Disk Imaging Tool To Create Browseable Image

[CarobSD]

Hello.

I'm looking for an imaging tool that will create an image that can be browsed within Windows on different computers without any additional software (an .iso would be tolerable) but I can't seem to find anything. In other words, let's say the image would be stored on a server and accessible from other machines. Does such a thing still exist?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Sedivy]

What's wrong with iso? You shouldn't need any additional software to mount it and then browse the files in explorer:
https://www.digitalcitizen.life/introducing-windows-8-mount-or-unmount-iso-images-file-explorer

 

[USAFRet]

Hello.

I'm looking for an imaging tool that will create an image that can be browsed within Windows on different computers without any additional software (an .iso would be tolerable) but I can't seem to find anything. In other words, let's say the image would be stored on a server and accessible from other machines. Does such a thing still exist?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Macrium Reflect can mostly do this, but you need to do it from within the Macrium client.
Click, and it mounts that image as a drive letter. Opens in Windows Explorer, just like any other drive.

This Incremental, and the Full image that goes with it, live on my NAS box. Any PC on the LAN that has access could open it and cruise through the files.

But what are you actually wanting to do?

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

Active@ Disk Image has that feature (I know for sure because it's my preferred disk-imaging software - has been for many years):

http://www.disk-image.com/

 

[CarobSD]

What's wrong with iso? You shouldn't need any additional software to mount it and then browse the files in explorer:
https://www.digitalcitizen.life/introducing-windows-8-mount-or-unmount-iso-images-file-explorer

iso would be fine if that's the only option. But I still need something to create a true disk image to iso format.

 

[CarobSD]

Hello.

I'm looking for an imaging tool that will create an image that can be browsed within Windows on different computers without any additional software (an .iso would be tolerable) but I can't seem to find anything. In other words, let's say the image would be stored on a server and accessible from other machines. Does such a thing still exist?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Macrium Reflect can mostly do this, but you need to do it from within the Macrium client.
Click, and it mounts that image as a drive letter. Opens in Windows Explorer, just like any other drive.

This Incremental, and the Full image that goes with it, live on my NAS box. Any PC on the LAN that has access could open it and cruise through the files.

But what are you actually wanting to do?

Macrium would have been my first choice but you need their software to open the image.

What I'm trying to do is exactly what I wrote above. Create a true disk image or clone (one and done, no need to add to it later) and have that image browseable without needing any other software so it can be opened from any other client.

 

[CarobSD]

Active@ Disk Image has that feature (I know for sure because it's my preferred disk-imaging software - has been for many years):

http://www.disk-image.com/

This might be okay but all the site says is "Mounting images as virtual drives". It doesn't say how you go about doing that or what is needed to do that. Can you point me to some actual documentation that talks about this?

 

[USAFRet]

What I'm trying to do is exactly what I wrote above. Create a true disk image or clone (one and done, no need to add to it later) and have that image browseable without needing any other software so it can be opened from any other client.

How much of the "drive" do you need to be able to interact with from other systems?

There are a few applications that will do a 'backup' of designated folders, off to another drive. On whatever schedule you select.

Full actual files, no "image" or ISO.
Just the actual files in their original condition.
SyncBackFree or FreeFileSync would do this.

 

[CarobSD]

What I'm trying to do is exactly what I wrote above. Create a true disk image or clone (one and done, no need to add to it later) and have that image browseable without needing any other software so it can be opened from any other client.

How much of the "drive" do you need to be able to interact with from other systems?

There are a few applications that will do a 'backup' of designated folders, off to another drive. On whatever schedule you select.

Full actual files, no "image" or ISO.
Just the actual files in their original condition.
SyncBackFree or FreeFileSync would do this.

The entire thing. That's why I said image or clone.

 

[USAFRet]

What I'm trying to do is exactly what I wrote above. Create a true disk image or clone (one and done, no need to add to it later) and have that image browseable without needing any other software so it can be opened from any other client.

How much of the "drive" do you need to be able to interact with from other systems?

There are a few applications that will do a 'backup' of designated folders, off to another drive. On whatever schedule you select.

Full actual files, no "image" or ISO.
Just the actual files in their original condition.
SyncBackFree or FreeFileSync would do this.

The entire thing. That's why I said image or clone.

Right.
In that case, why would an ISO of the entire drive not suffice?

I'm still wondering about the utility of being able to access everything incl the original OS, in its native format, from other systems.
And not wanting to have to use a 3rd party tool to do it.

I use Macrium Reflect for this. Even the free version does exactly what you want (mostly).
But the other above linked Sync tools will do relevant files.
You could probably make them do the entire drive, but why....

