Windows 7: Creating a System Image backup

So I've used Norton ghost in XP to do this and had a great experience.



When i got Windows 7 i was waiting for ghost to be patched. Then i read on this website about using some other free program the people here recommended. I just popped back to find it and now see its been replaced with windows 7s own system image backup program, i had no idea this existed, when did it come about and why wasn't it on here before? Is it better than ghost or that other program?

Here you go.

System Image Recovery

It is better than ghost because it is free

Hello Xisuma,

I suggest that you read the links below to find out more information....

If you require more help let us know...

Jan.

Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

Backing up EVERYTHING

Hello Xisuma.











Here is the one most here recommend over the Windows program.


Imaging with free Macrium

Thanks for the link to Macrium. Im already looking at the other page. What i wanted to know is when this came about because it was never there when i first got windows 7, sorry if i wasnt clear

Pardon my ignorance but I am not computer savy. I am assuming the complete system back up Disks is more or less like the XP disc we used to get with Windows XP PCs. Does it take a lot of brains to make these? I understand it takes 4 DVD-R disk. Doesent the PC guide you through the process and tell you when to put another disk in? Also arnt you supposed to make these as soon as you take the PC out of the box before installing other programs. I purchased a PC for my Grandson to take to college and the 4 disk were already made. I got lucky and didnt have to pay for them. They (Best Buys) want $80.00 + tax for this. A little help please. Thank in advance

I think what you are refering to are the OEM rescue disks.
These will restore your PC to the exact same state as it was the day you bought it.


Imaging is slightly different in the sense, it backs up everything on the disk you are Imaging.

Restoring it restores everything the way it was was the day you made the image.


Some Imaging programs can Automatically update the Image however often you choose. Others need to be done manually perodically.

Now, If a problem arises, you simply open the Program and tell it to restore.

In the even the PC crashes, or can not boot into Windows, they also have rescue disks.
So you can boot from a CD if you need too, and access your stored backups.

When the restore is complete, everything will be exactly as it was at the time you made the Image. All installed programs, personal settings etc.

I strongly recommend that when you buy a new PC with the OEM OS installed you make the recovery disks (2 DVDs should do it). Use good quality DVDs. Also I think you need to do it before you install any software.
If your HDD dies, put the new one in and use the recovery disks to put the system back into factory supplied state. I believe some will replace the hidden recovery partition giving back its capability and a partition layout the same as the dead disk.
Not all the OEM is bloat, eg drivers (to at least get you started) and things like ACER's eRecovery.

I use 2 imaging programs on a regular basis (Windows & Macrium) and I'm guessing that it may be safer to restore my latest image to a new disk after doing a factory restore. My recovery/hidden partition is 17.5GB at the front of the HDD and if it isn't there I'm not sure how the image recovery would work on a new HDD.

Having the factory Restore discs is certainly a good idea. never know when you may want them.

But, why would you want to do a factory restore, and then restore a current Image?

You need only do 1 or the other.
Even if you buy a brand new HD, the current sytsem Image will copy over and boot right up without issue.

Unless, of course, you simply want to go back to factory Preset.

But it is by no means a pre-requisite for restoring a System Image.

Wishmaster,
"I use 2 imaging programs on a regular basis (Windows & Macrium) and I'm guessing that it may be safer to restore my latest image to a new disk after doing a factory restore. My recovery/hidden partition is 17.5GB at the front of the HDD and if it isn't there I'm not sure how the image recovery would work on a new HDD."

This was my concern, and it may not be an issue. I've never restored to a NEW disk before and people who have done it successfully may not have had the 17.5GB sitting up the front of the disk. In my case before the 100M system reserved partition and the OS/boot partition.
So a question is:
Would a straight reimage to a new disk put the 100MB sys reserved at the front of the disk and would this cause problems (with the BCD and the OS partition location). Or would it leave a 17.5GB unallocated partition at the front of the disk.

I'm just unsure about this.