Intro to System Backup via Drive Imaging & Disk Cloning
Cloning programs offer the ultimate back-up protection .. should your hard drive fail (die) or your system become otherwise unusable. You can think of a cloning program as a digital insurance policy. By paying a relatively small premium up front, you're provided with comprehensive coverage should disaster strike.
Yet unlike conventional insurance policies, the protection offered by a Cloning program can be had for FREE. [See footnote #01.]
So nobody should be without a backup image (.. created with a reliable Cloning program).
NOTE » This guide is a work-in-progress. Last updated » Nov 10, 2009. Should be done in a month or so. These guides always take longer than expected.
RATIONALE OF BACKING UP WITH A CLONING PROGRAM:
You cannot prevent your hard drive from dying. (It's a statistical fact that a certain percentage will fail.) So it makes sense to prepare for the possibility, especially if drive- or system-failure will have detrimental effects on your daily computing.
INTENDED AUDIENCE » This guide is designed for those who are NEW to drive imaging. If you're unfamiliar with how a Cloning program works, it would be well-worth your while (I promise) to familiarize yourself with the benefits of this über-groovy technology.
CAVEAT » Like a conventional insurance policy, cloning programs also requires you pay up front. If you have no 'policy' (backup image) when disaster strikes, you're S-O-L. (Sadly outta luck.)
You can't purchase a policy retroactively, the day after a disaster. Insurance companies don't work that way; neither do cloning programs.
BUT! » If something *does* go wrong .. with your drive or system .. while you are prepared (which is what this guide is all about) you'll be able to restore your system .. in a matter of minutes. Sound rad? It is!
EXPERTISE » Here at Radified, we have — for many years now — specialized in the use of Cloning programs to back-up system-drives (where Windows resides, normally your C-drive) .. by creating an image-file of your system partition .. and storing this image on a physically-separate drive .. normally an external hard drive (for those with laptops), or a second internal drive (for those with desktop PCs). Imaging .. it's what we do.
BACKGROUND » the site became surprisingly popular after a similar guide was posted (back in 2001) on how to use Norton Ghost, one of the most popular disk-cloning applications.
TODAY » our members have experience with a variety of Cloning programs. As a result, we've gained insight into the pro's & con's of the different programs available. (There are many.) Along the way, we've provided support for thousands of users who've come seeking answers & solutions.
BEST PRACTICES » Over the years we've developed insight into the techniques that represent a Best Practices approach to drive-imaging technology .. since all Cloning programs employ the same basic principles.
FOR EXAMPLE » One such technique (which will be discussed in greater detail later, since it bears repeating), is to store your backup images on media — such as DVD or another hard drive — that is physically separate from where the image was created (« usually termed "the source").
If you store you image on the same physical drive (as many n00bies do), and that drive dies, you won't be able to use that image to restore your system, since everything stored the dead drive (all data & files) will be lost forever.
Power = Danger | Overwriting Partitions & Disks
Before we go further, you should be aware that cloning programs can be dangerous. The thing that makes them so powerful (» the ability to overwrite a partition, or your entire hard drive) is the same thing that makes them dangerous. (Think nuclear » Power = Danger.)
An errant click by a clueless n00bie can wipe out an entire hard drive. So you need to know what you're doing. Understanding how Cloning programs work will prevent you from making such mistakes, or at least make them much less likely.
THE BACKUP LESSON » Most people (myself included) learn "the backup lesson" the hard way. It's a painful lesson to learn. "A wise man," it has been said, "learns from the mistakes of others."
Be wise & learn from our mistakes .. by backing up your system drive with a cloning program .. before you get bit. A little backup savvy can save you much grief.
RAD FOOTNOTE.01 » Most Cloning programs are not free. The better ones (such as those listed in the red column to your right) tend to cost between $40 and $70 US dollars, tho sales exist from time to time. But some (such as Clonezilla) are free (open source).
The difference between free & commercial Cloning products? Primarily » ease-of-use .. via an intuitive interface. Also, many of the commercial cloning programs come with high-end features .. that you'll probably never use. And of course » professional support.
Are commercial Cloning programs worth the cost? Most definitely! My point » cost is not a barrier, should you lack the funds .. which is not uncommon these days, seeing how badly the economy suketh.
On the NEXT page, we'll look more closely at the question » "Why should I backup my system drive with a cloning program?" See below for linkage.