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O&O DiskImage 11
#1
Background:

With the continuous development of computers, information system and data, backup and restore become a very important feature for any computer user. It is now a must have tool which can save all your data if any problem occurs to you (for example system crash or viral attack). All of us have a lot of important data which may be personal, family, work and so on, all these data can be lost if there is problem in your computer. From this point, it is recommended to have a backup for all your data to be easily restored when you need it

Backup has two main types; system image and folders or files. Each of these backup types can be performed based on two models; the first one is backup of the files or drivers you want. In this type all contents you select will be included in the backup. The second one is “Changes or increments” which lets you save only the changes since the last back up done.

You can back up the whole computer, selected driver, any folders or files. At any time, you can restore these data in an easy way

Overview:

After the previous introduction, we have a very good backup software that can save your life in easy fast way. No more frustration about data loss. O&O DiskImage professional will help you to do backup of any files or drive you want in few mouse clicks. If you want to back up the entire computer, this can be done using DiskImage while you continue to use your computer.
The program supports SSD drives and the latest EFI and UEFI Systems.
System restore is very easy and fast and lets you easily get all your data. The program also supports a very good feature to duplicate or clone an entire PC or hard drive. You can even restore this backup onto a computer with different hardware. For example, if you bought a new PC, you can restore an old backup onto it.

Homepage:

https://www.oo-software.com/en/diskimage-backup-your-data

Current version: 11 build 61

Release date: July 6, 2016

System Requirements:

All windows versions are supported from windows 7 to windows 10. Both 32 and 64 bit versions are supported. The requirements needed for installation include 30 MB free hard disk space and 1 Gb free RAM.

Download and Installation:

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The program can be downloaded from the official website. You can download 32 or 64 bit versions according to your system. Installation is very simple, just double click on the installer and follow simple on screen instructions. In less than 1 minute you will have the program installed on your PC. During installation you have to specify whether you want typical or full or custom installation. The full package includes the virtual device driver and filter driver and requires the most space but offers you all program features. After installation, the first launch of the program will let you either purchase a license or continue the free trial or enter your license if already purchased. Free trial period of 30 days is offered which give you enough time to test all the program features before doing purchase. After the trial is over, you will need a license key to continue using the program. 

Purchase and Activation and online registration:

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You can purchase a license key on the official website for an affordable price. The license key allows lifetime use of the program with free updates. Major version upgrades are not covered in the license key terms and will need new purchase. After you complete your order, the license key will be emailed to you with all details needed to activate the program. Simple online registration wizard will appear and let you submit your details (including name and company) and license key (while connected online). Next you will be able to register online by submission of your email to be a registered user. As a registered user you will receive technical support, product updates and discounts. 

User Interface:

The main user interface includes 6 buttons. With the program launch, the main page is the “start button” which shows most of the program functions you need collected in the main page for easy access (backup, imaging, incremental imaging, restore, clone, create bootable disk).

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Application menu: this includes all the tools you will need for rapid access. For example, backup, restore, updates, express view, recent actions, settings and exit

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Drive Operation:

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File operation:

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Tools:

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Jobs and reports:

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Help:

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Language support: The program currently supports English and German languages

Features:
  • Backup an entire computer with the push of a button

  • Backup system and hard drives, clone drives and entire disks

  • Brand new file-based backup: now twice as fast as ever before – backup and restore individual files and/or folders

  • Direct creation of VHDs

  • Monitoring and warning of security risks

  • Incremental/differential backup: back up only the changes

  • Easily restore files, folders, drives and disks

  • System restore onto different hardware (M.I.R.)

  • Create a Windows Boot system directly from within the program with driver integration

  • Plug-and-play: Selected files and folders are automatically backed up and synchronized

  • New: High contrast mode support: improved support for high contrast mode so that objects on the monitor can be recognized more easily

  • New: variable pixel density settings: adjusts to the selected DPI setting of the connected monitor

  • New and enhanced functions Control via Command Lines

  • Supports Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7 and Vista


New features:

Command Line Interpreter which is able to run all O&O DiskImage features
The program new upgrade is compatible with the images created using previous application versions.
Support windows 10
Current technologies such as EFI/UEFI are also supported.
Backups can be made quickly from existing scripts that can then be adjusted dynamically.

