Copyright: Copyright © 2002 PowerQuest Corporation. All rights reserved
Citation: Copyright © 2002 PowerQuest Corporation. All rights reserved.


About ImageExplorer

PowerQuest’s ImageExplorer simplifies management of your image files. Working within a single screen, ImageExplorer gives you total control of the image files you can access. For example, you can view image file contents, copy image files, copy partitions within files, and restore individual program and data files from the image.

ImageExplorer also provides description capabilities, so you can easily identify individual image files and partitions.

For help on specific tasks, see the How Do I...? book in the Contents tab of this Help file.

 ImageExplorer Window


ImageExplorer Window

All the features of ImageExplorer are accessed from the main program screen, pictured below, or by right-clicking anywhere in the panes of the Locate or Recent window views. ImageExplorer also makes extensive use of drag and drop capabilities between panes. Click on any item in this image for a short explanation of the item. For help on specific tasks, see the How Do I...? book in the Contents tab of Help.

The Locate Pane

Click the Locate button (the default view) to display a hierarchical tree view of local disks and network drives that you can navigate. You can use this tree view to search for image files (.PQI) that you want to add to the Recent pane. From the Locate pane, you can right-click on a .PQI file to copy, delete, or verify an image or to view the image's properties. You can also right-click on a folder within the .PQI image to restore the entire folder and its contents. If you want to restore a single file, select a folder within the .PQI file in the Locate pane, right-click a file in the Contents pane, then click Restore.


About Copy to Image

Use Copy to Image to copy single or multiple partitions to new or existing image files. Copied partitions will not overwrite any partition already in the file. Therefore, you can have several partitions with the same name or drive letter within one image file. You can copy partitions using the pull-down menu or drag and drop.

Drag and drop task	Result
Drag and drop an entire .PQI image from the Recent pane or the Locate pane onto a drive or folder in the Locate pane.	The Copy to Image dialog appears with the Destination image text box filled in according to the currently selected drive or folder in the Locate pane.
Drag and drop a partition within an image file onto another image file or onto a folder in the Locate pane.	If the partition is copied to another image file, the Copy to Image dialog appears and the partition is added to the image file and inherits the characteristics of the target image file including compression ratio, password, and so forth. If the partition is copied to a folder, the Copy to Image dialog is displayed and the partition is added to a newly-created .PQI image.

 To copy partitions to an image file


To copy partitions to an image file

1	From the Locate or Recent pane, select the image file whose partitions you want to copy.

2	From the Partitions list box, select the partitions you want.

3	Click File [image] Copy to Image.

4	Specify the path to the target image file in the Destination image text box.

5	(Optional) Type a comment about the partitions in the Description text box.

6	Click a compression level. Compressing files can save disk space and time over a busy network.

Compression Option	Description
No Change	Keeps the same compression level.
None	No compression is usually the fastest method for saving the image file and is useful if storage space is not an issue. However, if you are saving your image file to a busy network drive or to a relatively slow removable media device, compression may be faster than no compression since there is less data to write to the file.
Low	Low compression offers a 40% average compression ratio.
High	High compression offers a 50% average compression ratio.
7	(Optional) Click Set Password, type a new password, then type it again in the Confirm password text box.

8	(Optional) Select Split image into segments, then specify the maximum byte size for the image file.

For example, if you want to save the file to CD, specify a file size of 670,000,000 bytes (670 MB) or less. When the file being saved reaches this size, ImageExplorer begins another file.

9	Click Copy.

Tip

•	These steps are only for copying partitions to image files that were created in Drive Image 5.0.

•	In step 7, be aware that ImageExplorer does not support the use of extended ASCII characters in passwords when you create a password-protected image; instead, you must use standard ASCII characters.


About Delete Image

Use Delete to remove an entire image file, including all partitions, folders, and files. If you delete an image file that resides on your local hard disk, it is sent to the Windows Recycle Bin. You cannot delete individual partitions or selected files or folders within an image file.

 To delete an image file


To delete an image file

1	From the Locate (Explore) or Recent pane, select the image file you want to delete.

2	Click File [image] Delete Image.

3	Click Yes to continue or No to cancel.

Tip

•	You can also right-click on an image file, then click Delete Image from the quick menu.

•	You can also delete image files using Windows Explorer.


About Verify Image

Use Verify Image to determine whether an image file is valid or corrupt. ImageExplorer will check to see that all of the files in the image are available for you to open, the internal data structures in the image file match the data that is available, and the image file can be uncompressed and create the expected amount of data.

