Imaging Options
The imaging options differ depending on the image app being used. The various options are explained here.
Compressed Images
When creating a file image, you have the option to compress the image with one of three options.
- QuickCompress: Very fast compression with a good trade-off between compression ratio and runtime. QuickCompress is recommended for quickly creating backups while saving space.
- Normal: Uses a higher compression ratio with intermediate runtime requirements.
- StrongCompress: Highest compression rate with the highest runtime requirements. Choose this option to maximize your amount of space.
When it comes to HDClone's operation and the files in which the images are stored, there is no difference between compressed and uncompressed file images for the user. Compressing an image takes more time than decompressing an image, meaning that restoring a compressed image is much faster.
| Note: Compressions, due to the additional time they require, usually lead to a slower copying speed. Yet in some cases, creating compressed images may lead to a higher copying speed, especially when the disk that contains the image is relatively slow, e.g. USB sticks, mass storage media connected via USB 1.1/2.0, slow network drives, or when using QuickCompress. |
Access Protection
Add access protection for your image during creation by means of password protection and encryption.
 |
|
| fig.: Access protection |
Password Protection
When creating images, you have the option to protect them with a password. HDClone will not restore a password protected file image unless the correct password is provided.
The correct password must also be entered in order to open or mount a password protected file image with Miray Virtual Disk.
| Important: Password protection simply safeguards file images - HDClone and Miray Virtual Disk restrict access unless the correct password is entered. For secure protection of the file image data, add encryption. |
Encryption
With this option, when creating a file image, the data in the image will be encrypted. For this purpose, HDClone utilizes a 128/256 bit AES encryption.
The image data can then not be read without the specified password, neither with HDClone or Miray Virtual Disk, nor with other software tools.
| Warning: Because HDClone uses a secure method of data encryption without the option of secondary access, should the password get lost, the image data created with the encryption will definitely be irrecoverable! |
| Note: Encrypted file images can currently not be opened and mounted as virtual drives with Miray Virtual Disk. |
| Hint: Encryptions markedly increase the processing time for the creation and restoration of file images. Select data encryption only if needed. Otherwise, you can simply use password protection, which will not take up additional processing time. |
Split Image
Images can be split into multiple files when the maximum extent size is reached. The image can be split automatically or the you can manually specify the size of the individual files. The image fragments will be saved to the target path, but you also have the option to save the image fragments into their own subfolder.
Save Swap Files
When creating images, it is usually not necessary to save the swap files pagefile.sys and hiberfil.sys into the file image, yet with this option you can choose to do so.
Maximum extent size
Restrict the extent size in the image to a defined maximum. For compatibility with different file systems, the default setting is 2,047 MB. To burn an image to a CD, DVD or BD later on, you may specify a different value (CD: 700 MB | DVD: 4.700 MB | BD: 25.000 MB).
