PowerQuest Drive Image 5

ImageExplorer takes over from the Image File Editor in the previous version and offers an Explorer-style interface that allows you to peer inside images and view their contents. Individual files or folders can be selected and copied to their original locations or a destination of your choice, and you can also copy other partitions to new or existing image files and restore individual files or directories to selected destinations. A handy feature is the ability to view the contents of files such as bitmaps and text or INI files from within ImageExplorer, but the lack of a search facility makes it harder to find specific files inside large images.

In terms of competition, the only other imaging solution of note is Norton Ghost 2002, which falls short when it comes to features and extra utilities. Drive Image 5 offers far more tools for your money and is the best choice if you plan on using disk-imaging software to back up your data.

Author: Dave Mitchell