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X-Ways Imager
What X-Ways Imager is
X-Ways Imager is Windows software for forensic disk imaging, offered as a stripped-down version of X-Ways Forensics focused on imaging. It can image or clone whole physical disks and partitions sector by sector, create raw images or .e01 evidence files, restore images and compute hashes. It can run directly from a USB device without installation. Compression settings let users balance speed and compression rate, while avoiding heavy compression of data that is already difficult to compress. Users can omit free drive space, and images can let X-Ways Forensics treat originally zeroed areas as sparse. The tool can reconstruct JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 5 and RAID 6 from physical storage when the correct parameters are known. For severely damaged drives that freeze or crash at a sector, raw images can be filled backwards. HPA and DCO areas can also be detected and acquired. The maker describes it as an add-on for F-Response for remote disk imaging and remote RAM dumping. Almost all other X-Ways Forensics functions are unavailable, and the tool cannot create evidence file containers, skeleton images or cleansed images. The maker lists a non-perpetual license at 74 CHF a year and a perpetual license at 157 CHF, paid once.
Who it suits
X-Ways Imager may suit computer forensics, electronic discovery, data recovery, low-level data processing and IT security work. It is geared toward Windows users focused on disk imaging rather than the broader functions of X-Ways Forensics.
What it does well
- Images or clones disks and partitions sector by sector.
- Runs from a USB device without installation.
- Creates raw images and .e01 evidence files.
- Can reconstruct RAID 0, RAID 5 and RAID 6 with correct parameters.
- Supports detection and acquisition of HPA and DCO areas.
What to know first
- Almost all other X-Ways Forensics functions are unavailable.
- Cannot create evidence file containers, skeleton images or cleansed images.
- Download instructions and credentials require access to updates.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| X-Ways Imager perpetual license | Perpetual license for long-term use, with BYOD. · Listed quantity prices: 2+ Fr.157, 5+ Fr.125, 10+ Fr.115 | 157 CHF, paid once |
| X-Ways Imager non-perpetual license | The order page labels it non-perpetual; the page does not state a billing interval. · Works with BYOD for immediate use · listed quantity prices: 2+ Fr.74, 5+ Fr.66, 10+ Fr.59 | 74 CHF a year |
As x-ways.net lists them, read 8 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
X-Ways Imager focuses on collecting and restoring disk images, with additional options for RAID and damaged-drive scenarios. Its narrow scope and update-access requirement are important considerations before purchase.
Facts from X-Ways Imager's own pages
- Compression
- Its compression algorithms offer adjustable trade-offs between speed and compression rate and avoid heavily compressing nearly incompressible data. · x-ways.net, 8 Oct 2026
- Damaged drives
- Raw images can be filled backwards to work around severely damaged drives that freeze or crash the computer at a particular sector. · x-ways.net, 8 Oct 2026
- Disk operations
- It can image or clone entire physical disks or individual partitions sector-wise, create raw images or .e01 evidence files, restore images, and compute hashes. · x-ways.net, 8 Oct 2026
- Download access
- The maker provides download instructions and login credentials through its license database to customers who have access to updates. · x-ways.net, 8 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- Bünde, Germany · x-ways.net, 28 Sept 2026
- Integration
- The maker describes X-Ways Imager as an add-on for F-Response that can image remote disks and dump remote RAM. · x-ways.net, 8 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The maker describes its software as serving computer forensics, electronic discovery, data recovery, low-level data processing, and IT security. · x-ways.net, 8 Oct 2026
- Limits
- The product cannot create evidence file containers, skeleton images, or cleansed images; almost all other X-Ways Forensics functions are unavailable. · x-ways.net, 8 Oct 2026
- Portable use
- It can run directly from a USB device without installation. · x-ways.net, 8 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The maker says it does not forward recorded website visitor data to servers outside the European Union, with a stated exception involving customers who received Oracle's OutsideIn component. · x-ways.net, 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- X-Ways Imager is a forensic disk imaging tool and a stripped-down version of X-Ways Forensics focused on imaging functionality. · x-ways.net, 8 Oct 2026
- RAID
- It can reconstruct disk-based RAID variants including JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 5, and RAID 6 from physical storage devices when the correct parameters are known. · x-ways.net, 8 Oct 2026
- Space handling
- It can optionally omit free drive space, and images can let X-Ways Forensics treat originally zeroed disk areas as sparse. · x-ways.net, 8 Oct 2026
- Special areas
- Detection and acquisition of HPA or DCO areas are supported. · x-ways.net, 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- The maker lists general or technical inquiries by email and says to check the program help or user manual first. · x-ways.net, 8 Oct 2026
Where X-Ways Imager stands on Freedom251
- Digital Forensics Software#28 of 30