Yes, Acronis can boot and restore HD from the image it created. But, it is not free.
Thanks for replying.
Hello,
I've done a fresh install of Windows XP SP-3 followed by installation of device drivers, antivirus and updated my OS to current status.
My 160GB hard disk is 98% empty after all this, that is the space used is less than 4GB. It has no partitions.
I'll be grateful to learn, if I can store this "image" of the hard disk to a bootable DVD and restore the image to its current status without going through the entire fresh re-installation of the OS, Device drivers, antivirus and updating. (The whole process is exhausting - to say the least).
If one has such an disk image on a bootable DVD, the entire system will be restored with minimum fuss and least effort.
Afterall, the empty space of disk is occupied by few Hexadecimal FFs and can be stored in image as one number and multiple thereof to be re-written.
The imaging software, I have come across need an identical disk.
Please let me know how to go about it.
Thanks.
Note - I have tried to explain my problem to the best of my ability. Please ignore errors of language.

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