Acronis TrueImage vs Norton Ghost

June 5, 2008

This note it intended to assist those who wish to use either of the subject

programs in the same fashion I do. I have extensive experience with Acronis

version 10, initial release and build 9042 and version 11 build 8035. Also

experienced with Norton Ghost version 10 and version 12. Both products are

good.

I choose not to use the Acronis products because executing scheduled backup

tasks with validation for 4 systems would take about 9 hours and 20 minutes

using Acronis TrueImage whereas the same tasks using Norton Ghost would take

about 2 hours and 40 minutes.

I back up four systems to an external drive on a regular basis. Each backup

is a full image of a system. Each backup is validated. Each system backs

up to a different directory on an external drive. I keep 6 backups for each

system. All backups are scheduled overnight on the same night. The drive

is attached locally to a Vista system and 3 XP systems back up to it's

directory via a LAN. The back up time for the 4 systems are about 10

minutes, 20 minutes, 20 minutes and 30 minutes. Validating the backups take

roughly the same time as does the backup. These times are about the same

for all the products.

The time difference (9 hrs 20 min vs 2 hrs 40 min) is due to what I consider

a flaw in the scheduled validation process of the Acronis products. When

executing a scheduled backup with validation, the Acronis products validate

every backup on the backup location. The first backup of 10 minutes and 6

validations of 10 minutes each takes about 1 hr 10 min. The second backup

of 20 minutes and 6 validations takes about 2 hrs and 20 min. The same time

needed for the third backup. The 4th backup of 30 min and 6 validations

takes about 3 hrs 30 min. A total of about 9 hrs 20 mins.

The Norton Ghost products validate only the most recently created backup.

The time for each backup with validation is 20 min, 40 min, 40 min, 60 min

for a total of 2 hrs 40 min.

I will not get into any debate about my mental state, propensity to lie or

the veracity of what I have said. What I have stated are facts that can be

verified by any TrueImage user or sending an inquiry to the Acronis support

team. They have been very responsive and very competent in dealing my

inquiries in the past.

Again, the sole purpose of this email it to give information to those who

may be planning to use a similar backup strateby as mine.

Lou

June 5, 2008

Re: Acronis TrueImage vs Norton Ghost

Lou, while you have outlined your backup scenario extremely well most users

would 'not' have 4 systems to backup in one go. I personally much prefer

Acronis over Norton Ghost and while, like all software, there may be issues

it certainly hasn't made me change my mind on what backup application I

should use. I've tried Norton, Casper, Acronis, Paragon and one or two

others, but always come back to Acronis.

I agree with your sentiments on 'timing'. Obviously someone who has 4

machines to image doesn't have this amount of time to 'waste'. However, I

don't think a 'single' PC user should be put off using what, to all intent

and purpose, is an excellent backup application.

--

John Barnett MVP

Associate Expert

Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org

Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

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"Lou" <1234AT@Bishop.com> wrote in message

news:%23uPyMD0xIHA.5892@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> This note it intended to assist those who wish to use either of the

> subject programs in the same fashion I do. I have extensive experience

> with Acronis version 10, initial release and build 9042 and version 11

> build 8035. Also experienced with Norton Ghost version 10 and version 12.

> Both products are good.

>

> I choose not to use the Acronis products because executing scheduled

> backup tasks with validation for 4 systems would take about 9 hours and 20

> minutes using Acronis TrueImage whereas the same tasks using Norton Ghost

> would take about 2 hours and 40 minutes.

>

> I back up four systems to an external drive on a regular basis. Each

> backup is a full image of a system. Each backup is validated. Each

> system backs up to a different directory on an external drive. I keep 6

> backups for each system. All backups are scheduled overnight on the same

> night. The drive is attached locally to a Vista system and 3 XP systems

> back up to it's directory via a LAN. The back up time for the 4 systems

> are about 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 20 minutes and 30 minutes. Validating

> the backups take roughly the same time as does the backup. These times

> are about the same for all the products.

>

> The time difference (9 hrs 20 min vs 2 hrs 40 min) is due to what I

> consider a flaw in the scheduled validation process of the Acronis

> products. When executing a scheduled backup with validation, the Acronis

> products validate every backup on the backup location. The first backup

> of 10 minutes and 6 validations of 10 minutes each takes about 1 hr 10

> min. The second backup of 20 minutes and 6 validations takes about 2 hrs

> and 20 min. The same time needed for the third backup. The 4th backup of

> 30 min and 6 validations takes about 3 hrs 30 min. A total of about 9 hrs

> 20 mins.

>

> The Norton Ghost products validate only the most recently created backup.

> The time for each backup with validation is 20 min, 40 min, 40 min, 60 min

> for a total of 2 hrs 40 min.

>

> I will not get into any debate about my mental state, propensity to lie or

> the veracity of what I have said. What I have stated are facts that can

> be verified by any TrueImage user or sending an inquiry to the Acronis

> support team. They have been very responsive and very competent in

> dealing my inquiries in the past.

>

> Again, the sole purpose of this email it to give information to those who

> may be planning to use a similar backup strateby as mine.

>

> Lou

June 5, 2008

Re: Acronis TrueImage vs Norton Ghost

Anyone mentioning Norton over ANY OTHER program has to be considered

suspicious.