Thread: Creating image backups

Creating backups

There's a slight risk involved in working with partitions. Therefore, it's prudent
to create a backup image of the system partition in order to be able to recover the original status of the system in case of an emergency. There are various methods to do this, and it all depends on the size of the Windows partition in question.

UP TO 5 GB

For system with partitions sized less than 5 GB, use the SkyDrive service provided by Microsoft that comes with 5 GB online storage space, which can also be password protected. Open up the Web browser and navigate to the site. If you don't have an account, you'll need to register for a Windows Live ID, which includes your Hotmail account ID. Click on 'Get Started', and sign into your account. Create a new 'Personal Folder' by clicking on 'Create a folder just for you' link and limit access to this folder to 'Just me', or make it public to share with the world.

The main drawback to SkyDrive is that the file size is limited to 50 MB, which means that you can't directly upload the image of your hard disk, it has to be split. To split up the backup image file into individual 50 MB files, use any file splitter including H DCleaner. Fortunately, Paragon Software's Drive Backup comes with a module that creates a backup and splits it into smaller ones all at the same time. So, install Drive Backup from this month's DVD. Open the program and select 'Tools Settings Backup image options'.



Check the option 'Enable image splitting' and the BackUp Wizard. Select the desired drive to backup and follow the steps in the wizard. Once the backup process is complete, it's time to save the Windows partition on the Internet drive. Open up your personal folder in SkyDrive and start uploading the 50 MB sized files to the online storage space. Note that the upload time and speed depends on the Internet connection available, and it's a good idea to let the uploading process happen throughout the whole night.

UP TO 100 GB

A removable external hard drive is best suited as the storage medium for partitions sized larger than lOG B. Now, reinstall Paragon Drive Backup and in the main application window open up the BackUp Wizard. Before you move on remember to uncheck the 'Enable image splitting' option, if the external storage device can hold the entire backup image.

TERABYTE GIANTS

The only thing to remember while creating a backup of a drive sized at 1 TB and above is to have an equally large sized external storage device handy to hold the backup image file. Otherwise, the steps to follow while creating the backup image file are similar to that for medium sized hard disks.