EBME Forums Forums Free discussion Free discussion Creating a hard drive image

I am trying to create an image of my laptop harddrive (windows 7)It has been going for 7 hours and is only about a third through. Is this normal? I have used about 10 Gig worth of DVD discs.

Patience Grasshoppa!

Got half way yet?

This is not something I would ever bother with myself, but I am aware that it can take a while.

But it also depends on how much of your drive has stuff on it, which imaging software you are using, and what options you have enabled.

For instance, back in Ye Olde Days (it would have been circa 2003), I recall Norton Ghost backing up a drive with around 6 GB of used space in about ten minutes, using "normal compression", and about fifteen minutes when "high compression" was selected.

Also ... are you sure that nothing else is going on in the background whilst the imaging software is trying to do its stuff? That is, is something else accessing the disc? If so, that will be bound to slow things down considerably, I would have thought.

Care to share with us why you have elected to pursue this heroic course, Paul?

Hello Geoff,

The reason I'm doing this is because my desk top pc completely crashed and it's costing me 25 quid to have Dell send me my recovery back up disc.

Best wishes

Paul

Sincere expressions of sympathy are hereby proffered.

And here is some advice to follow that (and not too cryptic, I hope):-

GNU/Linux!

PS: is it done yet?

I have aborted the process now while I have a rethink. I have backed up all my files (music,images etc)and I was supplied with the Windows 7 operating system disc by Dell, so should be ok. I may have a go using an external hard drive.

Best wishes,

Paul.

Yes ... a pause for reflection often pays dividends. I sometimes get those "Eureka!" moments whilst pretending to be asleep in the middle of the night. The trouble is I then just have to get up and put my latest genius idea into practice!

Meanwhile, I've just had a few of hours of ... er, frustration myself (not entirely unknown). But I think I've cracked the bugger now (hope I'm not tempting fate by saying that ... that has also been known, as well)! Time for another cup of Quick Brew, I reckon!

By the way, Paul ... you're not using Ghost, then?

And lastly ... can I assume you know about the \I386 directory? I'm not going to say any more about this, less I get accused of leading the more timid in our midst astray and into murky waters. But if need be (and as usual) all may be revealed by a visit to Mr.Google.

Hello Paul,

Which software package are you using for creating the image?

No I am not using ghost. Windows 7 has a utility which allows you to create a system image without the need for additional software.

No Geoff you can’t assume I know about the 1386 directory!!

On my way to Google!

Best wishes,

Paul

i386

Saw the Thread title on the home page and knew immediately who started it.
Best advice from your collegues is let someone else sort it out. You and computers don't mix!
BTW have you ruined any more recipes this weekend!
Why have you got to pay Dell for your Recovery discs, i didn't?
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