Whole drive backups

Posts: 2 · d7e7r7 12 Jul 2011, 22:38

Hi there,

I just want to check two things...
■ If one chooses the C: drive as the master drive and the root of another
drive as the mirror then can one then boot off the mirrored drive? If not, why
not?
■ IsFreeFileSync capable of copying files that are in use by the system?

Posts: 7523 · Zenju 13 Jul 2011, 12:34

1. No: FFS only copies files. For booting to work other "non-visible" data needs to be copied like master boot record etc.
2. Yes. If option "global settings->copy locked files" is checked.

Posts: 2 · d7e7r7 13 Jul 2011, 18:35

What is "non-visible" data?
Why can't FFS copy that as well?

If I get FFS to copy over my whole C: drive into a folder on an external drive
and then format and re-install windows on the C: drive, would it be safe to
say that I won't lose any data?

Posts: 7523 · Zenju 13 Jul 2011, 18:43

> What is "non-visible" data?
All data that is not files.

> would it be safe to say that I won't lose any data?
Depends on what you consider "data". You certainly won't loose your files. But
there is other non-file data like for example MBR, partition table
information, etc.

Anonymous 19 Jul 2011, 01:47

Hi d7e7r7

If you want to copy all your drive or partition inside it and not only files,
I sugest "Paragon Backup and Recovery Free", a drive imaging software.
You can see a small description, a review and the link to download it at:
http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/top-freeware-picks-category-editors.htm%23best-free-drive-imaging-software

I hope it suits your needs.
JAD