Solved I have 2 system hardrives?!

BrianBoi · Apr 12, 2012

I am trying to create a system image of windows 7, using the create system image function under back up and restore. After I have selected my back up location, windows, by default, selects my C: drive (where windows is installed) and then selects the F: drive (which is a completely separate drive from windows...)

I have a few personal files on the F: drive as well as a handful of installed programs... nothing related to windows as far as I can tell. I obviously dont want to back up this drive along with the C: because I dont have enough space in my back up location.

Is there a way to get rid of the F: drive so that windows will not create a "system image" of it?

writhziden · Apr 12, 2012

Unfortunately, the Windows system image function is fairly simplistic and does not have additional options. For what you are looking for, you will probably need a third party tool. Any tool you get will have a learning curve associated with it, and while the free tools work well in most cases, they do not always provide the best support for all systems. You will have to try them out yourself to see if they are something you are comfortable with and will work with your system.

Free tools:

BrianBoi · Apr 13, 2012

Ok thank you so much for the links, I will be sure to check them out and see which one I prefer. In the mean time, would you be able to explain to me why on earth Windows "see's" my F: drive as a system drive?? bearing in mind that there is no operating system installed on it...

HammerHead · Apr 13, 2012

Installed Programs

BrianBoi said:
I am trying to create a system image of windows 7, using the create system image function under back up and restore. After I have selected my back up location, windows, by default, selects my C: drive (where windows is installed) and then selects the F: drive (which is a completely separate drive from windows...)

I have a few personal files on the F: drive as well as a handful of installed programs... nothing related to windows as far as I can tell. I obviously dont want to back up this drive along with the C: because I dont have enough space in my back up location.

Is there a way to get rid of the F: drive so that windows will not create a "system image" of it?

The Installed programs on the second disk are viewed by windows as part of the system. When you prepare to install the "system image" you get everything associated with the "system". Hence Windows includes in a "system" image everything that is associated with your setup, even though it may be on a second disk. Think about it for a second. Your win registry has references to the installed programs on this "second" disk.

ignatzatsonic · Apr 13, 2012

Even if you had no installed apps on F, Windows might still try to include F in the image if it detects any system files on F. This can happen in some cases if you have more than 1 drive connected during the Windows installation process. That's why you often hear the recommendation to disconnect other drives when installing.

BrianBoi · Apr 13, 2012

Hmmmm ok, well that makes sense... Although I do have one other query. My C: drive is partitioned into 2 separate "drives". C: is for windows, and the other D: is for programs and files etc, but its all on the same physical hard drive. When I ask windows to create a system image, it does NOT select the D: drive and I can manually add it if I wanted to... although now I dont have a choice for my F: drive.

I hope that all makes sense

BrianBoi · Apr 13, 2012

ignatzatsonic said:
Even if you had no installed apps on F, Windows might still try to include F in the image if it detects any system files on F. This can happen in some cases if you have more than 1 drive connected during the Windows installation process. That's why you often hear the recommendation to disconnect other drives when installing.

Oh ok I see what you mean... hmmm maybe I should have done that in the beginning... Everything should still work if I maybe disconnect my F: drive for the purpose of making a system image?

ignatzatsonic · Apr 13, 2012

Your situation is complicated because you have the OS on C, with applications installed on D and F.

Most people would tell you to put the OS and all programs on C , whenever possible. Was there some over-riding reason you have split things up?

You may also have certain system files on D or F---we don't know.

Can you boot successfully with the F drive disconnected?

A picture of Disk Management would help to decipher what you have.

Regardless, Macrium, Paragon, or Acronis will give you more control over imaging and are easier to understand.

BrianBoi · Apr 13, 2012

hahaha sorry about the complicated-ness xD. The main reasons why I split things up like that, was because if something happened to windows (and I have been caught short a few times) I wouldnt be able to get back into my C: drive and thus my D: drive as well... My D: also consists of a lot of personal files that I cant replace. The other reason being that I can "format" the C: without losing data on the D: ..

To the best of my knowledge there should be no system files on the F: drive... but to test your theory I will do a reboot with it disconnected.

I have attached a screen shot of my drives from disk management... C: and D: are the same physical disk and F: is the one reporting that its a system drive as well. L: or Backup is the location im going to back it up too.

SIW2 · Apr 13, 2012

Set disk2 first in Bios boot order.

Mark C active.

Run startup repair from 7 dvd a couple of times.

ignatzatsonic · Apr 13, 2012

BrianBoi:

SIW2 is sharp on this stuff. I'd take his advice.

You have a mess--F is a system drive, C partition is on Disk 2, you have multiple active partitions, etc.

Ideally, Disc 0 would be the drive containing the C partition. You don't need a bunch of partitions marked active.

BrianBoi · Apr 14, 2012

Alright

thank you I will give this a try... failing all of that I will just disconnect the F: harddrive and create a system image of the C: by its self and then reconnect later

. Thank you all for the help

mjf · Apr 14, 2012

If you want to keep your system reserved partition on disk2 then leave it active and do not mark C: active. Also mark both disks 0,1 as inactive. Make disk2 the first boot disk in BIOS and run startup repair a few times to repair the boot files.

Alternatively I would probably unplug disks 0 and 1 after making them inactive and plug disk 2 into the Sata 0 port. Run the repair then connect the other 2 HDDs to the other ports.

BrianBoi · Apr 15, 2012

IT WORKED!!! In the end I marked the F: drive as inactive and windows is now only creating a system of the C: drive... the actual one with the system loaded onto it. I also marked disk 0 and 1 as inactive and made the system reserved one active. I shall go into the BIOS a little later to do the final touches suggested.

Thank you SIW2, HammerHead, writhziden, ignatzatsonic, and mjf for all of your great advice and help

.

writhziden · Apr 15, 2012

You're welcome, though I do not think I was incredibly helpful.

Glad the others helped you find a solution, and it appears you did some good steps on your own. Well done!

BrianBoi · Apr 15, 2012

All advice is greatly appreciated, so thank you for those great free software options suggested. And thank you for the encouragement

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