[TOM@METRO]

Hi Scar,

It's always a good idea to bring the concept of cloning and backup policies to the forefront. Too many times we find people searching for ways to retrieve their systems or data.

Here at the studio we keep both clones and images. Images are fine for the quick replacement of a lost or corrupted file or plug-in when the issue is clear. On the other hand, whae faced with a true catastrophe images can sometimes be as troublesome as rebuilding from scratch.

The issue of authorizations and how they relate to clones is, (as you have pointed out), a curiosity. I have grown to appreciate ilok based authorizations mostly because of this. I noticed that Trilian holds it's authorization on a clone for me but Trilogy does not. Both coming from Specrasonics causes me to wonder why. Sound Forge and CD architect also require new authorizations.

More and more I am shying away from non-ilok plug-ins for just this reason. I have been using Norton Ghost. Most of the pros here seem to be on Acronis True Image but this issue seems to be consistent with both. I hope someone here has stumbled across a solution to these issues. Our turnaround time installing a clone will be greatly reduced without the concern over authorizations. With Trilian taking the place of Trilogy I can go to work right away but I do lose Sound Forge and CD architect.

Back in the FAT32 days we could select an option in Ghost that would move the hard drive ID to the new drive, but that has now been removed.

Anyhow, this thread is a good idea and hopefully it will bring more on this subject to light.