Requirements:
1. Image of the whole drive.
2. Native format
3. Accessible from any other system on the LAN, with no extra software installed.

What is the use case for this?

 

[USAFRet]

Even something as old and basic as CDBurnerXP will create an ISO of an entire drive.
https://cdburnerxp.se/en/home

Access it from another system directly within Windows.

 

[CarobSD]

What I'm trying to do is exactly what I wrote above. Create a true disk image or clone (one and done, no need to add to it later) and have that image browseable without needing any other software so it can be opened from any other client.

How much of the "drive" do you need to be able to interact with from other systems?

There are a few applications that will do a 'backup' of designated folders, off to another drive. On whatever schedule you select.

Full actual files, no "image" or ISO.
Just the actual files in their original condition.
SyncBackFree or FreeFileSync would do this.

The entire thing. That's why I said image or clone.

Right.
In that case, why would an ISO of the entire drive not suffice?

I'm still wondering about the utility of being able to access everything incl the original OS, in its native format, from other systems.
And not wanting to have to use a 3rd party tool to do it.

I use Macrium Reflect for this. Even the free version does exactly what you want (mostly).
But the other above linked Sync tools will do relevant files.
You could probably make them do the entire drive, but why....

Requirements:
1. Image of the whole drive.
2. Native format
3. Accessible from any other system on the LAN, with no extra software installed.

What is the use case for this?

I didn't say an iso wouldn't work It probably would. (Although a zip or equivalent would work better.) But I would still need something to create the image/clone to an iso. Macrium requires their software to open/view the image.

The purpose is for legal reasons.

 

[USAFRet]

I didn't say an iso wouldn't work It probably would. (Although a zip or equivalent would work better.) But I would still need something to create the image/clone to an iso. Macrium requires their software to open/view the image.

The purpose is for legal reasons.

OK...legally verifiable forensics.
What are acceptable methods and tools in your locale? What do your local lawyers and courts use?

This is why we ask "why"...to determine what other issues may arise, or discover other avenues to the solution you seek.
Accessing for your own use is one thing...legally verifiable (custody chain, etc) data is something else completely.

 

[CarobSD]

Legally verifiable forensics... yes and no.
If you want to think of it that way that's fine. Will this be going to the FBI? Probably not. This time. Accessibility from company users will happen as well. (Should the image ever even need to be used.) Just don't want them to have to use third party software to be able to open/browse the image as well as actually open or copy files.

 

[USAFRet]

Legally verifiable forensics... yes and no.
If you want to think of it that way that's fine. Will this be going to the FBI? Probably not. This time. Accessibility from company users will happen as well. (Should the image ever even need to be used.) Just don't want them to have to use third party software to be able to open/browse the image as well as actually open or copy files.

"Legally verifiable forensics... yes and no"
That's a yes. There's not much difference between your local court and hack lawyers and the FBI.
Legal is legal.

So this is for the HR and legal depts?
And possibly the C-level offices?

How often are these images created?
Retained for how long?
How large an organization?
How many systems?
What does the IT dept say about the required drive space and bandwidth?

 

[jr9]

If you have data that needs to be cloned for legal reasons such as forensics and you don't even know what software to use, I'd suggest stopping where you are. How this type of data is handled must be done a certain way by someone trained to do so. If you are in possession of data that is determined to be evidence I would secure the drive and do nothing to it until it's handed off to the correct people. I'd also make sure who it's given to and who had it before you is clearly documented as well. Failing to do this results in the evidence being rendered completely worthless. You also should consult a legal department before doing anything if this is for enterprise.

 

[RealBeast]

If it is a civil action and it is your data and you are a company, you need to have a written procedure on data backup and disposal that complies with the longest period statute of limitations that would apply (state or federal). If you become aware of a legal action you must preserve all data. Your attorneys will review it all and decide what is relevant for production.

Failure to keep such records and follow a procedure opens you up for a spoliation claim that can destroy your case.

It this is criminal or you are not the person who owns or manages the data, consult an attorney before proceeding.

In a civil proceeding there is no such thing as chain of custody, and if it is criminal that chain exists within the seizing law enforcement agency.

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

Active@ Disk Image has that feature (I know for sure because it's my preferred disk-imaging software - has been for many years):

http://www.disk-image.com/

This might be okay but all the site says is "Mounting images as virtual drives". It doesn't say how you go about doing that or what is needed to do that. Can you point me to some actual documentation that talks about this?

Sheesh - - link to comprehensive documentation is right there at bottom of page I linked to earlier! - It does tell you how to go about it. Near bottom of page it clearly says "Read more: Disk Image Users Guide"

It's split in to sections - the section you need on mounting existing disk-images in order to view image contents:

http://www.disk-image.com/explore.htm