CRN April, 17 2006 Mario Morejon
Original article on CRN web site
Acronis' Recovery Capabilities Are TrueAcronis True Image OEM solution offers an unparalleled disk imaging and disaster recovery solution that few competing vendors can match. True Image can create images using an extremely flexible device driver installation process and can restore images without using an operating system. Most disk image software only provides static snapshots of installed software, forcing white box vendors to build complex restoration procedures whenever components change in systems. Acronis True Image, however, can select drivers based on new hardware while restoring entire PC systems. Acronis True Image relies on a proprietary device driver recognition database that interacts with an operating system while restoring an image. The driver database tries to identify correct drivers of newer components. If the driver is not available on its database, Acronis True Image allows users to manually add drivers. For OEMs, Acronis True Image can create hidden partitions to store images of applications and an operating system in compressed form. To simplify restorations, Acronis True Image also uses an active boot process that runs independent of any installed operating system. While rebooting, users can activate a restoration by pressing F11. The process only works if hidden partitions were used and the Acronis boot manager was installed. Acronis True Image OEM also integrates with Windows sysprep, allowing users to create images using sysprep's resealing process. True Image has perhaps one of the easiest XP-styled interfaces of all PC-based backup utilities Test Center engineers have tested. The software provides wizards and a step-by-step process for all its features. Using a Acronis Secure Zone wizard, images can be secured to avoid corruption from an operating system as well as any new applications installed on PCs after a backup. Acronis True Image also can store multiple images as virtual drives using Windows drive letters, allowing users to view and copy images using Microsoft Windows Explorer. The software can unplug these image drives to avoid confusion whenever images are restored.
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