Today’s Christmas Giveaway is a split review and giveaway of Perfect Image 12 and Partition Commander 11. Both software programs are developed by Avanquest and serve different purposes. Perfect Image 12 is a Windows backup software that can be used to backup data efficiently to be able to restore and access it at a later time.
Perfect Image 12 comes with all the tools needed to perform data backups and data recovery. The main interface displays a sidebar menu with the tasks and options provided by the program and a main area with information about the various hard drives on startup.
The sidebar is divided into the categories Basic and Advanced Backup Tasks, Restore Tasks, Tools and News and Documentation. Each category can be minimized to safe screen estate.
The Basic Backup Task category contains links to backing up a disk or partition, scheduling a backup or backing up files. A click on any of those will open a Backup Wizard that is guiding the user through the backup creation process.
The screenshot above shows the first page of the disk and partition backup wizard. One useful feature is that Perfect Image will estimate the resulting image size which can be very helpful to determine the storage capacities that are needed to store the backup.
Advanced settings like changing the compression level of the backup image, splitting large backup into files, password protecting backups or excluding files or folders from the backup are accessible by making a checkmark in the change backup settings option on the same page.
The backup data can be saved to a local or network drive or burned to CD or DVD. The File backup wizard comes with additional comfortable options to use so called include masks to select specific file types from the selected folders that should be backed up. Four default masks are available including photos, video, audio and readable (documents) files. It is possible to create new include masks for specific needs, e.g. programming files.
Another option are exclude masks that can block certain file types from being included in the backup; Again with the option to create custom filters.
The Advanced Backup Tools offer differential and incremental backups on top of the basic backup options. Differential backups contain only the files and folders that have changed since the last backup. This reduces the size of the backup and the time it takes to create it. Basically a cumulative backup of all changes since the last backup.
Incremental backups on the other hand will only backup files that have not been backed up before.
Here are additional features of Perfect Image:
Perfect Image Features
- Secure Partition – You can create a special secure partition on your hard disk to store disk backup images.
- Real-time Hard Disk Image Backup – Using different hard disk imaging modes, Perfect Image is able to backup any file system you use. For Windows’ partitions you can create complete system backup images with no need to reboot Windows or close any application
- Hard Disk Cloning – You can easily clone your old hard disk to deploy a new one, eliminating tiresome and time consuming operating system and application installation and adjustments.
- USB Recovery Media Builder – The Recovery Media Builder allows the user to create bootable recovery media on a USB flash drive, then boot the PC and perform any operations directly from flash drive in case of operating system corruption or boot problems.
- Blu-ray Disk Backup Support – Burn your backup archives to Blu-ray discs. A single layer disc can store 25 GB, more than five times the capacity of a single layer DVD.
- Verify Image Integrity – Verify the integrity of a backup.
- Create Recovery Disks – Create a recovery disk to restore a backup independently from the operating system.
- Restore Individual Files – Restore individual files from backups.
A list of features is available at the Perfect Image website.
Perfect Image 12 is a sophisticated backup software for the Windows operating system.
Partition Commander Review
Partition Commander 11 is the second program in this giveaway. It is – as the name suggests – a partitioning program for the Windows operating system that comes with additional cloning, migration and backup tools.
The main purpose of Partition Commander is to create, resize, delete and merge partitions in the Windows operating system. Some possible applications include dividing a large hard drive into two smaller partitions or reclaiming unused disk space after deleting a partition that is no longer needed.
What makes this product interesting however are the additional options that are provided. It can for instance be used to migrate data to a new hard disk that can be of the same or a different size than the original (the size needs to be larger obviously than the size of the old hard drive).
Other interesting and helpful options provided by Partition Commander include:
- System Back-Up & Restore – Partition Commander 11 now includes the ability to create a complete backup of your system before applying any modification/creation of a partition.
- Boot Manager & OS Installation Wizard – It’s never been so easy to install a new Operating System on your PC. Partition Commander 11 guides you through the entire process, even if one or multiple operating systems are already running on your PC.
