Need advice about drive imaging - Drive Image XML

by zolessi May 3, 2010 12:31PM PDT

Hello,
I think my OS is the only parameter needed to answer this - if that. I'm using XP and want to image my drive with DriveImage XML to an external HD. As I read through the instructions I cannot find an answer to a simple yet all important question:

The software, in this case DriveImage XML, is on drive C:. I back up to external HD 'E:'. Then for some reason there is a catastrophic loss of the C: drive and I can no longer boot to it.

That being the (hypothetical) case, how do you access the DriveImage software which resides on the C: drive to initiate a restore? Is there some simple exe file that now resides on drive E: with which to implement the restore to drive C:? There's no mention of it.

Currently the instructions talk about an XML file and a DAT file but I have no idea how to manipulate and use such files and I don't think they are intended to be executable files for a 'seamless' and easy restore.

If you can't access the software to do a restore how do you restore?

Thank you in advance...I'm going back to the instructions to see if I've missed something.

best,
Robert

Discussion is locked

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how do you access the DriveImage software which resides on t

by r. proffitt Forum moderator May 4, 2010 12:53AM PDT

"how do you access the DriveImage software which resides on the C: drive to initiate a restore?"

I didn't find a ready answer. Which means I'll share what I use today. CLONEZILLA is a bootable CD/USB stick and I can backup or clone (my choice!) to an external with ease. Restoring is not hard either.

Of course those that must use a mouse only and can't stand using the cursor up, down and pressing the enter key type interface may need to look elsewhere.
Bob

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DriveImage?

by zolessi May 4, 2010 2:39AM PDT

Thanks Bob,
I've heard of Clonzilla, perhaps I'll give it a look, but will wait for the moment to see what other responses I get. I also sent an email to DriveImage so I'm waiting to hear from them too.

I have no problem using the mouse...it's just frustrating when the Recovery Console, at the C prompt gives me a list of valid DOS commands when i type in 'help', and then for some reason those commands don't work. It's been years since I've had to go into DOS but with a little advice to refresh my memory I was pretty certain I was doing it right. I was even able to find everything on the hard I needed, I just had no means (that I know of) to make the backup work, so I did a complete new install of the OS; then did a restore with the Windows Shadow. It did not work, so I did another clean install and I'm now looking to use a third party utility to be sure the drive is imaged to my external HD.
thanks again and cheers!
~Robert

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Try a free bootable CD with all your recovery tools....

by germexpert Feb 17, 2011 7:23AM PST

I realise you're question was some time ago, but in case anyone stumbles upon this thread...

Suggest set up a boot CD - for example: www.ubcd4win.com - that has a suite of programs you need to re-format the troublesome drive and re-install the disk images that you created with DriveImageXML. When your C: crashes, boot from CD into the ubcd4win (interface is similar to windoze safe mode), load up the DIXML program and re-intstate the disk image (you might want to wipe or re-format the c:, or format and partition a new hard-drive first - plenty of tools in the ubcd4win to do that also)..

Works so well in fact that I have found it useful and easy - in times of viral infection or just windoze slowness - to simply wipe my OS partition and re-install a clean and working image through this process.
Perhaps there are better all-in-one systems, but I've used this process successfully many times and with quite little fuss.

Need advice about drive imaging - Drive Image XML

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