Does anyone use idrive?

Hazel123 · Jan 25, 2024

From what I’ve read, idrive only backs up system images. It says an image can be restored to a similar or dissimilar computer. I’m wondering how that can be if the image is for one computer then it will be for that computer install presumably?

Wisewiz · Jan 25, 2024

There is a TON of discussion here on the topic of restoring images to different hardware. Just last week, I had a lot of support here for my task of restoring a system image to a new, blank NVMe disk. That disk could just as well have been in another computer, but in my case, it was in the same computer the image came from. I think the important consideration here is your choice of backup and restore software. I would download the chosen image from iDrive and then let Macrium Reflect handle the actual restoration to another disk or another computer.

Hazel123 · Jan 25, 2024

Thanks. I have read that it’s possible to restore an image from one computer to a different computer - but it’s always something I thought couldn’t/shouldn’t be done. Ie that an image was for that specific computer. I’m asking because I was considering idrive but it only does system images, not file back ups. Which is fine if it’s for the same computer but wasn’t sure how reliable that would be if you had to restore to a new computer.

Wisewiz · Jan 25, 2024

Well, spend a few minutes in the Backup and Restore sub-forum here, and you'll find many topics dealing with restoring or cloning to a new or different PC.

Hazel123 · Jan 25, 2024

Just can’t get my head round the idea. A different computer could need different drivers etc than are on the image.

Wisewiz · Jan 25, 2024

But when you first boot up with the new image installation, Windows will have a party looking for and installing things you need, and then you'll check Device Manager and see whether you have any flags, and if you have a flag, take the recommended action.

TM21 · Jan 25, 2024

It should be no secret, by now, that Windows 8.1/Pro/64 to Windows 11/Pro/64 has the uncanny ability to adjust itself to different Motherboard/CPU combinations, when the HD is moved from PC to PC.

I'm never surprised when I move a HD or SSD from one PC to another, and Windows boots up, makes some adjustments, settles in and then just runs like it was installed there. The SSD I'm running on now, started out in another PC, also with an AMD cpu.
When I'm going from one AMD machine to another, there is no surprises, but even when going from an AMD machine to an Intel machine, Windows can still make the jump.
If there are exceptions, I've not seen them yet.

So, if I have to make an Image file of of one PC and then restore it to another PC, I don't even flinch.
Of course, as I've said before, I use only "Ghost 11.5" the Original Backup Software, not some Johnny Come lately program.
"Idrive?" NO thank you!

TM

Hazel123 · Jan 25, 2024

Thanks

. I read more of their literature that says an image CAN’T be restored to a different computer - but files can be downloaded. Which is a bit confusing as reviews say they only back up as images.

How much is Ghost and how much storage?

barman58 · Jan 25, 2024

If you look at how the initial fresh install works on more recent windows versions ... the installer installs the basic os AND THEN OBTAINS THE MISSING DRIVERS and other variable components online from Microsoft, or the system designer's Web Site.

there may be occasions when the drivers + other files are no longer available due to the initial company not longer being active, but even in these cases it's possible that suitable generic drivers may be available in Microsoft's own collections
........

pparks1 · Jan 25, 2024

Hazel123 said:
Thanks . I read more of their literature that says an image CAN’T be restored to a different computer - but files can be downloaded. Which is a bit confusing as reviews say they only back up as images.

How much is Ghost and how much storage?

It might backup an entire image and allow you to just restore files/folders from the image if need be.

As far as Norton Ghost goes, that was discontinued about a decade ago. You would have to obtain it via questionable channels if you decided you wanted to use it.

Hazel123 · Jan 25, 2024

Yes I just looked it up - it was discontinued in 2013.

Hazel123 · Jan 26, 2024

Ok so I know nothing about cloud storage and the sites don’t give you all the information. This might sound like a noddy question but - how much cloud back up space would it use to backup 1tb of data? Would it be 1tb of cloud space or less?

And would that depend on individual providers?

barman58 · Jan 26, 2024

Cloud space is just a form of storage, it's just located in a different place to our normal local storage we have at home, either fitted into a desktop or Laptop or in some form of external device. In the same way that 1 TB of space could be made to hold more than 1TB of data by the use of Compression
1TB of space should store at least 1 TB of data more if you compressed the data before uploading it.

