Best, Easy, and fail-safe Universal Restore/Dissimilar Hardware/Bare Metal OS Deployment

[child]

I want to make a Windows Universal Ghost (XP/7) for my machines. When I searched the net I found many softwares (a short list is listed below) I need the suggestions from the Expert/Administrator/Users that which method/software is good to use and which is not.

• SPAT6
  
• EasySysprep
  
• Universal Imaging Utility 4.7 (UIU4)
  
• Symantec System Recovery.
  
• Acronics Deployment Server.
  
• Acronics True Image.
  
• Active@ Disk Image.
  
• Drive Snapshot.
  
• Terabyte Image for Windows.
  
• Rollback Rx Pro.
  
• EAZ Solotion East Image.
  
• Farstone Total Recovery.
  
• Shadow Protect Recovery.
  
• EaseUS Todo Backup.
  
• CA ARC servo D2D BMR
  
• Macrium Reflect
  

and lots of more.........

[Blackchildcx]

Im not that kind of mastermind but I would choose True Image...There are more good options , but ATP is the most advanced solution for system backup! ;)

It has many xtra features and will keep ya system safe up to 99% (more is impossible).

Once set up is done thats it for a long time ;)

I would not recommand any snapshot solutions like RestoreIT2014 cause they use lot of hidden HDD space, claiming they would only need few MB!, what is not true!

please wait for more answers to come :)

[dcs18]

Acronis True Image Premium BootCD - works on dissimilar hardware and is reliable, consistent and surprisingly fast (can also cross-pollinate between GPT & MBR.)

[A.lemane]

1- image for windows (but u can do it using bootit bare metal (tosdt script ) )

2- EasySysprep (built in windows i guest )

[stylemessiah]

+1 for Acronis TrueImage

I use it all the time to clone images and deploy to a wide range of hardware...saves me a ton of work

[child]

Blackchildcx, on 15 Aug 2014 - 01:49, said:

I would not recommand any snapshot solutions like RestoreIT2014 cause they use lot of hidden HDD space, claiming they would only need few MB!, what is not true!

Snapshot solution are not for di-similar hardware..!!!

dcs18, on 15 Aug 2014 - 02:14, said:

Acronis True Image Premium BootCD - works on dissimilar hardware and is reliable, consistent and surprisingly fast (can also cross-pollinate between GPT & MBR.)

Yes, I prefer BootCD solution......

stylemessiah, on 15 Aug 2014 - 06:57, said:

+1 for Acronis TrueImage

I use it all the time to clone images and deploy to a wide range of hardware...saves me a ton of work

Thanks

A.lemane, on 15 Aug 2014 - 04:02, said:

1- image for windows (but u can do it using bootit bare metal (tosdt script ) )

2- EasySysprep (built in windows i guest )

Sysprep is not easy for old OS like XP........ there are many issues if XP installed on new hardware....

TBIFW + BIBM + TOSDT has complete solution but it need lot of time to configure... I have plan to work on it...... Do you have any experience about TOSDT?????

I remember few years back a person told me about Paragon..... He did lot of restores (dis-similar hardware) with that..... anyone have experience with it....????

[dcs18]

I remember few years back a person told me about Paragon..... He did lot of restores (dis-similar hardware) with that..... anyone have experience with it....????

Paragon is fast catching up - not catching up, but trying hard to (ATIP 2015 was another step ahead, for Acronis - as usual.)

You need to use others' suggestions only so as to shortlist your choices - what I say is completely useless to you since we are using Operating Systems which are radically opposite to each other.

The Acronis advantage comes into its own, across GPT / MBR disk management, especially for a Pro. - this advantage has no bearing on XP (for all you and I know, Paragon could be better for you.)

It is time for you to find out, for yourself - if for some reason you cannot yet make up your mind, the Polling Station is the ideal section to visit.

BTW, keep an eye on the upcoming tutorial, from none other than loco.Joe.

[A.lemane]

Blackchildcx, on 15 Aug 2014 - 01:49, said:

I would not recommand any snapshot solutions like RestoreIT2014 cause they use lot of hidden HDD space, claiming they would only need few MB!, what is not true!

Snapshot solution are not for di-similar hardware..!!!

dcs18, on 15 Aug 2014 - 02:14, said:

Acronis True Image Premium BootCD - works on dissimilar hardware and is reliable, consistent and surprisingly fast (can also cross-pollinate between GPT & MBR.)

