Backup and Restore software DriveImage XML: Review and features
Read what the free backup and restore software DriveImage XML has to offer to you in terms of features and flexibility to make your data and softwares save. Know the pros, cons and limitations of this software and see if this suits your needs.
DriveImage XML is a lightweight alternative to imaging softwares which are Free for personal use. With DriveImage XML, you can backup easily by just choosing a destination, a source drive or setting up the compression level.
DriveImage XML has made restoration incredibly simple if you have loads of data and you don't want to go through all that to shortlist the ones that are most important, then just important, less important and waste. Just get your favorite files, applications and configurations as soon as you are backup with the fresh copy of your OS.Key Features
DriveImage XML has proved itself to be an easy to use, reliable program ideally created for imaging and backing up logical drives and partitions. The program backs up partitions and logical drives to image files, allows the users to browse the images, view them and extract files as well. It restores images to either the same or a different drive, copying directly from drives to drives.
The Image creation option uses the Microsoft's Volume Shadow Services (VSS), that allows you to create safe hot images even from drives which are currently in use. Images which are stored in XML files, will be processed with 3rd party tools, so that one can never get stuck with a cumbersome backup process. It keeps restoring images to drives that do not require a reboot. DriveImage XML can also be run from a WinPE boot CD-ROM.
For making it easy to use, DriveImage XML has got that built-in wizard that keeps guiding the users through each and every step of the operation. DriveImage XML simultaneously creates drive clones for easy backup of data and to save them. The interface consists of all the options that is required to run a smooth and speedy recovery and backup of data.
The software of the DriveImage XML backs up the entire drive including every kind of files. It allows you to browse the images, make drive to drive copies, restore them and schedule for automatic backup tasks. The restoration of the files is done without booting your computer, the usage of Hot Imaging Strategy creates drive images even when the partition is busy in use.
The options for creating the image are not many, but it is sufficient for the job which you will be doing. The Raw mode will result in creating a sector by sector image of the drive. That suggests that, each sector will be included in the process of imaging, including the unused ones.
There is a also a command line interface that let's you work through the old geek batch file way. If you know how to make batch files and work with them then you can fine tune the working of DriveImage XML to suits your needs better.
You can't backup a network drive but you can save the backup on a network drive. Otherwise for personal limited use, DriveImage XML works satisfactorily.
Pros
DriveImage XML with a nice and easy to use interface successfully creates a clone of the drive which you needed to be backed up. It is quite simple and efficient in processing the data that needs almost no effort from the user's side.
The Image browsing feature allows you to view the contents of the backup even if it has not restored it yet. Moreover one can choose to extract any file with utmost ease.
Cons
DriveImage XML doesn't go well with a Vista environment. Though the images got successfully created, an error announced the failure while initiating the Volume Shadow Service and was not at all assuring about the integrity of the image.
Another loose end in DriveImage XML is while reinstalling the OS. It wasted quite a length of time on re-patching, re-tweaking, and finally installing all the applications which are indispensable.
Apart from these, while extracting files in an image, one have to type in the saving path yourself, as they have not given any browsing option.Wrap Up
DriveImage XML is efficient, easy to use and Free. It does perform a great job by cloning sector-by-sector partitions and you may also make it clone only the used portions of the drive.
Those who are looking for a good drive imaging companion for XP, then DriveImage XML may be a good choice for you.
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