Several unique terms and phrases describe the features of software we review on this site, some easier to grasp than others. This list briefly defines terms relevant to Disk Imaging Software.

Ratings

Feature Set

We evaluated and compared the effectiveness of disk imaging tools and utilities in each software package, making it easier for you to find the one that best suits your needs.

Ease of Use

We looked for disk imaging software that was simple enough for anyone to use. Imaging software should be self-explanatory, right from the box or download so a computer novice can navigate and create a disk image on the first try.

Backup/Restore Process

Using the same computer and the same compression rate (or data to storage space ratio) we tracked the time required for each disk to backup the same set of data. Software that backed up data faster, without errors, received higher marks.

Help/Support

We examined and graded the disk imaging help files to ensure that they answered common questions. We also evaluated how easy it was to contact the company for customer service.

Features

Bootable DOS or CD-ROM

Bootable DOS or CD-ROM creation tools allow you to make rescue diskettes or CDs in case a computer becomes unbootable (unable to start on its own).

Image Explorer

Allows you to view backup images and select specific files or directories to restore.

Incremental Backup

A process used to archive only files that have changed since the last backup to reduce storage space and save time.

Deletion Capabilities

Sometimes it's necessary to erase old data; this feature lets you destroy old data with either a quick, one-pass method or a more secure, multiple-pass method.

Change SID

SID, Security Identifier, is a unique code that identifies a computer and its privileges in a network (a group of connected computers). Some disk imaging software allows you to change this code when you make an exact copy of a hard drive, since two hard drives with the same SID can cause errors in network communications.

Partition/Format Drives

Allows you to create drive partitions (divide your disk into sections) or format (erase) the entire disk using the disk imaging software main control screen. The ability to change partition sizes is useful when creating a clone of your hard drive to transfer to a larger drive, where you'll want bigger partitions.

Burn Backup CD/DVD

The backup copies directly to a CD-ROM or DVD instead of another hard drive. A CD or DVD burner is required.

Backup to Physical Partitions

Allows you to backup hard drive data from one specific section of your hard disk to another specific section, or partition.

Resizes During Restore

When replacing your old hard drive with a larger one, some disk imaging software can resize partitions while restoring your data, making the upgrade easier.

Verifies Data during Burn

To ensure quality, the disk imaging software checks accuracy while copying.

Multicast Deployment

Allows you to deploy (set up and restore) your backup copy on several computers at the same time.

Script Creation

Some imaging software includes scripting tools, or shortcut commands, that allow you to create small computer programs to produce images faster.

Backup/Restore

Virtual Disk

Simulates additional permanent storage space on your computer by taking advantage of convenient RAM memory. A virtual disk, or virtual memory, allows faster data processing and may eliminate the need for a boot disk (a startup disk).

Restore Individual Files/Folders

The disk imaging software can restore individual files and folders so you can restore only those you want instead of the entire system.

Self-Extract Images

An ideal feature if you're restoring a disk image to a computer at another location. Self-extracting images (computer copies) can start up and install on their own, without installing disk imaging software on the receiving computer.

Backup Settings

Hot Backup

Allows you to create backup copies without restarting the operating system.

Skip Auxiliary Files

The page information file (pagefile.sys) and the hibernation file (hyberfil.sys) can take up a lot of space on your backup file. Some disk imaging programs let you skip these files during backup.

Compress Backup

Allows you to select different data compression levels for data storage; some compression levels store more data, other compression levels copy backup data faster.

Split Images

Allows you to split the computer data image into several different files and manually size those files.

Copy Drive-to-Drive

An ideal feature to copy contents of an existing hard drive to a new hard drive; an example would be upgrading to a new computer. Instead of taking the time to duplicate the contents of the old drive a piece at a time, disk imaging software can duplicate the entire drive in one step.

Copy Byte-to-Byte

Allows you to create an exact copy of the entire disk or file. All the sectors of the disk are copied one byte at time, even the unused sectors. This requires more time to complete than a typical copy.

Encrypt/Password Backup

You can encrypt your backup and protect the copy with a password to make unauthorized access difficult.

Scheduling

Set Time/Dates

Automatically schedule backups daily, weekly, monthly or another reoccurring time period.

Task Editor

View and edit scheduled backup tasks.

Boot Disk Hardware

Network

A system of interconnected computers, at one site or several locations, that share data.

SCSI

A Small Computer Serial Interface (pronounced "scuzzy") connects several devices to a computer, such as external CD ROM drive or hard drive.

USB

A Universal Serial Bus connects devices to your computer at typical data transfer speeds.

CD-ROM

Compact Disk-Read Only Memory laser disc stores and retrieves data and resources from an optical disc.

DVD

Digital Versatile Disk or Digital Video Disk-a double-sided disk similar to a CD-ROM but with seven times the storage capacity.

Firewire

A device that connects scanners, hard drives, mp3 players and more to your computer at high data-transfer speeds. The connection speed is about 30 times faster then USB transfer speeds.

Supported File Systems

FAT 16/32

File Allocation Table, a disk file system that keeps track of all and partial files that are scattered throughout the disk. FAT16 file systems are found on Windows 95, and FAT32 files systems are found on Windows 98.

NTFS

NT File System (NTFS) is a file system more advanced then its predecessor, Fat32. NTFS offers improved performance and security for Windows NT, 2000 and Windows XP.

Ext 2/3 FS

Ext2 and Ext3 are journaled file systems; this means a record is kept of all file transfers, allowing safer data transfer.

ReiserFS

A Linux-based file system that logs changes to a journal or record; this works best with small files.

Linux Swap

A memory storage space that Linux uses like a virtual disk; this allows Linux computers to run extra-large programs and memory-intense tasks even if there isn't enough physical memory to do so. Using a Linux Swap is slower than using true memory.

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