i just wanna create a recovery disk including my windows OS with all the drivers and softwares installed as of now, it should be exactly like the recovery disks we get along with a laptop.pls help me how to create it, i just installed Acronis True Image, but confused how to create it.. someone pls help
Just select the partitions and backup to a Image file. Make sure you choose customs options, max compression and file split of 4.7 Gb/ 1 DVD each.
After the image files are created burn them to DVDs and label the numbers.
Next, you need a Acronis True Image bootable CD/DVD which you would have got with the software or atleast as an ISO.
Burn this to a CD/DVD too.
Next time you need recovery, you just need to boot the Acronis Recovery from this CD/DVD and then choose the image file from the 1st DVD backup and keep putting the next DVD when asked.
Usually can take about 15 mins for a basic XP installation with drivers and std. software to recover and about 2 DVDs suffice.
Search for an ISO called “hiren boot cd”. It’s around 200mb in size.
Here Hiren’s BootCD 10.1 - www.hiren.info
The ISO if created through acronis setup has an issue. I suggest you do not create it. Instead download hiren and burn it to a cd. It has acronis and 100+ other tools.
so how to back up my c drive? for that use acronis itself? 
else how about using norton ghost?
There is nothing easier and better than Acronis, so go ahead and use it.
And there are no issues whatsoever with boot CD created from Acronis. 
Both Boot DVD as well as boot USB drive work very good.
I have done numerous restores from backup written to DVDs and never has it failed. Windows 7 with all basic softwares and hibernation switched off takes 2 DVDs. 
Be assured that Acronis will work perfectly. 
this step can u explain in detail? i downloaded the software and installed…
go to start>all programs>acronis>acronis true image>bootable rescue media builder
and follow on screen instruction to create either an iso image or burn it directly to disc…
Google search for “Acronis Loader Fatal Error : boot drive (partition) not found press to try to boot your OS”
I have the CD still laying around and it won’t boot on my PC but boot’s on other PC’s. I deleted all partitions and remade them and still i get that error. I had a talk with the acronis staff and they have no idea why it happens.
Anyway, like i said, download an ISO called hiren boot cd. It has all the tools and even acronis enterprise edition in it. Works awesome and never got that error again.
Just some imp info for those interested.
+1 for hirens
i am trying to back up my c drive, i have just upgraded my system to win7 , drivers and some apps installed in my c drive , but ,ma c dive is 24 gb used up space…why is it so? if i am backing it up it would end in more than 5-6 dvds ! ! !whereas when i backed up my vista with same drivers and apps using HP Recovery disc creation utility, it was just 3 DVDs… is windows 7 uses up such a lot of space??
If your using Win 7 use the inbuilt backup tool to create a recovery disk. It does a great job creating an image for later restoration.
I’ve heard good things about Acronis, but personally I’ve used Norton Ghost version 10 to 12 and it’s always served my purpose well. Simple interface and the backups tested have always worked well.
TIP - Always check the backups (verification process in the software) before considering them ok. Also once verified, actually use the HDD image to test it out. You’ll get familiar with the process and plus you’ll know whether your backups works.
@anish_sha
AFAIK, acronis doesn’t allow you point to the image in your dvd drive. You are required to keep the *.tib file on your hard drive. Boot into acronis > point to the image on your drive.
Acronis has a built in compressing system. My c drive is 5-6gb. When i compress it on acronis under “normal” compression. i get an output *.tib file around 1.2gb.
If you have a 24gb used my boot drive, i think you should get an output file of 6-7gb assuming you do not have any movies or avi files on it.
Initial install
In my case, i have installed windows xp + drivers + microsoft office + reg cleaner + nero 8 lite.
Removed temp files. Applied necessary tweaks. De-fragmented c drive. Final size is 1.02gb.
Finalization package
I’ve excluded these following apps as they are updated every month.
- Avira anti virus + update file
- Winrar
- Klite codec pack
- Firefox profile backup (backup every week on pen drive)
- Outlook express backup ( ‘’ )
- IDM
- Firefox latest
…and one or two i don’t remember. I keep these on a 1gb pendrive. Here is a sceenshot…
It takes me 5 min to install initial install. And around than 10min to install finalization package.