Before we discuss the program features in details, let me first clarify some definitions and information we need to know. An image is a mirror or copy of your drive that includes all information taken from the original but the disk space required is less than the original.  Backup is a form of data image that includes only file information.

Now let’s discuss all features available in the program

The main function of the program is to create “System Image”. This image has many types according to what you plan to do. You can create whole system image which will include all files, folders and drives. Also, you can image a selected drive only.  This will serve as base image and you must do this especially when you first use the program. Thereafter, you can image only the changes which occur to your drive after the base image. This is called differential image.  Changes which occur to your hard drive after the differential image can be easily imaged. This image is called incremental image. The differential image will be your new base image.

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To start imaging, simply launch DiskImage and select “create one click image” if you want to create an entire system image. The button is present in start button menu or drive operation menu bar. You will easily backup your entire computer in a single click. You can also use “start drive imaging” if you want to choose specific drive. If you select all drives, you will have entire system image. Next, you will revise the information in the popup dialogue. You can customize the location to save the image (for example USB Flash drive, external HDD and so on). The program offers you some options such as adding comment to the image, validate the image, play sound when finished, shutdown or restart your computer after complete image. Finally start imaging. That’s all! The time needed to complete the process depends on the size of your drive.

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The selected activity can be added as a job to be completed later. You will be able to schedule the time of start of the job activity, the image name and path. Run commands on the target computer before and after the job.

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Incremental consecutive image files with the same base image can be merged together to be a new base image. The new image will be a complete one. The process is very easy. Click tools button, select incremental images merge option, browse to the images to add then start. The program lets you set some options such as the destination path, size compression, split the output file, and encrypt using password.

Imaging options:

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The program lets you set the imaging options according to your wish. You can change the imaging profile (5 profiles available; default, express, multimedia, archive and user defined). Other options include imaging method, size (for example you can compress the size of the image to save space or divide the image into smaller parts), and encryption of your image through password protection. After you have all options set, you can export these settings so that it’s saved and you can easily restore it later.

File backup:

This is a good built in tool that lets you easily backup individual folders or files instead of an entire drive. You can also do backup of the changes done after the initial backup. The process is very simple. All you have to do is to click file operation button and select file backup or file backup of changes then navigate to the file or folder you want to do backup. The pop up dialogue will let you revise the information of the process you plan to do, customize the save location and the more options in the same way as explained in the image process. Finally click start. The time needed depends on the file size.   

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File backup options are available and lets you specify the profile to be used (default or user defined), the backup method, the size of the backup file, split of the image file into smaller parts and addition of a password to encrypt your data.

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Image information:

DiskImage has a built-in feature which enables you to have detailed information of any image file. Simply click tools button and select image information from the toolbar. Browse to the image file you want to know information and open. That’s all!

Image file validation:

Image file can be easily checked for any errors with the help of this option. This is present under tools button. Simply browse your computer to the image file you want to check and click start. Damage can be caused by virus attacks or defective hardware. If you want to make sure that your image is created or restored without error, keep the validation process running until the imaging or restoration is completed.

The program has a very interesting feature called “DiskImage Writer”. This tool will help you to burn your image files to CD or DVD or Blu-ray. Please remember that the image file whether .OMG or .VHD must first be saves to your hard drive then burn to CD/DVD. Images can’t be directly save to CD/DVD. After selecting your drives for imaging, limit the image files to the size of your blank CD/DVD/Blu-ray. This is of help if the image size is very large. The image file will then be divided into several parts during the imaging process.
 The writer also helps you to easily create an ISO file and burn it to CD or DVD. All you have to do is to click “burn image files” under tools button menu bar. The pop up dialogue will offer you an easy to use wizards that will guide you during the process. You can also delete files from rewritable disk.

