Feature Set:  

DriveClone has nearly all of the features we were looking for, such as the ability to create restore disks, fast incremental backup, data verification, image splitting and more. It can compress files and resize partitions, even during restore. DriveClone can create mounted images that can be accessed through Window Explorer and it can also save multiple versions in project. Of course it also has a scheduler, you can view your logs and it offers password protection.

DriveClone is not, however, a partition manager per say; for that you will need a different program.

Ease of Use:  

This disk imaging program is incredibly easy to use, it has a crisp interface, with easy to understand icons and sections. All processes are clearly explained and you can easily backup music, video, image, email or data files quickly. FarStone even makes your pre-purchase decision easy by concisely explaining product features for all of their versions online. For example, they have a chart that compares the features of DriveClone and DriveClone Pro, so you can easily figure out which version is right for you.

Backup/Restore Process:  

As mentioned, this product can backup to any device, including to a disc, to a USB drive, to a virtual machine or even to another computer. It can back up at the file, folder and full disk level and supports all common file systems including FAT, NTFS, ReiserFS, Linux, EXT 2/3 FS and it works with IDE, SATA, SCSI, USB and RAID hardware.

DriveClone can easily create restore files for recovering your system and it can copy files exactly or compress them. Furthermore, it can split images and perform hot backups or hot imaging. It has an image integrity checker and can perform incremental backups.

Help/Support:  

This software has comprehensive, searchable support embedded in the program, and posts a user guide online. You can contact FarStone by email and online they post FAQS, patches and updates, and general support information.

We liked that they provide a money back guarantee and if you purchase and they offer a version upgrade within 45 days they will give you the upgrade for free. Otherwise, upgrades for the home version are less than $20 and if you purchase a non-supported version from another dealer, you can get the upgrade at a reduced price; nice.

They offer phone numbers for sales, but not for technical support. However, they aim to answer technical support questions for registered users in 1-2 business days.

We were surprised by this new addition to our disk imaging software review site, it is easy to use and works well. Even imaging newcomers can use this program without intimidation and can rest assured that they will always have the newest upgrade or version. Go ahead and try it out, FarStone DriveClone offers a free trial version online.