HDD Image - Ghost / True Image or any other ? Which is better ?

[din]

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Was testing hard disk backup softwares, was in need of a s/w that work for a 'very lazy guy' lol

I mean take full backup of HDD as image in mutiple DVD with auto-split the files

I tried Norton Ghost 8.02, 9 , 10 and 2003 and tries Acronis True Image too. Gonna try Driveimage XML but thats only for XP and Win 2K3 rt ?

From googling and from reviews majority says Ghost is considered as one of the successful products of Symantec and it is a pretty good software. But when I tried I couldn't find these

1. How to make a bootable media - CD /DVD using Ghost - mainly for lappy as it has no floppy drive ? True Image has that option, just click a button to make bootable CD /DVD

2. How to take complete backup images to CD / DVD with auto-split files. While using Acronis True Image, it is possible to take complete backup of HDD to DVD, the s/w will do auto-split of files and when it complete burning one DVD it will ask for next and so on. But in Ghost (complete backup to another HDD is possible, I saw that) I couldn't see that option, I mean I could select all partitions in one HDD and when I tried to burn it to DVD it burns like only one partition backup per DVD

Sorry, If you are confused. Lil more explanation

I have 10 partitions for my HDD. C, D, E etc. When I used True Image, It burns continuously, took 5 DVD for 10 partitions. But in Ghost it is taking like one DVD for C , another for D etc eventhough there is plenty of space in the DVD. Anything like a continuous option like True Image so that I don't need 10 DVD for 10 partitions ?

One more qn

I have a multi boot PC. One has 4 OS in that, that is Win 98, Win 2K, Win XP and Linux. Which is better for such a situation ?Ghost / True Image or Driveimage XML ?

It will be great if you share your experience and suggest the best option. I have gone through lot of reviews but need some comments based on experience

Thanks a lot - in advance

Note : I sent request to the mod to remove my post (same) form the s/w troubleshooting section

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[Ramakrishnan]

go for True Image. From your question itself it is clear that true image is very easy to work.

[Akshay]

True image is better suited for ur requirements. But also try HDGUARD:
http://www.hdguard.com. Though not as sophisticated n elaborate as trueimage, for instant recovery n ease of use, hdguard is the best.

[din]

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OK, I have just completed a small research lol. Downloaded and tested a bunch of apps. Found Ghost 2003 has the option of complete hdd backup to DVD with auto split (similar to True Image) and got ghost 2003 boot CD file form internet too. So that is also a nice option. Considering win GUI and ease of use, True Image is better I think, need to check for reliability though. Will keep u posted with my results

[nil_3]

Will you please confirm whether the installation disc(from which the Norton Ghost 10 is installed) is itself a boot disc or the boot disc comes separately with the installation disc?

[din]

Yes, that is correct

Norton Ghost 10 (original) CD is bootable. Same can be used for installation too. I mean install / boot / rescue CD is same

I think some of the download ver r not bootable. Original install CD is bootable for sure.

Unlike the previous versions (like Ghost 2003), I didn't see option to make image without install, in ghost 2003 etc, you need not install it in the PC, but norton Ghost 10, we need to install it to make image and need the boot/rescue CD to replace it (no option to make boot CD)

[slagad]

Ghost is the finest of all.

[nil_3]

How this boot disc works. Is it that if Windows is not booting(i.e. some system files in C: Drive got deleted) and if this Bootable Ghost Disc is inserted into the CD ROM Drive, I can restore the C drive from a previously saved image of Drive C?