Windows 7: system image and system repair disc

I need clarification.
I am having trouble differentiating system image and system repair disc.

More importantly, when to use one over the other ?
Example, if my computer has stopped working, then I will use ..... which one ?

1. ) I have my system image backed up to my external hard drive. ( Just did one today ).
In the event I am unable to boot my computer, how do I use the system image in order to recover my computer to working order ?
Connect my ext. hard drive to the computer, then what ?

2. ) I also have created a system repair disc.
How do I use the system repair disc when I am unable to boot my computer ?

Thank you.

Hello Dhu,

The tutorials below can give you more details on the how and what for this. After reading through them, please let us know if you have any questions.

Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

System Image Recovery

System Repair Disc - Create

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Thank you.

I can follow the System Image tutorial, including how to use it in both cses....
When I am able to boot into Win 7 as well as
when I am unable to boot into Win 7.

The tutorial of how to use System Repair Disc is confusing.

Perhpas, I should create system image regularly. Use it when the computer is unable to start, and forget about the system repair disc.

It's nevertheless a good idea to make a system repair disc, for a worst case scenario when you can no longer boot your computer and access Windows 7.

The tutorial says I can use Sysyem Image Recovery in both cases ...
1. if I am able to boot into Windows 7.
2. if I am unable to boot into Windows 7.

Do I interpret correctly ?

A system repair disc is used to boot to the system recovery options if you don't have a retail Windows installation disc to do so instead.

Correct, you can start a system image recovery from either in Windows 7 or at boot.

Thank you for the reply and clarification.

Still question about system repair disc......

I had been using Vista until this May 21st, when I bought a new computer with Home Premium 64-bit.
It is an OEM version. There is no disc at all. There is no recovery partition either. Just a plain old C drive, 581 GB.
At the Backup and Restore window I saw the " create a system repair disc " option. I dutifully did one.
Is this the same as the one in your tutorial ? It does not seem to be the same to me.

Further question, if I may........

Upon starting up my new Home Premium 64-bit Windows 7, I was prompted to create Factory Default discs, which I did ( 4 discs in total ).
Yes, I know they are recovery discs.

I would likle to know how to use them.
Can I use them if my computer just won't boot at all ? If yes, how ?

Thank you.

Your set of factory default/system recovery discs are used to recover your system to its factory state. In other words, using them is to all intents and purposes reinstalling Windows.

A single system repair disc does not reinstall Windows, but it does allow you to boot into the Windows recovery environment, from where you can repair the boot loader etc.

Yes you can. If your computer doesnt boot at all and you decide its time to REINSTALL the OS, this is how you go about it:

1) The 4 recovery disks would be in a sequence. So insert the disk #1 in the tray/slot. If the optical drive is set as the first boot device, the computer will automatically boot from that or it may prompt you to press any key to boot from dvd.

2) if the computer is not set to boot from the optical drive first, press F12 (depending on brand it may be F9) to call the one time boot menu, select the cd drive there, hit Enter.

3) The computer will now boot from disk #1 and start the recovery process, follow any onscreen prompts. The computer will prompt you to insert the remaining 3 disks one by one.