Since you're asking about Acronis, let me point out that if you have a Seagate or Maxtor hard drive in that Dimension, you can use a free, Maxtor/ Seagate branded version of Maxblast software, which is a version of Acronis True Image...

Here is the download....

http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.jsp?locale=en-US&name=maxblast-eula&vgnextoid=65af7bb4d9391110VgnVCM100000f5ee0a0aRCRD

Here is the users manual...

http://www.seagate.com/support/maxblast/mb_ug.en.pdf

Thank you. The internal hard drive that I have is what the Dimension system came loaded with in 2003. However, the project at hand is to purchase an external hard drive (it might be Seagate, I have not decided yet, I would appreciate any recommendations), to use exclusively as back up.

Separately, Acronis caught my attention because it seems that it is supposed to actually save all your settings within the various application softwares, and that is something I am looking for. If I ever had to restore from the external H.D., to save hours going back to set and tweak every setting to the way I need it to be. I have some complex settings in an old version of ACT, for which I would not be able to get any tech support, at this time, it's too old.

Actually, the goal is a simple one: I want to keep an exact copy of the whole hard drive, just in case of emergency, and right now I am trying to figure out if this is actually possible. I don't plan to be selective about what gets saved. (All of it, the hard drive as it is.)

I don't really care if the software is free or not, but since you mentioned it, do you know if the MAX-BLAST Version will save settings too?

I do appreciate the replies, thanks again.

PS. The name MaxBlast doesn't seem to fit the software ... what is "blast" about the job it does?

Message Edited by CdePizan on 12-30-2007 10:39 PM

Message Edited by CdePizan on 12-30-2007 10:43 PM

I am still in the Acronis dark ages, using version 8 just to back up complete systems.

The free version is reported to be version 10. See if this thread helps:

http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=other_sp&message.id=5775#M5775

EDIT: Since the hard drive you will be using will not be where it is installed, I do not think it would install... Seems from the thread above that it looks for a Seagate or Maxtor drive.... Sorry...

Message Edited by hrova on 12-30-2007 10:45 PM

OK, I'll be happy to purchase Acronis. Does anyone know for certain, through experience, that it will save software settings?