How do i make a disk image

[imagn]

DO any of these allow for scalablity, ie if i dont want it to image a certain folder with some larger files on it. all i want is to back up the operating system/installed programs and be able to recover at any time

[philly_phenom]

Try the free Driveimage XML from http://www.runtime.org/driveimage-xml.htm

2nd that - DiXML even has a command line. I have both of my PC's set up to do automatic backups every week.

I also take a backup before I install something new.

For restoration, I use the Ultimate Boot CD for Windows. It's a live Windows CD (you create it from your Windows XP disk) & ubcd4win includes DiXML so you can restore your backed up image to your hard drive.

[carpeVideo]

You can choose what files/dirs you back up with Acronis. The incremental back ups don't seem so smart though I find the best way for me is to partition the discs or use multiple hard drives with a scheme like this.

c: windows
d: programs
e: data

Then you can defrag them separately, back up and restore separately with relative ease.

[imagn]

Thanks everyone, i will look at all of the options over the weekend a see what fits best

Thanks

[martint123]

With Imaging in general, you don't get "pick and choose" that is more for normal backups.
Acronis does give the option of doing one big backup and then incremental updates of changes.
I've split my first drive into C: for windows D: for general data, E: for programs plus a few others. The second drive is for my recordings.
I can put a new drive in and be back to a running system in less than half an hour. (excluding the recordings drive) This I clone daily with Allway Sync to a USB external drive. So if the main recordings drive fails, it is just a quick swap from the external box which should have all but very recent recordings.