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Image files conversion:

Using this feature, you can convert image files (.OMG) format into virtual hard disk format (.VHD) and the reverse. Simply click “convert image file “under tools button, then select the source and target images types, add the file you want to convert (using add button), specify target destination, file size compression or split the output file into smaller files. In addition, you can add password to encrypt your data. 

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Virtual drives:

DiskImage will help you to mount drive from an image file on your computer using the built in virtual drive feature. The image file selected will be displayed in windows explorer as a virtual drive. This will help you to copy its contents to an external storage (for example HDD) but you can’t change or delete any of the contents. You can also mount an ISO file as a Drive. When you finish you can easily unmount the drive.

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Map Network drive:

DiskImage offers you the option to map your network drive for a specific network folder where you can easily store, organize and share of your documents. This is easily done with the help of a wizard which will help you to sign in for a service that offers online storage space.  You will connect to a specific website or FTP site through your browser and internet connection. Also you will select the drive letter and network folder. There is also a button to disconnect when you finish the process.

Drive checker for errors:

This is another good feature present under tools menu. It will protect you against any possible loss of data. This is done through analysis of the file system and data storage interface. The wizard will guide you throughout the process starting by drive selection till you have a full report

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Jobs and reports:

This lets you revise the saved jobs that you have created before. You can check (validate), edit or delete a job. In addition, there is a wizard which can be started to help create a new job. Also, jobs can be imported from a saved file or exported to a file to be restored later. The reports created during other processes can be checked here.

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New Job Creation Wizard in steps: (present in jobs and reports menu bar)

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Create bootable disk:

Using the program you can easily create a bootable disk that contains Windows PE and a number of other system recovery tools that can be used to try starting Windows without restoring from an image. This will save your computer even if unable to boot (for example due to software errors). The disc will make it easy to run O&O DiskImage without installation directly from a bootable medium. Also, you will have access to all available functions. If an image has already been created, you can use the bootable disk to restore an entire computer or a system partition.

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System restore:

This includes drive restoration and file restoration. This is very easy with the help of DiskImage. If you want to restore file, drive, partition or even the whole computer, simply use restore drive or file. Next you have to browse to the image done and open it. You can now select the drives or files you will restore. If you select all drives, you will have complete system restore.  Next select the drive or partition you want to replace with the version in the image. Follow simple wizards which will guide you till you have restore your system. There are advanced restore options that you can customize according to your wish and experience.

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Clone Drive:

This function allows you to clone a drive and all its saved data without creating image files. The source disks/drives will be reproduced without any changes. Of course this feature requires much more free space than an image. Entire storage volumes or individual drives can be cloned, which in turn can be used instead of the originals. When cloning your drive (source drive), the selected target drive, will be overwritten and all data stored on it will be deleted and replaced by the clone. You can restore the clone of your drive onto PC with different hardware. The feature has advanced settings that you can set.

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Program settings:

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The program is highly customizable to meet your needs. Settings button is present in the start menu. Settings include general, security, notifications, drive imaging, drive restoration, clone drive, file backup, file restoration, jobs and reports.

Pros:

Imaging of drives, partition or entire system
Differential and Incremental images that store the changes only
Check the image files and drives for errors
Mount drives from images
Burn image files
Easy system or drive restore
Clone drive
And many more

Cons:

None

Conclusion:   

The program is a must have backup software for all windows users. It makes backup and restore of your system an easy job. The program has a lot of added tools that will help you as virtual drive, clone drive, burn images,  validate images and check drive for errors. In addition, it is easy to use and available at a reasonable price         
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#2
Thanks for interesting review and nice job!
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#3
Thanks for this awesome review.
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#4
Good detailed review. 
Thank you.
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#5
Good review. It was interesting to read. Thanks tarekma7
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#6
Good review  Thumb
Thank you .
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#7
Perfect review! Thanks a lot. ;)
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#8
thank you for very detailed review Heart
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