The Northern Echo

July 12, 2007

by Nigel Burton

Original article at The Northern Echo web site

Acronis^® True Image Echo^™ Workstation/Acronis True Image 11 Home

Back-up software isn't the sexiest program you can buy for a new PC but it could be the most important.

Acronis True Image from American company Acronis has been around for many years.

During that time it has matured nicely into the all-encompassing disaster recovery programme that you get with Acronis^® True Image Echo^™ Workstation.

After loading it on your PC, you can copy your computer (operating system and all) in just a couple of clicks. The resulting image can be stored on a hard drive, burned to disc or stored on a network.

Should your computer screw up, you can restore it to perfect condition in minutes.

There's no need to hunt down software discs, find serial numbers and restore personal settings - Acronis True Image handles everything.

Of course, Windows comes with its own system restore feature but, in my experience, this can prove unreliable.

Twice I have tried to restore a PC using Windows and twice I have been badly let down.

I have used Acronis True Image ever since.

Now, each time I buy or build a new computer I load the software I need, remove the stuff I don't, and image the resulting "perfect PC". Then I can tinker away, load try-out software and generally mess up, without any worry. Restoring it to my perfect configuration takes less than ten minutes.

Most shop-bought PCs come with restore discs these days which run along the same lines. But this back-to-basics configuration probably includes software you don't need and all your internet, electronic banking and eBay details (among many others) will be missing if you restore your PC to its factory fresh settings.

The latest version of Acronis True Image has several worthwhile additions. You can restore individual files, leave software out of a back-up and even clone a PC onto an entirely different computer.

Less than fifty quid is a small price to pay for total peace of mind. Acronis True Image should be an essential purchase for every PC user.