Backup query for Windows 7 Home premium.

Hey guys. I was wondering...

Let's say I didn't make a System Image, but instead used the Backup feature on the Windows 7 backup and restore facility , and I backed up everything including program files.


Let's also assume I have a Windows restore disk.


If by some stroke of bad luck, I lost all of my data and got hit by trojans etc. If I restored my laptop to factory settings using my restore disk, would I be able to restore my data to the exact way it was the moment I backed up my data, effectively yielding the same result as the System Image Restore facility?

If I understand you correctly, I think this is what would happen:

The Windows restore disk would restore the laptop to the way it was on delivery--the system would be intact, but you would have no data.

You could then drag your personal data files back from the backup.

I doubt if dragging your program files back would work as that alone would not cause the registry to change.

You would end up with data as it was at the moment of the backup, but your programs would be as of the day you received the laptop. You could presumably then reinstall your programs.

Cheers.

Tews said:

Probably not.. why not just image your disk and store it to a spare drive/partition??

My portable harddrive which has 350gb capacity isn't allowing me to save a system image on it because it isn't NTFS.

Is there anyway to make my portable harddrive NTFS?

Here are general instructions assuming you have FAT partitions now:

Convert FAT or FAT32 Volume to NTFS

But I don't know if your drive or laptop has some other limitations. Generally speaking, conversion is not an issue.

Thank you very much you lovely people, I made a system image and used it to see if it worked.

It worked amazingly. XD

Just a couple of comments:
1. Any disk (except USB sticks) working with Vista or Win7 should be formatted in NTFS
2. User data belongs into a seperate data partition. Here is how you do that.
3. Backup or image your system and your data seperately. That gives you the most flexibility.
4. The built-in Windows backup/restore and imaging functions are not very reliable. I would not use them. Free Macrium is a better choice and much easier to understand. Here is how to use it.

pparks1 said:

whs said:

4. The built-in Windows backup/restore and imaging functions are not very reliable.

I disagree. For a single hard drive setup, with only one operating system (which covers most of the home market), it works just fine. I've used it tons at home and at work and haven't ever had an issue putting it back on the same drive or a different drive (as long as it was same size or bigger).

OK, I believe that it can work. But I was not that lucky nor were a few others I have seen report about it. And system restore from a shadow can be a real pain. In Vista, I once had about 20 shadows. The system presented 4 or 5 to chose from and only one worked. A 20:1 score is not all that good. Since then I use either Ghost or Macrium. But that may be a personal preference and the logo below your posts apply - lol.