Festplattenbilder

Festplattenbilder, also known as disk images or drive images, are exact duplicates of the entire contents of a storage device, such as a hard drive, SSD, or USB flash drive. This duplication includes not only the files and folders but also the file system structure, boot sectors, and any hidden data or partitions that may exist on the original drive.

The creation of a Festplattenbild is typically performed using specialized software. This process essentially reads every single sector of the source drive and writes that data to a single file or a set of files on another storage medium. The resulting image file can then be used for various purposes.

One primary use of Festplattenbilder is for backup and disaster recovery. If the original drive fails or becomes corrupted, the Festplattenbild can be used to restore the entire system or individual files to a new drive, minimizing data loss and downtime. This is particularly valuable for operating systems and critical applications where a full reinstallation would be time-consuming.

Another common application is for forensic analysis. In digital forensics, investigators create an exact copy of a suspect's drive to preserve the original evidence in its pristine state. This ensures that any subsequent analysis does not alter the original data, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity of evidence in legal proceedings.

Festplattenbilder are also employed for system deployment and cloning. Businesses can create a master image of a configured operating system and software suite, which can then be rapidly deployed to multiple new computers, saving significant setup time. Similarly, it allows for the efficient cloning of entire drives. The resulting image can be a raw copy or compressed to save storage space, though decompression is necessary before restoration.