Windows 7: Windows backup

bigseb · 13 Apr 2012

Currently my PC is set just they way I like so I thought I'd do a backup, the idea being that should something go wrong then I can just use that backup (on DVD's) to do restore my PC to the 'now' settings. A few questions though:

1) Does this restore everything, incl my installed programs and files like pictures, music, etc
2) How is licensed software affected by this? Do the licenses become invalid then?
3) Are the windows setting affected eg. wallpaper, sounds, etc
4) Is the windows backup tool up to this task. If not, why?

Thanks.

quickdraw2011 · 13 Apr 2012

Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

Golden · 13 Apr 2012

Hi BigSeb,

What you need is to image your PC - taking a "snapshot" of everything (OS, installed programs, licencing, all data...the works). I recommend Macrium Reflect for this task:

Imaging with free Macrium
MACRIUM REFLECT - Create Bootable Rescue USB Drive

Regards,
Golden

ignatzatsonic · 13 Apr 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by bigseb

Currently my PC is set just they way I like so I thought I'd do a backup, the idea being that should something go wrong then I can just use that backup (on DVD's) to do restore my PC to the 'now' settings. A few questions though:

1) Does this restore everything, incl my installed programs and files like pictures, music, etc
2) How is licensed software affected by this? Do the licenses become invalid then?
3) Are the windows setting affected eg. wallpaper, sounds, etc
4) Is the windows backup tool up to this task. If not, why?

Thanks.

1: yes, if those programs and files are on the partition that was imaged.
2: licensed software should be unaffected
3: windows settings should be unaffected
4: yes, but it is not particularly flexible or easily understood. That's why many use other tools such as Macrium. None of the programs are perfect and can fail for an unknown reason at any time.

You can backup your personal files (pictures, videos, etc) without using an image and that's probably a preferable method for those files.

Windows 7: Windows backup

Windows backup problems?