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Thread ID: 138494 2014-12-08 20:35:00 Backup and Restore issue DeSade (984) Press F1
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1389758 2014-12-08 20:35:00 I am trying to create a reliable backup and restore process for a friend of mine's kid.
The kid is 10yrs old and technically competent for his age but has a tendency to try things and has bricked the machine more than once. I want a simple way for him to restore from a clean backup file to get him back up and running quickly and easily.

So what I need is this.

Backup/Restore/Clone software that does all of the following


Creates a image/clone of the entire C:\
Stores that image on a USB key
Creates its own boot disc on the same USB key as the image


Once this is done the restore process should be something like this


Machine OS is fubar'ed
The kid puts in the USB stick and allows it to boot the machine
The software used to create the backup runs and gives him the option to use the image file on the same USB key
The machine restores to the backup leaving him a clean working machine



Now I need software than can do that and I am willing to pay for it if necessary.
DeSade (984)
1389759 2014-12-08 22:30:00 Try Shadow Protect Desktop Edition, pretty sure there is a free trial. Alex B (15479)
1389760 2014-12-08 23:10:00 USB stick = poor choice for reliable backups
Use a USB Hard drive instead.

My suggestion : HardDrive cloning software
eg, LiveCD (Image@) , Seatools/Maxblast , or one of the many other freeware tools

Clone PC to USB HD
Make a bootable CD from the cloning software . Or a Bootable USB with cloning software on it
If goes foobar, boot from CD/USB, restore from USB HD
1101 (13337)
1389761 2014-12-08 23:35:00 What OS ? wainuitech (129)
1389762 2014-12-08 23:36:00 USB stick = poor choice for reliable backups
Use a USB Hard drive instead.

My suggestion : HardDrive cloning software
eg, LiveCD (Image@) , Seatools/Maxblast , or one of the many other freeware tools

Clone PC to USB HD
Make a bootable CD from the cloning software . Or a Bootable USB with cloning software on it
If goes foobar, boot from CD/USB, restore from USB HD


I don't have the budget for this to get a hard drive for it.
The pain point is the restore, I need a system that is pretty much plug'n'play.

That is I need the boot disk to contain the software for the restore as well as the image so basically an all-in-one deal.

Windows 7 Home Premium
DeSade (984)
1389763 2014-12-09 01:18:00 It is do-able.

What you are basically wanting is like the recovery DVD's that HP, Toshiba etc have but normally they are from a syspreped image so you have to add in user names etc - not whats wanted, you can do it like you wanted BUT theres a lot of mucking about for one image.

What does work - ( just tried it) Download Active@disk image Trial (163MB) from www.lsoft.net its in the download if you scroll down a little, DONT get the smaller one as it doesn't have the required program for the next step.


You MUST do It in the following order:

Install - open the Boot Disk Creator, make sure you have a USB drive with enough capacity-- Keeping in mind, depending on how much data is on the PC you'll need a large USB drive. Work through the wizard and make a Bootable USB drive.

Once you have the boot drive created, now either make bootable CD, and boot from that, or open Active@disk Image and make a full backup image / "Disk to Image" - aim the location to the same USB drive you made before. Once its done you have a USB drive that's bootable & the disk image folder as below- The disk Image is highlighted:

6072

Now boot from that USB drive, select " Image from Disk" point it at the same USB drive /Folder - and follow the wizard through.

If you get an error on booting from the USB drive saying something like wim file invalid etc, just hit enter and carry on.

Once its imaged back, reboot and remove USB drive at the same time -- all done, back to how it was :)

If it does what you want buy the software as the trial will run out.
wainuitech (129)
1389764 2014-12-09 01:46:00 Thanks Mate.
Will check out that procedure tonight.
DeSade (984)
1389765 2014-12-09 02:58:00 How I did it was as above, but used another spare drive to lay the image back onto.

I was looking at the inbuilt MS backup. While creating the backup was easy enough, the actual part to getting the USB Drive bootable /into recovery mode was going to take more work.

Had to use DISKPART -- Couldn't be bothered LOL.

Just an idea --- bbl
wainuitech (129)
1389766 2014-12-09 20:20:00 Please let us know how you eventually decide to do this.
It would pay to test it if poss, just put in a spare old HD if you have one. Occasionally disk images dont work as planned , the worst offenders are often non standard installs with
recovery partitons/bootloaders or wacky partioning . 90% of the time images just work though.

On todays GAOTD site , there are many suggestions of freeware software to try (better than todays giveway)
www.giveawayoftheday.com veaway+of+the+Day%29
1101 (13337)
1389767 2014-12-09 20:43:00 You may have any issue with the amount of data to be 'imaged' .
The HD might be full of games, photos, music ,possibly far too much to fit on a cheap 8G USB stick .
So you could think about partitioning the HD into 2, move the docs/pics/music folders to the 2nd partiton & just image the C:

The other way to do this would be Steady State/Deep freeze type of program , where the PC can easily be reverted back to its original state
. instantfundas . com/2010/09/5-alternatives-to-windows-steadystate . html" target="_blank">www . instantfundas . com
. spiceworks . com/how_to/show/31204-restore-on-reboot-with-free-alternative-to-windows-steadystate" target="_blank">community . spiceworks . com
1101 (13337)
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