This is useful if you have added partitions to an image and want to verify the integrity of the image.

 To check the integrity of an image file


To check the integrity of image files

1	From the Locate (Explore) or Recent pane, select the image file you want to check.

2	Click File [image] Verify Image.

3	When the check is complete, click OK.

Tip

•	You can also right-click on an image file, then click Verify Image from the quick menu.


About Restore

Use Restore to restore files or folders from a selected partition and save them to their original location or to any location you specify. You can restore single or multiple files and folders using the Restore option on the File pull-down menu or you can use drag and drop.

Restoring Files from Spanned or Compressed Images

You can restore individual files or folders from spanned or compressed images without restoring the entire image file.

If you restore an image that was created with an earlier version of ImageExplorer (before Drive Image 5.0), you can choose from the following image index options:

Image Index Option	Description
Continue	Creates a temporary index. This temporary index is generated as needed and shows all files and folders. When you select a folder, it may take a few minutes to decompress the image and expand the index. The temporary index may be fully expanded and saved upon exiting File Restore.
Create	Generates the complete index and saves it for future use. Creating a complete index will take several minutes depending on the size of the image file. Specify a directory and filename, then click Save.
Browse	Lets you select an index if one has already been created and reassociate it with the image file. Image files end with the extension .PQI; image index files end with the extension .PQX.
You must create either a temporary or full index to restore files or folders from spanned or compressed images.

Working with Image Files from Previous Versions of Drive Image

If you restore files from an image that was created with an earlier version of ImageExplorer (before Drive Image 5.0), you can do one of the following optional procedures to speed up the restoration process:

•	Ensure that the index file (*.PQX) for the image is saved in the same directory where the image is saved. If ImageExplorer sees the index file in the same directory, it will treat older image files the same as image files created with Drive Image 5.0.

•	If you do not have an index file for the image, you can use ImageExplorer to copy the image into a new image. Then the image file is just like any other created with Drive Image 5.0.

 To restore files from a partition


To restore files from a partition

1	From the Locate or Recent pane, double-click the image file that contains the partition with the files you want to restore.

2	(If applicable) Type the image file password, then click OK.

3	Double-click the desired partition.

4	Select the folder or files you want to restore.

5	Click File [image] Restore. (See Tips below.)

If you selected an image file that was created with an older version of Drive Image or ImageExplorer, a progress bar displays while the ImageExplorer expands the image index.

6	Click To this destination, then specify the location where you want to save the restored files. Click [image] to navigate to the location you want.

You can also click Restore to original path if you want to restore the folders or files to their original location. If the original location does not include a drive letter (because the partition was hidden when you imaged it), you must enter a drive letter for the partition before you can restore it.

7	Click Restore to restore the files.

8	When file restoration is complete, click OK.

9	Click Close to return to the ImageExplorer main window.

Tips

•	In place of step 4, you can use drag and drop to initiate a restore.

If you are in the Locate pane, drag the selected folders and files onto the target location within the same pane, then continue with step 5.

If you are in the Recent pane, drag the selected folders and files to the Locate tab to automatically open the Locate pane. Continue dragging the selection onto the folder you want to have it automatically open. When you find the target location inside the folder, release the mouse button to drop the selection. Continue with step 5.

•	In step 6, you can change the default destination path. For more information click See Also on the Help toolbar, then click About Options.

•	In step 7, you can also click the Restore icon, or you can right-click on any file or folder in a partition, then click Restore from the quick menu.


About Properties

Use Properties to display the property information (such as the partition name, its file system type, the size, and so forth) of a selected image file or a partition.

 To view image properties

 To view partition properties


To view image properties

1	From the Recent pane, select the desired image file.

2	Click File [image] Properties, or right-click the image file and click Properties.

The following table describes each option in the Image Properties dialog.

Option	Specifies
Description	A user-assigned comment associated with the partition. If the image was created with Drive Image 5.0 and is not marked read-only, you can edit the description.
MS-DOS Name	A user-assigned name for the image.
Image size	The total size of the image.
Image date/time	The date and time that the image file was created.
Spanned	Whether the image file is spanned over several disks.
Compression	Whether the selected partition is compressed or uncompressed.  The level of compression (Low or High) is also specified. Low level compression yields an approximate 40% compression rate.  High level compression yields approximately 50%.
Password Protected	Whether the selected partition is password protected.
3	Click OK to exit the dialog.


To view partition properties

1	From the Locate or Recent pane, double-click the image file that contains the desired partition.

2	Select the partition you want.

3	Click File [image] Properties, or right-click partition and click Properties.

The following table describes each option in the Partition Properties dialog.