You could also find that the cloud space offered could be an equivalent of 1TB of storage but actually compressed so could not be used to support your own compressed data - you can only compress data once

Hazel123 · Jan 26, 2024

Thanks.

pparks1 · Jan 26, 2024

Hazel123 said:
Ok so I know nothing about cloud storage and the sites don’t give you all the information. This might sound like a noddy question but - how much cloud back up space would it use to backup 1tb of data? Would it be 1tb of cloud space or less?

And would that depend on individual providers?

Depends upon what that data is. If you had a 1TB drive on your local computer, and it was 100% full of text files....well those compress great and when backed up with compression applied, 1TB may only account for like 85GB of storage space used.

On the other hand, if you data consists of say MP3 files and JPEG pictures, well those file formats are already in a compressed state. So, if you had a 1TB drive on your local computer, and it was 100% full of MP3's and JPEG's, well the resulting backup would be close to 1TB in size because you will get little to no compression on these file types.

So, it all boils down to the source files and how much compression can or is applied to them.

Hazel123 · Jan 26, 2024

I’ve decided not to use idrive - or Backblaze. Most of the reviews are all about uploading and storing data. But there are few stories about customer service (idrive) if you have issues and difficulty downloading a backup (Backblaze).

I went through all this once before ! I like the idea of cloud storage. But as with everything it seems it can have downsides. And has to be paid for. I’ll just buy a couple more external drives.

AK6DN · Jan 26, 2024

Hazel123 said:
From what I’ve read, idrive only backs up system images. It says an image can be restored to a similar or dissimilar computer. I’m wondering how that can be if the image is for one computer then it will be for that computer install presumably?

Wrong. I use IDrive to backup my data disks as files, not disk images. It does only changed files, I run it nightly.
I don't use IDrive for my system disk backups, at least not yet.
For those I use MacriumReflect paid to do backups to a local disk and local NFS server.
Also use Macrium on my data disks. What is a backup without redundancy both is method and in location?
Someday I might configure IDrive to upload my Macrium disk images as well (or send them up offline to be stored).

Have not had any issues yet with IDrive. Restoring backed up files via their GUI interface is pretty easy. No complaints.

AK6DN · Jan 26, 2024

Hazel123 said:
Ok so I know nothing about cloud storage and the sites don’t give you all the information. This might sound like a noddy question but - how much cloud back up space would it use to backup 1tb of data? Would it be 1tb of cloud space or less?

And would that depend on individual providers?

Quick answer is the same amount of cloud storage to backup your data as you have in actual data.
So if you have a 1TB data disk and it is half full at 500MB it will take 500MB of cloud storage, if you store it uncompressed.
If you use a backup program with compression, it could be much less, depending on the types of files you have.
Image files like JPEG, MPEG, etc don't compress very well, as they are already basically compressed.
Text and document files can compress significantly, reducing the backup storage requirement.
So, it depends.

AK6DN · Jan 26, 2024

Hazel123 said:
I’ve decided not to use idrive - or Backblaze. Most of the reviews are all about uploading and storing data. But there are few stories about customer service (idrive) if you have issues and difficulty downloading a backup (Backblaze).

I went through all this once before ! I like the idea of cloud storage. But as with everything it seems it can have downsides. And has to be paid for. I’ll just buy a couple more external drives.

Like I said earlier I have had no issues uploading files to IDrive or downloading thru their GUI.

WRT backups to local disks, it is not really a reliable backup unless you copy the files to the drive, take it offline,
and store it someplace safe like in a fire safe. An always online drive is not a backup strategy, it is just a copy.
So it all depends on how important the data is to you, if you can afford to lose it all and start over, or not.

Hazel123 · Jan 26, 2024

AK6DN said:
Wrong. I use IDrive to backup my data disks as files, not disk images. It does only changed files, I run it nightly.
I don't use IDrive for my system disk backups, at least not yet.
For those I use MacriumReflect paid to do backups to a local disk and local NFS server.
Also use Macrium on my data disks. What is a backup without redundancy both is method and in location?
Someday I might configure IDrive to upload my Macrium disk images as well (or send them up offline to be stored).

Have not had any issues yet with IDrive. Restoring backed up files via their GUI interface is pretty easy. No complaints.

Thanks - just goes to show you can't believe online magazine reviews!

Does anyone use idrive?

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