Yes, I prefer BootCD solution......

stylemessiah, on 15 Aug 2014 - 06:57, said:

+1 for Acronis TrueImage

I use it all the time to clone images and deploy to a wide range of hardware...saves me a ton of work

Thanks

A.lemane, on 15 Aug 2014 - 04:02, said:

1- image for windows (but u can do it using bootit bare metal (tosdt script ) )

2- EasySysprep (built in windows i guest )

Sysprep is not easy for old OS like XP........ there are many issues if XP installed on new hardware....

TBIFW + BIBM + TOSDT has complete solution but it need lot of time to configure... I have plan to work on it...... Do you have any experience about TOSDT?????

I remember few years back a person told me about Paragon..... He did lot of restores (dis-similar hardware) with that..... anyone have experience with it....????

yep of course

https://www.terabyteunlimited.com/howto/index.htm

video : https://www.terabyteunlimited.com/videos/ifl/osdtool-sample.wmv

[child]

I remember few years back a person told me about Paragon..... He did lot of restores (dis-similar hardware) with that..... anyone have experience with it....????

Paragon is fast catching up - not catching up, but trying hard to (ATIP 2015 was another step ahead, for Acronis - as usual.)

You need to use others' suggestions only so as to shortlist your choices - what I say is completely useless to you since we are using Operating Systems which are radically opposite to each other.

The Acronis advantage comes into its own, across GPT / MBR disk management, especially for a Pro. - this advantage has no bearing on XP (for all you and I know, Paragon could be better for you.)

It is time for you to find out, for yourself - if for some reason you cannot yet make up your mind, the Polling Station is the ideal section to visit.

BTW, keep an eye on the upcoming tutorial, from none other than loco.Joe.

I am not limited with XP........

My machines works on Dos6.22, Win98, Win2000, WinXP, Win 7 (32bit).....

I am already using Norton/Symentec Ghost, Bootit Bare Metal, Image for DOS..... but as the old systems die and no drivers available for newer OS.... I am stuck because I can't upgrade OS. Last week I have bought two computers (386 and pentium 1) from old garbage and they cost me more than a re-furbished PC.......

using universal restore will shorten the field time......

I will test Acronis and paragon next week......

[Blackchildcx]

So which path do you choose now?....ATH boot diks?

[Blackchildcx]

Blackchildcx, on 15 Aug 2014 - 01:49, said:

I would not recommand any snapshot solutions like RestoreIT2014 cause they use lot of hidden HDD space, claiming they would only need few MB!, what is not true!

Snapshot solution are not for di-similar hardware..!!!

dcs18, on 15 Aug 2014 - 02:14, said:

Acronis True Image Premium BootCD - works on dissimilar hardware and is reliable, consistent and surprisingly fast (can also cross-pollinate between GPT & MBR.)

Yes, I prefer BootCD solution......

stylemessiah, on 15 Aug 2014 - 06:57, said:

+1 for Acronis TrueImage

I use it all the time to clone images and deploy to a wide range of hardware...saves me a ton of work

Thanks

A.lemane, on 15 Aug 2014 - 04:02, said:

1- image for windows (but u can do it using bootit bare metal (tosdt script ) )

2- EasySysprep (built in windows i guest )

Sysprep is not easy for old OS like XP........ there are many issues if XP installed on new hardware....

TBIFW + BIBM + TOSDT has complete solution but it need lot of time to configure... I have plan to work on it...... Do you have any experience about TOSDT?????

I remember few years back a person told me about Paragon..... He did lot of restores (dis-similar hardware) with that..... anyone have experience with it....????

Snapshot solution are not for di-similar hardware..!!!

of course, thats why I recommand ATI (Premium) :)

[smallhagrid]

One very simple solution for XP and earlier:

Leave most drivers alone EXCEPT - manually change HDD controller to generic IDE for main channel & sub-channels.

When cloning to different h/w after this all that is needed is to adjust drivers as it will boot fine on 99% of everything that I have ever seen.

This is how I've done it many, many times.

I've looked at & tried many of the ones you've listed in the OP and found that some are better than others but that mostly it was up to me to make things right BEFORE imaging if I want it to work on different h/w.

I also thought Universal Imaging Utility looked interesting - but given how they don't even show what it costs=>

(http://www.uiu4you.com/UIUPurchase.aspx)

It is likely ALOT & it's never shown up -around- that I have seen.

Easy Sysprep is a bit too...Chinese for me !!

(http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/42801-Easy-Sysprep-v4-0-2013-0109)

[Roy W]

:thumbsup: ATP!