Option	Specifies
Display name	A user-assigned name for the partition.
Description	A user-assigned comment associated with the partition.
Drive letter	The partition drive letter.
Type	The file system type (for example, FAT, NTFS, and HPFS) used within the partition.
Primary/Logical	The selected partition's drive status as either Primary or Logical.
Partition size	The total size of the partition. This total includes both used and free space.
Used space in partition	The amount of used space within the partition.
Unused space in partition	The amount of free or unused space within the partition.
Physical size in image	The actual size of the partition within the image file. This physical size may differ from the Partition Size depending upon the amount of used and free space within the partition and the compression level.
4	Click OK to exit the dialog.

Tip

•	If the image file was created with Drive Image 5.0 and is not marked read-only or located on append-only media, you can edit the display name or the description of the partition in their respective text boxes.


About Exit

Use Exit to quit ImageExplorer. When you run ImageExplorer again, your previous view settings will be used.

 To exit ImageExplorer


To exit ImageExplorer

  Click File [image] Exit.


About Copy and Paste

Use Copy with Paste to copy selected images, partitions, partition folders or partition files. Choose Copy and Paste from the Edit pull-down menu, or drag and drop items to quickly accomplish the same task.

Depending on what you copy, the paste feature will function slightly differently. Note that paste is only available if an item has been copied and the current selection is a valid paste target.

What are you pasting?	Result
An image file	The Copy to Image dialog appears with the Destination image text box filled in with the currently selected folder or drive letter.
A partition in an image file	The Copy to Image dialog appears and, after you click OK, the copied partition is pasted to the target image. If the target image is password-protected, you must type the correct password before the partition can be added to the image.
Folders or files in a partition	The Restore dialog appears. You can choose to restore the copied folders or files to their original location or to a folder path that you specify.

 To use copy and paste


To use copy and paste

1	From the Locate or Recent pane, select the image files, partitions, or partition files and folders you want to copy.

2	Click Edit [image] Copy.

3	From the Locate or Recent pane, navigate to the folder where you want to paste the copied items.

4	Click Edit [image] Paste.

5	If you are copying a file or folder, the Restore dialog appears. Click the link at the bottom of this topic, and go to step 6 of that topic.

If you are copying an image or partition, verify the path you are pasting to (displayed in the Destination image text box.)

6	(Optional) Type a comment in the Description text box.

7	Click a compression level.

Compression Option	Description
None	No compression is usually the fastest method for saving the image file and is useful if storage space is not an issue. However, if you are saving your image file to a busy network drive or to a relatively slow removable media device, compression may be faster than no compression since less data is transferred over the network.
Low	Low compression offers a 40% average compression ratio.
High	High compression offers a 50% average compression ratio.
8	(optional) Click Set Password, type a new password, then type it again in the Confirm password text box.

9	(optional) Select Split image into segments, then specify the maximum byte size for the image file.

For example, if you want to save the file to CD, specify a file size of 670,000,000 bytes (670 MB) or less. When the file being saved reaches this size, ImageExplorer begins another file.

10	Click Copy.

Tip

•	In step 8, be aware that ImageExplorer does not support the use of extended ASCII characters in passwords when you create a password-protected image; instead, you must use standard ASCII characters.

To restore files from a partition


About Select All

Use Select All to select (highlight) all items in the Contents pane. This is useful if you want to copy multiple partitions to a new image file or to restore multiple files and folders.

 To select all items


To select all items

1	Click inside the Contents pane.

2	Click Edit [image] Select All.

Tips

•	In step 2, you can also press <Ctrl+A> to select all items. Or, you can click the file at the top of the list box, scroll down to the bottom of the list box, hold down <Shift> and select the last file to select all items.

•	To select a group of files that are next to each other, click the top file, then hold down <Shift> and click the last file in the list.

•	To select a group of files that are not next to each other, hold down <Ctrl> while selecting the files you want.


About the View Menu

Use the View menu to display or hide various items on the ImageExplorer interface. To maximize the number of files and folders viewed in the ImageExplorer window, you can hide the toolbar or the text labels.

Displaying the toolbar provides you with quick access to commonly used features.

The Text Labels command displays or hides the text on each toolbar button.

The Status Bar displays or hides the description of toolbar buttons and pull-down menu items at the bottom of the ImageExplorer window.

You can also use the Refresh option on the View menu to re-scan and update the drive and folder views with any changes made outside of the ImageExplorer program.

