Tag Archives: Disk Image Restoration

Hard Drive Hero

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Laplink has solved another major problem that technology advancements have created, it goes by the name of PCmover Image Assistant, and we just released it. To date disk imaging software has fallen short. As technology has advanced, more operating systems (Including Windows 7) have arrived. When Windows 7 was released and integrated into nearly every new PC on the market, everyone’s old disk images were rendered useless. This is because if you use imaging software to restore say an XP image to a Windows 7 PC, the software will overwrite your new OS with the old one making your purchase a complete waste of money (Who wants to explain that to their spouse?…). Not to mention, you have now lost all of your programs, files and settings on the new PC. PCmover Image Assistant solves this dilemma and will calm the worries of many PC users.

The software has two key abilities that cannot be found elsewhere. First is what we call Operating System Independent Restore (say what?). Second, it will rescue your hard drive from a non-working PC. Let’s talk about the Operating System Independent Restore first shall we as it sounds the most confusing (but I assure you that it’s not)?

All computer users need an image or complete backup of their computer. PCs get stolen, lit on fire and get run over every day and yours could be next. Creating an image protects you against these unforeseen data loss scenarios. However if you try to restore an XP image to a Windows 7 PC, your new OS will be overwritten by the old one. Using PCmover Image Assistant you can restore XP images to a new Windows 7 PC without overwriting it. All you do is mount your XP image to your new Windows 7 PC and use PCmover Image Assistant to suck out and restore the programs, files and settings you want. Not quite as confusing as you first thought eh? There is one caveat though; the programs you wish to restore must be compatible with Windows 7. If you happen to be running Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate or Enterprise you’re in luck, you have XP mode. That way you can still run programs that aren’t compatible on your new PC. Sorry Home Premium users, that feature is not available to you, so take extra care in checking for Windows 7 compatibility.

PCmover Image Assistant will also rescue a hard drive from a non-working PC. We are human, by nature we can’t predict the future, and PCs ultimately decide when they want to turn against us. We also never know when a catastrophe will strike. Thanks to the advancements in hard drive technology, when a PC crashes the hard drive is usually still readable. Even if the OS has been corrupted and will no longer boot, PCmover Image Assistant can access its programs, files and settings and restore them. All you have to do is attach the hard drive to your PC and Image Assistant will do the rest. Just make sure to keep your drives away from large animals, they have a tendency to step on things.

These two abilities qualify PCmover Image Assistant as the ultimate PC recovery tool aka Hard Drive Hero. No longer are your past, present and future disk images rendered useless and your hard drives will live forever. And it’s really something you can’t afford to miss out on, unless that is,  you want to lose all of your data.

Sounds pretty cool huh? We think so too. Leave a comment and tell us what you think about it and we will email you a coupon code good for 25% off Image Assistant.  (Must add a valid email address to the comment. Offer Expires 6/9/10)

PCmover Image Assistant – Interview with CTO

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Laplink CTO, Jack WilsonWe sat down with our Chief Technology Officer Jack Wilson and asked him what he thought were some of the most import features of the new and upcoming PCmover Image Assistant. Here’s what he said:

“Many times in the past people have contacted us saying that their computer died but they have an image of the hard drive – and how can the image be restored to a new PC.

“Often, this can’t be done easily. Even when the imaging software supports a “hardware independent” restore there can be problems. Sometimes it is because the computer is different or the image expects the hard drive to have the same format, partitions or size.  PCmover Image Assistant will give you complete independence by allowing the PC user to take a disk image (or even the actual hard drive itself) from any computer and restore it to any new computer, regardless of the hardware or the operating system on the new machine.”

Jack continues, “These users are often stuck with two choices:  either restore everything including the old operating system (and then upgrade the OS) or painfully copy folder by folder and reinstall all applications.  Of course, if the image is of a PC that was running Windows XP, then restoring and upgrading to Windows 7 isn’t an option because Microsoft doesn’t support that scenario. In this case, PCmover Image Assistant is really the only option.”

“I am thrilled that we have a solution for the PC gone bad. We all have had a PC fail unexpectedly, but in many cases the hard drive is still okay. The problem is how to get everything to a new computer – especially when the operating system is different (and without running into legal licensing issues). PCmover Image Assistant solves this problem – and even allows for ‘selective restore’ where the user can choose to not restore certain applications, files and settings.”

“The selective restore is a great benefit that PCmover Image Assistant provides. Most people don’t realize how much time this will save them. Searching for old serials and transferring old programs, files, settings, pictures, videos and emails off an old hard drive is a process that can take weeks of effort. Even after you think you have everything, most people will still keep that old hard drive around just in case there is something they missed. With PCmover Image Assistant, all this work is handled automatically.”

“PCmover Image Assistant will change how we think of disk imaging software because it offers a solution for image restoration and hard drive transfers without regard to operating systems and accommodates selective restore processes.”