Can I Create a Partition Image to a File?

Yes, starting with version 1.19. Starting with version 1.42, the destination can also be a valid NTFS partition (Short File Names).

To Create a Partition Image:

1. On the desktop, click Partition Work.
   
   
2. In the Partitions list, select the partition or volume that you want to create a compressed image of, then click Image under Actions.
   
   
3. In the Image dialog box, click Create Image to create a new image, then click OK. At the bottom of the Work with Partitions window, BootIt NG displays the Paste Pending for Image Create message.
   
   
4. In the Partitions list, select the NTFS or FAT/FAT32 partition or volume where you want to save the partition image and then click Paste under Actions. Note: The destination partition cannot be the same partition as the source.
   
   
5. In the Save As dialog box under File Name, enter the name of the image file to be created. Note: This name must be 8 or less characters with no spaces.
   
   
6. When pasting to an NTFS or FAT/FAT32 partition or volume, BootIt NG lets you adjust the file size being created so that you can copy the image files to a CD or DVD using another program. If you don’t plan on copying the image files to a CD or DVD, then it's best to limit the image files to 2 GB because 4 GB is only valid with certain operating systems such as Windows NT, 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, and Windows 7. Select the desired Maximum File Size and then click OK.
   
   
7. When BootIt NG asks if you want a validation, click Yes or No. If you click Yes with the Byte for Byte check box selected, BootIt NG rereads all of the source data again and compares it with the compressed image; otherwise, BootIt NG performs a normal Validation to ensure that the new file is valid (and that the crc/checksum matches).
   
   
8. The image creation process will begin.
   
   

To Restore a Partition Image:

1. On the desktop, click Partition Work.
   
   
2. In the Partitions list, select the partition or volume that contains the image file you wish to restore, then click Image under Actions.
   
   
3. In the Image dialog box, click Restore from file to restore an existing image from a file, then click OK.
   
   
4. In the Open dialog box, type the File Name of the image file to be restored or browse and select it, then click OK.
   
   
5. In the Partitions list, click the free-space block or an existing partition large enough to contain the restored image, then click Paste under Actions. To see the exact required size, while the Paste Pending for Image Restore message is displayed, press and hold down both the Ctrl key and the Shift key.
   
   
6. If overwriting a partition, BootIt NG will warn you that all data on the partition will be lost. Click Yes to continue.
   
   
7. If asked to name the partition, enter the desired name in the Name box and then click OK.
   
   
8. If overwriting a partition, BootIt NG will ask if you would like to validate the image. This is used to ensure that the image crc/checksum is valid. (If the process aborts on the actual restore, the partition boot sector is cleared.) Click Yes or No, per your preference.
   
   
9. The restore process will begin.

For more information regarding imaging with BootIt NG, please see the BootIt Next Generation Installation and Getting Started Guide.