Why should a PC user know how to create a hard disk image? Of course, in order to, if necessary, make a full recovery of the system, including lost data, and not just the operating system. To create an image of a hard disk, you will need one of the computer programs specially designed for this purpose. For example, this can be done using Acronis True Image Home.
To get started, you have to download and install the above program, the latest version of which is located, for example, at this link http://openprog.ru/acronis-true-image-home and install it on your computer. It's free. Having wondered how to create a disk image, you should take into account the fact that you need free space. For example, a disk image can be saved on one of the disks of your personal computer. Or create this image on DVD discs.
So, Acronis True Image Home is installed and running, how to create a disk image, what are the next steps for a PC user?
Step one: You need to go to the main menu of the installed and running program and select the button "Backup" in it, after which a menu will appear that includes other submenus. You should choose - "Backup disks and partitions."
Step Two: In the "Archived Partitions" window that opens, you need to select a hard drive or partition. How to create an image of a disk or partition on which the OS is installed? In this case, you are advised to check the option of archiving in sector-by-sector mode, while taking into account that more free space is needed. The estimated archive size you will see below in the same window. All, click "Next."
Step Three: A new window has opened and now you should mark "Create a new backup archive" if you need to create a new archive and copy the disk image to it. How to create a disk image to add it to an archive that was created earlier? In this case, it should be noted - "Add to the existing backup archive."
Using the "Browse" button here, you should select the folder in which the disk image archives created by the program in question will be placed.
Fourth step: If you chose the archives storage location yourself, and did not agree with the default one, then in the new window that appears, you need to select the desired archive storage, disk, folder. Earlier it was said that CD / DVD discs can be used for storage, with the ability to record information on them, of course. Accordingly, the DVD drive must be a recording - DVD-RW. You can also store created disk images on the Internet storage server.
Now, using the corresponding button, create the archive name, select its format and in order to save these and others proposed by the setup program, click the "OK" button.
Step Five: After all the previously done manipulations, you will see a newly opened window - "Summary". Here you need to check the name of the created disk image archive and its location. If there is a need or your desire, you can use the "Options" button to configure additional copy options or change the settings that were previously set. Archive creation will begin after the PC user clicks the Proceed button.
In fact, after reading the above information, any user of a personal computer and even a child who can read, type on the keyboard and "click" with the mouse will understand how to create a disk image and can perform all the necessary operations practically.
After clicking the “Proceed” button, the actual creation of the disk image archive in automatic mode occurs. At the end of the process, you will see a window informing that the operation was successful, and in another window, after clicking "OK" you will see relevant information about the newly created image of the hard disk or one of its partitions.