the same, so you may see subtle differences in the screen shots, but the way of doing things is unchanged.  Only the 2009 version has major screen changes, so I will attempt to include it in newer discussions, if they are needed.  You can still compare the basic concepts from the old versions to the new one.  I personally liked versions through 10 the best.  They were straight forward and easiest to use.  Version 11 had issues with some RAID controllers and was not the most stable.  So far, version 2009 still has some bugs, so my favorite is still version 10.  That said, this page will provide links to other pages to accomplish using True Image for your application.  Now that you have True Image, or are contemplating purchasing it, you have to remember that the program is only useful if you use it!   I've experienced many customers not utilizing the benefits of the program after I have set it up for them.  As far as I'm concerned, this is the best, most useful and beneficial software since the computer was invented.  Everyone should be using it, particularly now since the price of external hard drives has dropped drastically.  The one thing I can't do is make you use it.

I hope everyone finds the information in this and the linked pages to be helpful.

Click here for information on mounting an image to retrieve individual files.

You can also setup automatic images, but we aren't going to deal with that in this discussion.  Click here for information on automatic imaging setup (creating Tasks).

Click here to get information on restoring your hard drive using True Image.

If you’ve done an image, which takes from 10 minutes to a couple of hours, depending on the computer and how the external hard drive is hooked up, the image can be restored in the same amount of time it took to make it.  When you are done, the computer will be exactly the way it was the last time an image was done.

You can also mount the image to retrieve files using Windows Explorer or any Windows program, since the image is mounted as another drive.  I prefer Acronis True Image software (click here for a link to their site).

There are other programs out there which will do the same thing, but True Image seems to work better and is easy to use.  The following explains how to do the drive image. Prior to starting the image, make a directory on the external hard drive to store your first image in.  I usually call it Desktop, Dell, Gateway, it really doesn't matter what the name is.

Now also make a directory and call it Desktop Safety, or whatever name you want. When you do your first image, save it to the Desktop Safety directory. This way you'll have a set of files which haven't been modified, in case your image were to get corrupted with viruses, spyware, etc.  I suggest you make a directory for weekly backups, and one for a monthly, or bi-monthly, or quarterly backup.  The reason again, if your weekly image ends up corrupted, you have a recent image to fall back on.  It usually holds true, if you plan for all the contingencies, nothing will go wrong.  Click here to go to version 9 screen shots.

Version 8

Start True Image.

Double click on Create Image 

When the wizard starts, click the Next button.
You can pretty much just take the defaults on all the screens except in the Image archive creation box where you will click on the first file of the previous image you created. Put a check in the C Drive check box, then click Next.  (If you have a newer computer where the installation software is on the D drive, you will also want to check that, along with the C drive.)
In the filename box, make sure the path to the external hard drive, or other backup device, is shown, and give the image file a name. I usually keep an image from when the True Image program was first installed as a safety. I put it in a separate directory (See above) on the external hard drive. That way, if an image is done at a later date and the image is corrupt, you can always go back to one that will work. You will have to reinstall any programs which were added since then and any updates to programs such as Windows updates and antivirus updates. Once you've created an image, you'll want to go to the external hard drive, the Backup directory, and click on the first image in the folder. Then you can either append or make a new image. You need to highlight Image 1, then click next to the 1 in the File Name box so the name shown doesn't include the number 1 (in this example, you make the filename just Gateway. Also, once you've done this, the filename you want will show up in the list when you click the dropdown arrow to the right of the File Name box).
Now when you go to the next step, it will ask if you want to append the image. I always set it up to create a new image, since you will end up with a lot of files if you append them.  If you have version 9 of the True Image software, the screens will look slightly different than shown, but the process is the same.
Although this picture doesn't show it, I recommend you click on Fixed size, then click the drop down arrow, then select 4.7 gig.  That way you can copy the files to DVD disks for safe keeping.  You should also go to the program setup and change this setting so it is the default.
Leave this set to Normal.
You don't need to put comments in unless you want to.  This would be used by a system administrator type person to identify the archive with information they may need.
Now you just click proceed to start the process.

Below are the screen shots from Version 9.

In version 9 you also have to capability to image only the folders you want.  We are still going to focus on doing a full image, so make the settings as shown on the following screens.

Version 2009 and 2010 screen shots

This screen shows the tasks and Log screen.  You can create tasks to run on a schedule and also create unscheduled tasks.  Other than a few cosmetic changes, task creation is almost identical to the older versions.

This screen show the Try & Decide option.  Once you start the Try & Decide mode, it keeps track of how long you have been using it, then when you click to stop, it will ask if you want to keep everything or revert back to the way the computer was when you started the session.

The rest of the features are much the same as previous versions, with a few cosmetic changes.  Version 2010 also has an online back option.

One last note:

It is very important to check, on a frequent basis, to make sure your images are working OK.  I suggest you set the backup options in True Image to verify the images, and, with Windows Explorer in a window, right click on the folder(s) where your images are located, drag them to the desktop, let go of the mouse button, and click on Create a Shorcut.  That way the shortcuts are in a convenient place to click on them and check the dates of the images.

Special note:

If you're imaging across a network onto a shared external drive, you will need to re-setup drive sharing whenever you swap out the external drive, click here for details on setting up drive sharing.  Remember if you have an external drive and you swap it out with another drive, you will need to re-setup the drive sharing each time.

If you have any questions or comments, click