Review of Acronis True Image 7.0
Written: Feb 29 '04 (Updated Mar 13 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Reliable, EASY to use backup software that really works!!!
Cons: None!
The Bottom Line: If you are looking for easy to use, no hassle backups for your PC, this is the best, and I would recommend it to everyone!
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| kd7klq's Full Review: ACRONIS True Image 7 |
This is a review of Acronis True Image 7.0 software. I purchased mine via. instant download for about $44.00
Product Description: Simply put, this is software that creates an image of your hard drive, or if you want, certain partitions on your hard drive for backup purposes. It can also clone a disk should you need to transfer everything from one hard drive, to a different one in another PC.
I bought this product because I wanted a simple, easy to use software program that could reliably backup my entire system, and protect it even in the worst of situations, for example a hard disk becoming permanently damaged for some reason.
First, let me give you my experience with my use of this software. Installation was VERY simple, and during installation it lets you create a boot-up disk. You can also choose to create one after installation. You would only need this if the operating system ever failed to load. You could simply go to your BIOS settings when the computer first boots up, select your CD-ROM drive to boot first, and you can run a bootable, stand-alone version of True Image 7.0 which even contains the drivers needed to use your hard drive, and any other essential drivers needed to restore an image. It only took a few minutes to burn this recovery CD.
USING THE PROGRAM:
First, let me say that I bought an external 80 GB hard drive that connects via. USB 2.0 cable, and it worked flawlessly! When you create an image, it asks you which partitions or disks you would like to image, then it takes you to a screen where you name the image file (I named mine "backup"), and you select where the image is to be stored, I selected my external USB hard drive. It then lets you select No compression, Minimal compression, or Standard compression. I chose standard. It estimated that to backup both of my partitions, a total of 47GB of data on my 80GB hard drive, it would take 1 hour and 40 minutes. I then started the imaging procedure. (By the way, this software is great because it tells you exactly what it is going to do, and how it's going to do it.) Well guess what? It only took 50 minutes for all 47 GIGS !!! I was impressed. While it created the image, it had a status indicator that estimated how long it would take, and it was very accurate. It also gives you a horizontal bar graph indicator of it's progress. After you create the image, it gives you the option to VERIFY it. Very nice thing to have if you want to make sure that not only you HAVE a backup, but also assurance that the backup it created is GOOD, and it can be USED if necessary.
So does the software actually work??? Well, I wasn't about to delete my whole hard drive, and then restore it, but I did test it by deleting a document I typed in Word, and I did this solely for the purpose of being able to write about it in this review. I then attempted to recover the file from the image I created. Here is how it worked:
Step One, delete the word document. (I even emptied the recycle bin to make SURE it was gone!!!)
Step Two, start the True Image software, and select Explore Image.
-Note: When you select Explore Image, what happened is, it accessed my external hard drive where the image was stored, and it actually created a temporary drive letter for it, in my case drive J, it then lets you go through the files and folders, just as you would on your hard drive. It was JUST like exploring my C drive.
Step Three, right click the word document, select COPY.
Step Four, open the folder on your C drive where the original was deleted, right click and select PASTE.
Step Five, go back to the True Image program to dis-mount the image. (Since I copied the file I needed, I no longer needed to explore the image, so it got rid of the temporary Drive J.)
That's it!!! I started Word, and I opened the file I had just restored, and it was just how it was before I deleted it. PERFECT! I received no errors during the entire process, and to tell you the truth, it could not have been more simple. I am VERY impressed!!!
This product claims that you do not have to close all your programs or exit windows to create an image. It's true because I tested it, and it worked! I completely imaged both my partitions with several programs open. I am pretty sure the only reason you would actually need to exit the operating system is if you were restoring the whole operating system or part of the operating system.
This program also lets you create what is called a "Secure Zone", which creates a separate area (I guess a partition) on your hard disk for backup purposes. Should your data become corrupt, or unusable, all you have to do it reboot your computer, press F11 at the beginning of the boot process, and restore the image from the Secure Zone you created. This is a nice extra feature to have if your data somehow disappears or becomes damaged, but the hard disk is still useable. I have not tried this feature because I do not intend to use it for that purpose.
This program also has a feature that helps you add a new hard drive to your PC, should you want to install a second disk. Again, I did not test this feature.
This program lets you record to DVD media also. Instead of using DVD media, I bought an external hard drive, and personally, I think this is the best option for several reasons. If you buy a DVD writer, and all the DVD disks you need to create images of your hard drive, PLUS you have the hassle of inserting DVD disks over and over during image creation, all of these disadvantages disappear with the use of an external hard drive. The hard drive can be used over and over again even more times than DVD-RW, you don't have to keep buying DVD media, and it is faster. External hard drives are not that expensive. My 80GB ext. HD was only $150, and came with a $60 rebate, so total cost was $90. You can EASILY spend $90 on DVD media alone! Another advantage to using an external drive vs. DVD media, is that if you ever need to EXPLORE the image, guess what? If you recorded it on DVD's, you have insert, one by one, each DVD to open up the image, even if you only need to restore one file! With an external hard drive, everything is there, no disk swapping, no long waits, no frustration. Plus, the USB connection was fast, and just about every computer has a USB port, or can be inexpensively upgraded to use USB. (By the way, you can also use firewire hard drives with this software if you prefer it over USB.)
I will be honest though, if you still feel like DVD media is the best option for your personal backups, then go for it! As long as it works, that's what counts. I did not test it using DVD media, so I can't say how well it will work using it that way.
CONS: I haven't run into any cons yet. Everything worked perfectly, and everything was quick! If I DO run into problems, I will definitely update this review though!!!
Works Cited:
Acronis True Image 7.0 can be found on their website at:
http://www.acronis.com/products/trueimage/
The name of the company is Acronis.
Word, which I referred to, is made by Microsoft, which can be found at:
http://www.microsoft.com
(I just wanted to include this just to be on the safe side.)
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
kd7klq
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Location: Saint George, UT
Reviews written: 4
Trusted by: 2 members
About Me:
from Las Vegas, 25yrs. old
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