Free Disk Imaging

Hi I am looking to use some disk imaging software for personal use. At work we use Ghost/RIS.

But I am wanting a product that can take a disk image of Windows XP/ Windows 2000/Windows 2003 OS and then be able to write that image back to a new HD in the same machine. Ideally I would like to leave the main OS running while creating the image file.

I am wanting to use a USB hard drive to store and restore the images.

I am aware of xxclone and DriveImage XML.

Can anyone recommend either of the above, or perhaps suggest another product.

Thanks,

monkeyx

I'm not sure about keeping the OS running while the image is created, I'm not even sure its possible, although I stand to be corrected on that one.

As for other tools to do this, burn yourself a copy of the Ultimate Boot CD from http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

There are areound 8 or 9 different hard drive cloning tools, atleast one of which can do Drive-to-Drive.

Hope this helps.

We use DriveImage XML and have experienced no problems with it. Can image from OS drive to another drive whilst in the OS - we do it all the time.

The only way you can keep the OS running while you move/copy it is with something like VMware Server GSX.

I use DriveimageXML and its so easy to use. I use it on a BartPE CD and a BartPE RIS setup.

It works, the only thing it really lacks is multicast and command line options

Using a Boot disk you can use MediaTools to image a drive 1-to-1, in windows you can use WinHEX or EnCase to exactly copy a drive to image file, image file to drive and drive to drive.

Ping is something I ocassionally use at school. I'm not sure how well it takes to USB though.

Thanks for all the suggestions and help.

I did have a leaning towards DriveImageXL, but will also give Ping a try now :)

VMWare Converter can create virtual PC images of windows while its running. I'm not sure if there is any ways of then deploying that image back to the PC tho?