Windows 7: "Include a system image of drives: EFI system partition, C:, D:"

Hi,

I use a Norwegian version of Windows 7, so the terminology I use might be somewhat wrong and not exactly what it is called in the English version of Windows... I hope you understand nevertheless.

I have three HDD installed in my computer (C, D and E). C is an SDD (120 GB) with Windows 7 and most of the software I use regularly; D is my primary disk (1.8 TB) for storage, like all libraries, music, pictures, documents etc. Disk E is intended to be used only as a backup. This is a 298 GB disk.

I try to set up an automatic backup of Windows and having trouble finding disk space on my E drive. Obviously there are more than 298 GB of data on my C and D drive, so I cannot make an image of both HDD and just back them up to the E drive.

To start my search for the solution I'm wondering what the "Include a system image of drives: EFI system partition, C:, D:" option means? What does it include and how much hard disk storage will it need? Is it simply a complete image of my two HDD C and D so that I'll never have room for it on my E drive?



Thanks

Hello Hoggorm,

A system image is a complete backup of the hard drive and partitions that are selected to be included in the image. By default, all system drives/partitions (ex: your EFI system partition, C:, D: ) will be included in a system image and cannot be unselected since they are required for Windows to run. The image can be quite large in size.

Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

A Windows Backup is only a backup of everything in the folders you include in the backup.

Backup User and System Files

If you do not want to include creating a system image along with your Windows Backup, then you could just uncheck that option to only have a Windows Backup created instead.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Thank you Shawn,

If I understand correctly the "Include a system image of drives..." option creates a backup of the entire computer. But why would you that AND select individual folders in the options above? Aren't they included when you first select "Include a system image of drives..."?

It all depends on if you do this through "Windows Backup" or directly with "System Image". Windows Backup allows you to also create a system image with it if you like. Otherwise, you could just use System Image to create only a system image without Windows Backup for folders.

An example for why would be say someone wants to manually create a system image only once a week, but would like to keep important files in a folder scheduled to be backed up everyday (or however often).

Some businesses or folks may also wish to use Windows Backup and also have the system image option checked to have it all created automatically on a schedule.

It just depends on what their needs are, but it's great to have options.

I see!

Thanks for assisting! It is highly appreciated

You're most welcome.