 To display or hide the Toolbar, Text Labels, or Status Bar

 To refresh the screen


To display or hide the Toolbar, Text Labels, or Status Bar

  Click View [image] Toolbar or Text Labels or Status Bar.

When the menu option has a check mark next to it, the option is displayed.


To refresh the screen

  Click View [image] Refresh.

Tip

•	You can also press <F5> to refresh the screen.


About Add Entry

Use Add Entry to add a previously created image file to the Recent Images pane for quick access. The Recent Images pane allows you to perform a variety tasks on the image such as viewing its contents or partition information.

Note that when you open an image from the Locate pane, it is automatically added to the Recent Images pane.

 To add an image file entry


To add an image file entry

1	Click Recent [image] Add Entry.

2	Navigate to the folder where the image file is located.

3	Select the desired image file.

4	Click Open.

Tips

•	You can also click the Add Entry button on the toolbar.

•	You can also right-click in the Recent Images or Contents pane, then click Add Entry from the quick menu.

•	ImageExplorer can only add image files created with Drive Image or ImageExplorer.


About Remove Entry

Use Remove Entry to delete a single image filename from the list in the Recent Images pane. The image file itself is not deleted.

If you press <Delete> on a selected image file (or you use the Delete Image option), you will delete the listing in the Recent pane and the image file itself.

 To remove an image file entry


To remove an image file entry

1	From the Recent pane, select the image file listing you want to remove.

2	Click Recent [image] Remove Entry.

3	Click OK.

Tips

•	You can also right-click on an image file inside the Recent Images pane, then click Remove Entry from the quick menu.


About Clear Recent Images List

Use Clear Recent Images List to remove the list of all image files in the Recent Images pane. This option does not delete any image files.

 To clear Recent Images list


To clear Recent Images list

  From the Recent pane, click Recent [image] Clear Recent Images List.

Tips

•	You can also right-click inside the Recent Images pane, then click Clear Recent Images List from the quick menu.


About Options

Use the General property page in Options to specify the default restore path. This path is used if you do not initiate an image restoration using drag and drop or copy and paste.

When you use the Copy to Image option, you can specify the maximum byte size to use before an image is split into multiple files. For example, if you want to save the file to CD, you could specify a file size of 670,000,000 bytes (670 MB) or less. When the file being saved reaches this size, ImageExplorer begins another file.

When you create an image file using Drive Image, you can specify the file extension you want; you do not have to use the default .PQI file extension. However, to view those files in the ImageExplorer, you must add the custom file extensions to the list box on the Image Extensions property page. All image files that match the extensions you have added to the list are displayed in the Locate and Recent panes.

 To change General options

 To add image file extensions


To change General options

1	Click Tools [image] Options [image] General.

2	(Optional) Specify the full path to the default restore location.

3	(Optional) Specify the maximum byte size for an image file.

For example, if you want to save the file to CD, you could specify a file size of 670,000,000 bytes (670 MB) or less. When the file being saved reaches this size, ImageExplorer begins another file.

4	Click OK.


To add image file extensions

1	Click Tools [image] Options [image] Image Extensions.

2	Type the image file extension in the Extension text box.

You do not need to type the period. It will be added automatically.

3	Click Add.

4	Repeat steps 2 and 3 to add more file extensions or, if you are finished, click OK.

Tips

•	File extensions can be up to three characters long and can contain alphanumeric characters.

•	To remove an extension, select it from the list box, then click Remove. To erase all extensions you have added, click Clear. *.PQI cannot be removed from the list.


About the Help Menu

When you are in ImageExplorer you can get help by accessing Contents from the Help pull-down menu. You can look up keywords in the Help Index or Find text in Help topics.

The following additional resources contain information on installing, configuring, and using ImageExplorer.

You can also click Help [image] Technical Support [image] Support Web site to access information about PowerQuest products on the PowerQuest web site, including technical white papers, frequently asked questions, support information, and news about product updates.


PowerQuest Technical Support

Before contacting PowerQuest, please try to resolve problems you encounter by using the online Help, the quick start guide, the README file, and PowerQuest's corporate web site.

Tips

•	Your problem may be resolved by applying the most recent patch or upgrade of the software. You can download patches and upgrades from http://www.powerquest.com/updates.

•	Your product serial number is required to obtain technical support.

•	If you received a demo or trial version of the product, you are not entitled to complimentary technical support.

Term of Technical Support

Technical support is available to all registered users throughout the life of the product, which began when PowerQuest released the software to manufacturing and ends six months after the release of the next version of the software or when PowerQuest discontinues its development.

