"Malke" <malke@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:%23q0yq1T0IHA.548@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> ...
> Imaging does exactly what it says: makes an image of a drive or a
> partition.
> The image is compressed.
>
> For more exact information about cloning and imaging, go to Acronis's
> website (which I already gave you) and read about it there. You don't have
> to purchase that particular program just because I like it; there are
> others. But Acronis has good information about the whole concept that will
> answer your questions more thoroughly than I can in a newsgroup.
>
> Backing up files/folders does not accomplish the same purpose as imaging
> at
> all.
> ...

It's worth bearing in mind that an image can be used as a backup of
files and folders too. One tool, both purposes. In TI, "plug" an image,
and you have a temporary virtual partition you can open and explore
just like your permanent one. In there, you will find the saved version of
a folder, or an individual file within a folder. I've used this technique
more
than once to restore a file or two. Good for data you accidentally
deleted or messed up, or for system files that have gone bye-bye, losing
you a driver or a dll. The only time overhead is in making the full-
partition backup in the first place -- but then you did that anyway as
good strategy.