Hi,
I have W7 PC with Windows preinstalled by the manufacturer (ASUS).
I want to save a copy of my W7 OS on a DVD, just in case my HD crashes and I need to buy a new HD and get Windows reinstalled.
I do not need to backup my personal files and folders.
Is System Image Backup the correct way to accomplish this.....?
If so, how do I exclude non Windows OS files from the backup....?
Thank you,
boyboyds.
Yes, imaging is what you need.
You exclude non Windows OS files from the backup by moving them off the C partition. Imaging captures everything in the chosen partition.
There are imaging apps other than the Windows built-in app that some say are preferable--Macrium, Acronis, for instance.
However, if you don't already have an ordinary Window 7 installation disc, you should also probably download an ISO of one from mydigitallife.info and burn it to a disc.
The burned ISO will give you a clean installation of Windows.
The image file will, if restored, restore your C drive to the state it was in at the time you made the image---which is not the same as a clean install.
If your hard drive fails, its up to you to decide if you want to do a clean install onto the new drive or instead restore an image.
Apart from imaging, you should also burn the installation DVDs from the recovery partition. That should be described in the booklet that came with the PC.
Thanks a lot for your help.
I just learned that W7 ISO image can be downloaded directly from MS website.
This will give you a clean W7 install.
If so, why even mess with W7 System Image Backup, unless you want to save some
personal files and settings as well.
Regards,
boyboyds
Last edited by Brink; 16 Apr 2012 at 22:17.
Well, a reinstallation after 2 years is a 3 day job. Restoring an image from yesterday is a 20 minute job. But if you have a lot of time, it may not make any difference.
Quote