what you need
What do you need to use/run DriveImage XML?
DriveImage XML can only be installed on and used to create drive images on a computer
that runs Microsoft's Windows XP, Media Center or Server 2003. If you use/run DriveImage
XML from a bootable BartPE or UBCD4Win
CD/DVD you can use it to create drive images of any version of Windows.
You need a place to store the drive image you create with DriveImage XML.
The drive image can not be stored on the same drive or "partition" that holds your
computer's operating system (OS) (Example: Windows 98, 2000, or XP etc.).
Standard installations of Microsoft's Windows stores the operating system on what
is labeled or identified as the "Local Disk (C:)" drive in "My Computer". The hard
drive installed inside the computer has all it's available storage space as one
large, contiguous area (called a partition). The following image shows what you
will see in "My Computer" if your computer is configured as a standard installation.
In this type of configuration you will want to create a disk image of the "Local
Disk (C:)". However, you can not store the disk image you create on this drive.
The following image is what you would see in "My Computer" if you had one hard
drive divided into multiple storage areas (partitions). You might also see the
same graphical representation if you had four separate physical hard drives installed
inside your computer. With either of these configurations you want to create a disk
image of the drive or partition that holds your computers operating system (usually C:)
and store the image on a different drive or partition.
What are your options?
- You can install an additional physical hard drive or use any other type of
drive that has the capacity to hold your drive image files. An external, portable
USB, hard drive is a good option for drive image and backup file storage.
If your primary drive fails (this does and will happen) you always have your
backup.
- Divide (partition) the storage area of your computer's hard drive into separate
sections. You might consider creating a partition devoted exclusively to storing
backup and image files. Most advanced computer users partition their hard drive
or drives. Two of the main advantages of partitioning (dividing into separate
sections) your hard drive include:
-
Isolation of what is stored on each partition (section) of the
hard drive. Example: You might create one partition to hold your operating system
(Windows 98, XP etc.) and applications. Create a second partition to hold your files
(MP3, video, spread sheet, database, Word documents, etc).
With this partitioning scheme if your computer develops a problem you can
restore or reinstall the operating system (OS) to the first partition. Your personal
files stored on the second partition will not be deleted or disturbed in any way.
You can store any disk image files you create with DriveImage XML in the second
partition. If you develop a problem you simply restore the drive image file
to the first partition that holds your operating system and applications
(usually labeled the C:\ drive).
-
Improved hard drive performance. Dividing your computer's hard
drive into smaller sections allows important operating system files to be located
and accessed more quickly. Install your computer's operating system to the first
partition (the fastest section of the hard drive).
The partition with your operating system on it will usually become fragmented more
quickly than other partitions. You can use Window's "Disk Defragmenter" to
"defragment" each partition separately as needed. You should defragment your
computer's hard drive on a routine basis. Your computer will perform faster and
with a lower potential for disk errors.
If you need to partition an additional hard drive or removable drive (USB) you
can use "Windows Disk Management" included with Windows 2000, XP and above.
To start Windows Disk Management click:
- Start button
- Control Panel
- Administrative Tools
- Computer Management
- Disk Management
How do I partition my computer's main hard drive with my operating system
and applications already installed? There are a number of different methods
and tools you can use to partition a computer's hard drive. The easiest method for
most of you will be to use specialized software like Norton Partition Magic.
Microsoft's "fdisk"
can also be used to create partitions on a hard drive. It is most often used when
performing a completely new installation of a computers operating system. It will
delete all files stored on the hard drive. Your computer will of course no longer
operate. Norton Partition Magic allows you to create partitions without loosing
anything stored on the drive. You can also move, resize, split, or merge partitions.
Make sure you backup your important files before you create or modify any
partitions on your hard drive.
You may want to create redundancy by storing a copy of your drive image on both
a separate drive or partition and a DVD. DVD burners are inexpensive and a DVD
should have the capacity to hold a drive image of most standard Windows installations.
DriveImage XML does not provide the functionality to write/burn your drive image
directly to DVD or CD. You must create and store your drive image and then burn
it to CD/DVD. Note: If you don't want to buy a second new hard drive you can
purchase used drives on the Internet very inexpensively. You might consider using
a second hard drive as a dedicated backup drive. NOTE: You must restore a
drive image (created with DriveImage XML) to a partition or drive that is the same
size or larger than the original. You do not need to format the destination drive
or partition before you restore a disk image to it.
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