Drive Image Files v Drive Copy - Whats the Difference?

The Heading really states my question here.

What is the difference between an Image File of a hard drive and a Copy of a hard drive and what are the reasons for choosing one rather than the other

 

[rvnguy]

thenoo,

This terminology can be confusing. I will give you my opinion and caveats:

There are applications that will generate a "drive image" that is not readable normally, but can be used to restore the drive information in the event of failure. These usually provide for some compression of the size of the backup.

Then there applications that "clone" the HD to another HD, copying everything, the OS the Hidden files and results in an exact copy of the original drive that is readable and if it was a boot drive, can be booted from.

Bottomline there are backup programs and there are drive "cloning" programs.

Hopr this is clear

rvnguy
"I know everything..I just can't remember it all

 

[edfair]

In addition, a copy will operate on a file to file basis and an image works track to track. Copying resolves fragmentation, while imaging doesn't.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.