Universal Restore
Universal Restore lets you restore a complete Windows-based system to a different hardware configuration. This feature is useful if you need to replace failed hardware and cannot find an exact match for your original system specifications, or if you simply want to upgrade to different (newer) hardware.
To be effective, system recovery software has to recognize different network adapters, mass storage devices, video adapters, motherboards, and CPU quantities and types. The recovery software finds and installs common drivers during the restored computer’s initial boot process in order to eliminate the compatibility issues that arise when a system is migrated from the hardware of one system manufacturer to another.
Typically, computers running Microsoft Windows operating systems cannot be restored easily to different hardware, since the hardware-dependent Microsoft Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) drivers are embedded within the system’s image. During the recovery process, DriveClone 3.5 Pro’s Universal Restore replaces the HAL drivers embedded within the image, allowing a system image to be transferred to different hardware.
Uses for Universal Restore
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Use Universal Restore to upgrade to a newer system while keeping all your programs and settings intact.
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Use Universal Restore to make bootable, complete system images as a precaution against motherboard failure. If your motherboard does fail, you won’t face restrictions in your selection of replacement hardware.
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Need to do system testing? Use Universal Restore to transfer a system image to a Virtual Machine.
Universal Restore vs. Bare Metal Restore
Universal Restore should not be confused with “bare metal” restore, which DriveClone Pro also supports. A bare metal restore has to do with the complete reformatting a of computer from scratch after catastrophic failure. Typically, the operating system and applications are installed first, after which data and settings are restored (if possible). Without specialized software, bare metal restore can be tedious and time-consuming.
DriveClone Pro accelerates the bare metal restore process by allowing you to insert a DriveClone Pro Start-up or Recovery CD and copy a complete system image onto an unformatted drive.