All PowerQuest technical support offerings are available for review at http://www.powerquest.com/support.

Corporate Web Site

The PowerQuest technical support web site, http://www.powerquest.com/support (available in English only), includes an overview of support options, an e-mail support request form, a list of error messages and information to resolve problems you encounter, and answers to frequently asked questions about the product.

E-mail

To obtain e-mail technical support for specific technical questions, you can fill out the form at the web site specified below.

Language	Location of E-mail Support Form
English	http://www.powerquest.com/support/emsupport.cfm
French	http://www.powerquest.com/support/emsupport.cfm?language=FR
German	http://www.powerquest.com/support/emsupport.cfm?language=DE

Fax

Location	Number
USA	(801) 437-4218
Europe	+31 (0) 20 581 9270

Fax a description of your problem to the technical support fax number. This service is available in the U.S.A., Canada, and Europe 24 hours, seven days. PowerQuest technicians try to respond to all fax requests within 24 hours.

Telephone

Language	Location	Number
English	U.K.	+44 (0) 20 7341 5517
English	U.S.A.1	(801) 226-6834 (toll number)
French	France	+33 (0) 1 69 32 49 30
German	Germany	+49 (0) 69 66 568 516

The U.S.A. call center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., MST/MDT. Our European call center, located in the Netherlands, is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 18:00, CET.


About Split

Use Split to save an existing image file across a series of removable media disks (for example, floppy disks, Jaz, or Zip disks). You can use ImageExplorer to split image files after they have been created. You can also save split image files to a network drive and later transfer the files to removable media, such as a CD-ROM.

You split an image by copying the whole image or selected partitions to a new image file and then splitting the new image file.

When you split an image file, you are automatically prompted for new media when media in a removable device is full.

 To copy partitions to an image file

 To use copy and paste


About Combining Split Images

Use Combine to convert a split image file into a single, unified image file. Combine could be useful if you have an image file stored on removable media, but you want to save it on a network directory or your hard disk.

If you select an image that is part of a spanned set (split image) and select Copy to Image, ImageExplorer combines the split images in the Destination image file.

 To copy partitions to an image file

 To use copy and paste


About Password Protection

You can use ImageExplorer to copy an image to a new image with a new password. When you assign a password to an image, the password is encrypted into the file. Be aware, however, that ImageExplorer does not support the use of extended ASCII characters in passwords when you create a password-protected image; instead, you must use standard ASCII characters.

You add a password to an image by copying the whole image or selected partitions to a new image file and then specifying a password for the new image file.

You cannot copy, resave, restore, or download a password-protected image until you enter the correct password.

Partitions that already have a password cannot have the password removed using the No password protection option or cannot have a new password set using the Set password option without correctly entering the original password when prompted during the copy. Note that passwords are case-sensitive.

 To copy partitions to an image file

 To use copy and paste


Toolbar

The toolbar gives you quick access to commonly used features. You can display or hide the text labels that are shown at the bottom of each button.

To maximize the number of files and folders viewed in the ImageExplorer window, you can hide the toolbar or the text labels.

Click the Refresh button on the toolbar to re-scan and update the drive and folder views with any changes made outside of the ImageExplorer program.


Status bar

The Status Bar displays or hides the description of toolbar buttons and pull-down menu items at the bottom of the ImageExplorer window.


Contents pane

The Contents pane displays the contents of the selected drive, folder, image file, or partition.

When the Recent pane is displayed, you can do the following in the Contents pane:

•	Copy partitions to an image file

•	Delete a selected image file

•	Verify that the selected image file is valid

•	View the properties of a select image file

•	Add or remove image files from the Recent pane, or clear the entire list.


Recent pane

The Recent pane (shown here with the "Recent" button selected) shows a hierarchical tree view of image files (.PQI) that you have added to this pane.

From this pane you can:

•	Copy partitions to an image file

•	Delete a selected image file

•	Verify that the selected image file is valid

•	View the properties of a select image file

•	Add or remove image files from the Recent pane, or clear the entire list.


Documentation Survey

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PowerQuest product and version:

Questions

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2	How can we improve the documentation?

3	How often do you use the documentation?

4	What do you use the most to get answers? What do you use least?

• User guide-printed	• Technical support
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5	What do you use to find what you are looking for in the documentation?

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Locate pane

Use the Locate pane to display a hierarchical tree view of local disks and network drives. You can use the Locate pane, among other things, to search for image files (.PQI) that you want to add to the Recent pane.