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I'm a believer
and the cost of a partition imaging application....
PRICELESS!
If you used your Windows Home Server to restore you would have completed the process in less than an hour. I have had two HD crashes since I started using WHS, great product and very quick disaster recovery
That is exactly the point, Ryan. To show how much time a disk image or WHS image backup can save! 
I wish to add the Acronis True Image 11 application (Always in the recommended software section of every Dave's newsletter) has a TRY & DECIDE feature that I love. Yes, it is a little slow, but it allows you to install and test apps in a virtual environment. If you like the app you click KEEP and the software is integrated into your computer. If you decide to DISCARD, then a quick reboot and your computer is back to where it was before. SWEET! Acronis has really nailed it on the head with True Image 11...get it..it is only $50 and worth every penny.
Dave, you DA man. Takes me at least 24 hours to set-up from scratch including BIOS tweaks.
Did you say resource hogging Adobe Acrobat when a number of excellent free alternatives exist for both reading and writing pdf’s.
1st the horror!
As I will show after this I have Acronis true 11 on my PC. My wife however did not have it. Now this is where the sick joke comes in. Because she had no back up and only the supposed rescue disk form HP her system was just waiting for a disaster. Ended up the disaster was me. I tried to install Acronis on the laptop. For some obscure reason the program said an older version ( not on this planet and definitely not on this laptop) was installed on my laptop and could not proceed without a reboot. Action! reboot. End of story, No reboot. Crash! Why I am still working on it? Suffice to say that not having the program installed when it first arrived ( at that point it was True Image 9)as I usually do for myself I am now without away back in. Or not at this point anyway. Regardless if I had been as diligent with her laptop as I am with my PC she would be up and running.
This program should be mandatory for all computers. I've tried Norton, non commercial and other image programs but none that compare to true image. All I can say is, "Damn my eyes" for not doing sooner what I should have. If I had done so like the three or four times I crashed my PC she would be up and running so fast you'd never know there was an issue. Man do I hate being this dumb.
I use True Image 11 and previous to that have used the same product from version 8 to the newest True Image 11.
Two ways it works. You can image your drive by using a DOS like window or as they call Startup Recovery manager. It uses a portion of either the boot drive or second drive, even USB external drive by creating a partition that can be used by hitting the F12 key when booting the computer. Or you can make a backup on a drive and use the tools to make up an emergency disk. Actually I use both. I like to be covered.
Hope this helps. Thanks for the great newsletter.
Stanley, VERY sorry to hear about your trouble. May I suggest that you use your recovery CD to make an image of the drive before you do anything else! At least you will be able to pull her files, docs, pics, some settings, off of the image if you have to re-install.
I became a believer after having to reinstall most of what Dave listed on more than one occasion! I purchased Acronis #9 at a great price, immediately imaged my three separate drives (two internal, one external)made the proper recovery disc, etc. Of course now all drives are running well, but as all computer users will discover, it is now if your drive will fail, but when! BACK YOUR DRIVES UP!!!!
By the way, I am a great believer and user of System Restore as well. Saved my bacon on many
blunders.
I dont have a backup program and would like to know if Acronis Drive Image is easy to use. I know I need one badly but have hesitated to put out the money for something that is beyond my knowledge of computers. Thanks for the help.
