[UPDATE] Clonezilla 2.1.0-26 Imaging Program

[HAN]

If you backup your computer by creating system images to hard drives (NOT to CD's or DVD's), free Clonezilla is an excellent program to consider. It's fast, reliable, actively maintained and runs without installation. I have ran a few other imaging programs over the years and Clonezilla stands up to any of them I've tried.

The interface is a bit daunting at first but after running it a time or two, it's actually quite easy to use. I highly recommend it!

Basic Info
http://clonezilla.org/clonezilla-live.php

Creating an image
http://clonezilla.org/show-live-doc-...ave_disk_image

Restoring an image
http://clonezilla.org/show-live-doc-...ore_disk_image

Downloads
http://clonezilla.org/downloads.php

[fink]

Thanks for the info. It's a program I haven't yet tried but will. Can't have too many backups or backup options!

[Train]

With the CryptoLocker type mess floating out there, time to ^bump ^ this up. Another before it hits option!

[SpywareDr]

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CryptoPrevent

[Steve R Jones]

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CryptoPrevent

Link no workee. Part of it got filtered here.

[SpywareDr]

Let's try a bit.ly link:

CryptoPrevent

[HAN]

Just to clarify a little on Clonezilla, there are 2 Linux sources that provide the underlying OS foundation. Debian and Ubuntu. Both are stable but there are some minor differences. Thus the reason Clonezilla uses both.

Debian is older and more mature, but it also changes more slowly. The Clonezilla versions built on it have traditionally been considered the main builds.

That said, I personally have started running the alternative Ubuntu (saucy) builds. I have 2 reasons. First, the version of Ubuntu in the latest Clonezilla (currently 20131118-saucy) supports UEFI Secure Boot for x64 Windows 8/8.1 systems. The Debian version does not. (This is a BIG deal if you run x64 Windows 8/8.1.) Second, the Ubuntu CD boots a little faster for me than the Debian one. It isn't a huge difference but time is often short and every little bit is appreciated.

As pointed out above, if you have an external hard drive, this is a serious, well designed way to protect your investment.

[SpywareDr]

Thanks for the UEFI tip Han.

[Train]

Thanks for the update Han.

[HAN]

You're all welcome.

Just a reminder in case anyone didn't catch it...

Clonezilla is FREE!

[Train]

Got my 20131118-saucy cd made, now review http://clonezilla.org/show-live-doc-...ave_disk_image

Even got a new USB hdd to use.

[HAN]

Train: I think you'll like it!

With my Win 7 x64 Samsung laptop, I can image the entire disc (3 partitions) of approx 75 GB in about 36 minutes into a portable USB 2.0 HDD. (This is NOT running the image check which is on by default. Image checking essentially doubles the processing time.)

I have used only one other image maker that is faster. It takes about 32 minutes and it's $30.

I have verified that the x64 20131118 build of Clonezilla definitely boots for Win 8/8.1 UEFI Secure Boot. Something some pricey imaging programs still don't do (ShadowProtect from StorageCraft to be specific!)


One other thing I mentioned early on but bears mentioning again to anyone considering Clonezilla is that it is a "cold" imaging program. You don't make your images while in Windows. You boot up into Clonezilla and create (and if you ever need to, restore) images while Windows is NOT running. This means you never have to install anything in Windows at all. No extra resource gobbling services or processes! Which is pretty cool!

[Train]

I can tell you one thing, FX 8150 Using USB 3 connector is bunches and bunches faster than Turion RM72 with USB 2 in transferring the image.
Laptop is 3 hours 25 minutes so far into a 322 GB image making. LOL

Must say, read the applets real closely before selecting and hitting Enter.

Been playing with bootable USBs, Linux Lite, Puppy Slacko, Zorin OS 7.1 and Mint 15. Actually like them!

[Train]

USB 2 - 1.4GB/min
USB 3 - 6.5GB/min
But USB3 did slow down to 4.3GB/min when it hit the 288 GB of Graphics
Laptop took 3 hours and 45 minutes for the full 322 GB on C:\.

Disk to image rates as listed while running Clonezilla
And it does the whole hdd.
Must agree with HAN, nice program and works as advertized .