- Mac OSX Boot Camp support – Partition Commander allows you to resize the partitions between the Mac OSX partition, and the Windows on
Partition Commander 11 is an easy to use partition manager that comes with several additional options and tools that aid the user in specific tasks that are related to hard drives (like migrating, cloning or installing a new operating system). Advanced users can switch to an advanced view that provides access to additional configuration options.
Christmas Giveway:
We have five licenses for Partition Commander 11 Personal and Perfect Image 12. Just leave a comment and let us know what you are currently using to partition and / or backup files.
Raju is giving away Sothink SWF to Video Converter licenses today, make sure to visit his giveaway as well.
Related Articles:
Backup Hard Drives and Partitions with Self ImageHow to Partition and Un-Partition your Hard Drive in Windows
Partition Manager 10 Personal Review [GotD]
Game for the Weekend Wing Commander Saga
EASEUS Partition Master 5.0.1 Professional Review
Enjoyed the article?: Then sign-up for our free newsletter or RSS feed to kick off your day with the latest technology news and tips, or share the article with your friends and contacts on Facebook, Twitter or Google+ using the icons below.
Wow, this set would be one step up the ladder for me, and would replace my EASEUS Partition Master and my Pragon Drive Backup 9. Please count me in! (WHY
for long time i waiting this sofware please give me ones
Wow, this fine set from Avanquest would be one big step up the ladder for me, and would replace my EASEUS Partition Master and my Paragon Drive Backup 9. Please count me in!
—-
(Why can’t I use Firefox, to type on this page?)
I have no software for backup (would be nice to have one) and what I use to manage partitions is Acronis DiskDirector.
Hope to win one of them! (or both! xD)
Yay, count me in, as well.
(Typed in Firefox)
I am using the Acronis disk director suite. v10.0.2160 right now but i am really want to give Partition Commander 11 a try.
And i am using Acronis true image home v11.0.0.8027 but i am really wanting to give Perfect Image 12 a try.
Hi,
Its great to see you guys doing this generosity to poor souls like me who don’t have back-up , but want to have one. This would an ideal one if you oblige me!
Thanks,
Pawan
NOT A CHANCE FOOR ME?
I am using Gparted and Acronis. I would be glad to switch to these products .Thanks.
Hi.
I am using an old version of Acronis True Image/Disk Director suite and I would like to replace them…
Mike
i would like a licenses
I never use software to safeguard the system or partitioning my HD
I usually backup my data on dvd
i would like to win a key to both please count me in
I use
Drive Backup 9.0 Personal & Partition Manager 9.0 Personal
I’m currently not using any backup software. I hope to win Perfect Image license to start backing up my pc.
Thanks
I will be glad to get that.
Thanks Tal
i want it
I would like to try this software. I do not have a good backup program and currently I am using EASUS partition magic for drive work.
please count me in
I use to back up the system deepfreez and partitioned my hard drive I use
GParted
I’m currently using Acronis True Image Home for backup, but it has it’s shortcomings. EASEUS Partition Master is also in my collection, but I’d prefer these products. I’ve used other software from this manufacturer over the years and have been very pleased.
Hi,
I mostly use Drive Snapshot for imaging and Easeus Partition Manager for partition management.
Thanks for counting me in.
Hi, I am currently using vista default tools for partition tools and if anything is not possible there I use Partition wizard that comes with ubuntu live cd. Please count me in
I use Acronis Trur Image & Easus.
The use recovery option of Perfect Image is what I’m looking for.
I typically use Paragon utilities for hard drive management, but would love to try these! Merry Christmas!
I use SyncBack to backup a lot of files on an external hdd, but I need something better to manage my partitions!
I’ll do lots of partitioning for fellow windows users who will be migrating to dual boot (linux) systems during holiday season :)
I’m using just windows 7 to partition and for backing up my drive which is very limited. I am very interested in trying Partition Commander especially!
cosi posso istallare il mio mac os
vi grazie molto per il vostro sito fantastico
DEFINITELY NEED!!!!! KEY PLEASE
this would be helpful…..
KEY plesae please please….
Uhaaa! Count me in, now i don’t use any partition manager or back-up tool…
I’m using Cobian 9 and would like to try a more sophisticated backup. As always, thanks for being so kind and giving to your fellow Ghackers.