Deleted Partion D

I guess I don't really know to be honest.

I previously had several problems, I thought with a virus, even factory restoring didn't help. Afterwards I started getting blue screens. Luckily I had the disc that came with the computer at the time. It was the hard drive and I got a new one to replace it.

And I was having similar problems this time, minus the blue screens. From my limited knowledge it seemed to be a rootkit. I also deleted my partition which made me worried that if something happened I was screwed over.

So now that I got windows installed, I'm not sure what I want. I was assuming some type of recovery media or a system image would give me some security just in case something happened. But I honestly don't know what is best, I just want some security just in case something happens, but I guess the windows disc is some security too.

So maybe you could help me out, with your knowledge as to what might be best to help me, and what might give me some security, or if I'm okay and it's no big deal?

(I have a portable HD for things like this, and a couple of dvds if I need them)

Now if you do suggest a system image or using macrium, my question is should I re-install my important programs, and move my music/photos/videos over??? and THEN do the image, or should I do it before hand?

Thanks for you all and your knowledge, it's helping me greatly

zomboromano said:

So maybe you could help me out, with your knowledge as to what might be best to help me, and what might give me some security, or if I'm okay and it's no big deal?

(I have a portable HD for things like this, and a couple of dvds if I need them)

Now if you do suggest a system image or using macrium, my question is should I re-install my important programs, and move my music/photos/videos over??? and THEN do the image, or should I do it before hand?

The Windows install disc is the best security you can have. If things go to hell, you can always reinstall Windows from that disc. The reinstall won't include your programs or any personal files.

A Macrium image made WOULD include your programs and EVERYTHING on C at the moment the image was made.

But imaging has some shortcomings: it doesn't always work. The success rate is probably above 90% if you have a basic understanding of it.

And it takes a bit of time. And the image files are quite large and must be stored somewhere in case disaster strikes.

And Macrium does nothing but save you time. If you have the Windows install disc and are willing to take the time to re-install your programs if disaster strikes, there isn't much point in Macrium or imaging.

Most people don't use images. Some people do use images and then are disappointed when they can't restore them as desired for whatever reason.

You should back up your personal files (music, email, bookmarks, photos, video, etc) through some other method than imaging precisely because imaging doesn't always work.

When imaging DOES work, it can save you anywhere from a couple of hours to maybe 10 or 20 hours in time required to reinstall and configure Windows and your programs.

Most people who use images make one periodically--maybe monthly, because their C drive is gradually changing over time due to new programs, Windows updates, etc. They might keep the most recent couple of images and delete the oldest one every time they make a new one.

I wouldn't feel in a rush to use images. Think it over. You have nothing to worry about if you backup your data separately and have that installation disc. You can make an image a month from now after you have all your programs installed and Windows is running well.

You mention moving music, video, photos. From where to where were you thinking? Why move them? I guess I don't follow that.

By moving photos and all of that over,

I mean I have anything and everything I would need backed up on my portable hard drive,

basically an install of microsoft office, avast, etc. etc, also my photos, music, videos, and any other important files, they are all on my portable hard drive, and I backed them up before I cleaned the hard drive out.

And I also have that windows install disc.

My question was pertaining to if I should image before I move everything onto my actual hard drive or if I should image after, I wasn't sure if there was any benefit to imaging my system with nothing on it, since maybe it would be more secure. But it was really just me and ignorance, but that's what I meant when I was mentioning moving photos over.

So basically what I understand is the safest way is through the windows installation disc and it's the way that will work. So I'm perfectly fine, especially with my files backed up. I only have a couple hours of installations ahead of me so it's no huge deal.

But if I choose to make an image a month from now, when all of my games, and programs are running smoothly, then I can go ahead and it's no big deal.

I'm supposing that's what your saying?

I just almost have a fear that if I wait to make an image something will happen. The last two times my computer being in jeporady has really shook me up a little bit. I don't have enough money to replace it, but in my mind it's a great computer. 8 gb of ram, windows 7, a good processor, and I put a good video card in it. It's all I could ask for to do anything and everything. I don't even watch TV anymore because of it, so I guess I'm just scraping for security here. So sorry for the ignorant questions and sometimes for asking questions I should know the answer to. I just am very careful with my computer these days. Just don't have the money to replace it.

I assume that as of this moment, your photos and other personal data are on the portable ONLY, and not yet on your C partition?

Yes. I would COPY them back, not move them back.

If you make an image AFTER you move them back, they would be included in the image.

I would of course COPY them back regardless, even if you have no intention of making an image. You should always have an original and a copy of all personal stuff. In your case, the originals on C partition along with Windows, and the copies on the portable.

And periodically keep the portable copies updated by copying all personal data from your C partition to the portable.

You say you have a copy of your Office and Avast installs on the portable. They won't help you. I assume you mean you copied them from you C:\Program Files directory? That's pointless. You can't copy installed programs between drives and expect it to work.

See comments in bold

zomboromano said:

So basically what I understand is the safest way is through the windows installation disc and it's the way that will work. So I'm perfectly fine, especially with my files backed up. I only have a couple hours of installations ahead of me so it's no huge deal.

That's right. It's no big deal if you are willing to take the time to install Windows and programs manually.

But if I choose to make an image a month from now, when all of my games, and programs are running smoothly, then I can go ahead and it's no big deal.

I'm supposing that's what your saying?

That's exactly right. An image file made a month from today would include your entire C partition as it existed on THAT DAY. An image file made today would include the entire C partition as it exists TODAY.

I just almost have a fear that if I wait to make an image something will happen.

So what if it does? You can reinstall from your Windows install disk and reinstall your programs. Then reinstall your personal files from your portable backup. You lose NOTHING but the required time.

An image is NOT going to reduce the likelihood of a failed hard drive or a virus or your house burning down or anything else. It's just a time-saver.

And does not always work.

ignatzatsonic said:

I assume that as of this moment, your photos and other personal data are on the portable ONLY, and not yet on your C partition?

Yes. I would COPY them back, not move them back.

If you make an image AFTER you move them back, they would be included in the image.

I would of course COPY them back regardless, even if you have no intention of making an image. You should always have an original and a copy of all personal stuff. In your case, the originals on C partition along with Windows, and the copies on the portable.

And periodically keep the portable copies updated by copying all personal data from your C partition to the portable.

You say you have a copy of your Office and Avast installs on the portable. They won't help you. I assume you mean you copied them from you C:\Program Files directory? That's pointless. You can't copy installed programs between drives and expect it to work.

My files have been on my portable hard drive, from my understanding, every time you move something from the portable hard drive to your c drive, it moves a copy and leaves the originals in place. The reason why I got the hard drive was for cases like this, so I could back up my personal files just in case.

By copies of the installs, I mean the installers. The setup's for those programs. I realize copying from c:\Program Files is pointless. But I know how much of a pain it can be to have something happen and to have to go online and download all of your programs over again. Instead of doing that, I kept the setup files on my personal hard drive just in case.

OK to the installers thing.

A move is a move.

A copy is a copy.

Not the same thing.

If you "move" from A to B and the stuff is still on A, you didn't move. You copied.

You better find out which is happening.

I know when I drag from my portable hard drive to my c drive the files are still on my portable hard drive. I understand the technical difference in terms. I just overlooked my terminology