Windows 7 / Creating a system image: formatting all partitions!!

jsmlb · Jun 30, 2012

Dear,

I have 3 identical PCs with 2 partitions: C and D.
I created a system image for one PC, C only.
But when I restore that system image into the other 2 PCs (using Wind7 DVD), it formats both C and D and restore.

The problem is that I have data on D and I don't want it to be formatted. I only want to restore the C image.

Please advise.

Thank you

marsmimar · Jun 30, 2012

Hello jsmlb and welcome to Seven Forums.

I'm not an expert at anything. So maybe some other Forum experts will jump in with their opinions. But I think I see a problem with what you're trying to do.

You say you have 3 identical computers. I don't think they are identical. They each have a motherboard with a unique serial number. The hard drives have unique serial numbers. So do the RAM modules. The C: partition most likely contains the operating system and it is tied to the first computer you installed it in through those unique serial numbers of the motherboard, etc. I don't think it would be that easy to copy a C: partition from one computer and be able to install it on another computer because of the possibility of piracy issues.

I also think there's another consideration as to where on the hard drive the copied C: partition would start and end. For example, when I use Macrium to make an image of my C: partition, it shows me a starting sector and an ending sector on the hard drive. Just as an example, perhaps my Reserved Partition starts at Sector 100 and ends at Sector 2500 (these are not the actual sector numbers.) My C: partition would start at Sector 2501 and end at Sector 346,213. My D: partition would start at Sector 346,214 and end at whatever. The point being, if I'm reinstalling just my C: partition, it would HAVE to "fit" exactly and not overlap onto any other sectors. Do all 3 of your "identical" computers have the exact same starting and ending C: partition sectors?

As I said, I'm not an expert so perhaps I'm completely mistaken on how system imaging actually works. For my benefit, as well as yours, I hope someone with more experience can give a better explanation.

whs · Jun 30, 2012

If you use Windows imaging, you may have those effects. If Windows thinks that there is stuff on D that must be imaged with C, it will image D also and restore it accordingly.

With Windows imaging you have absolutely no control of what it is doing. And it has a lot of other weaknesses too. So it is a pretty useless facility.

I suggest you image your C with free Macrium. Then you can control what you are doing. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?ltr=I

ComputerN00b · Jun 30, 2012

Really sorry I know that this is sort of off topic a bit but i just joined this forum and i don't really know where to post things and what not but my friend told me that i had to format my hard drive because before hand i had just installed my new Windows 7 (64bit) over my old Windows 7 (32bit) and that it was giving me higher CPU usage, was she right ?

marsmimar · Jun 30, 2012

ComputerN00b said:
Really sorry I know that this is sort of off topic a bit but i just joined this forum and i don't really know where to post things and what not but my friend told me that i had to format my hard drive because before hand i had just installed my new Windows 7 (64bit) over my old Windows 7 (32bit) and that it was giving me higher CPU usage, was she right ?

I think you'll probably get a better response if you post this question in the section called "Installation & Setup". From what I understand it's not possible to upgrade from 32 bit to 64 bit (or downgrade from 64 to 32 bit.) It can only be done by a clean install and that should automatically take care of formatting the drive. Hard to say why your CPU usage is higher without knowing what's using the CPU either through Task Manager, Resource Monitor, or some other 3rd party program.

Kaktussoft · Jun 30, 2012

jsmlb said:
Dear,

I have 3 identical PCs with 2 partitions: C and D.
I created a system image for one PC, C only.
But when I restore that system image into the other 2 PCs (using Wind7 DVD), it formats both C and D and restore.

The problem is that I have data on D and I don't want it to be formatted. I only want to restore the C image.

Please advise.

Thank you

Are you very very very sure about:

Is starting sector of C the same on image and destination harddisk? (check source harddisk and destination harddisk)

Code:

C:\Windows\system32>[COLOR=red]diskpart[/COLOR]
Microsoft DiskPart-versie 6.1.7601
Copyright (C) 1999-2008 Microsoft Corporation.
Op computer: LAPTOPRON
DISKPART> [COLOR=red]sel dis 0[/COLOR]
Schijf 0 is nu de geselecteerde schijf.
DISKPART> [COLOR=red]list par[/COLOR]
  Partitie  ###  Type              Grootte  Offset
  -------------  ----------------  -------  -------
  Partitie 1    Primair            113 GB    32 KB
  Partitie 0    Uitgebreid         352 GB   113 GB
  Partitie 2    Logisch            352 GB   113 GB
DISKPART> list vol
  Volume ###  Ltr  Label        FS     Type        Grootte  Status     Info
  ----------  ---  -----------  -----  ----------  -------  ---------  --------
  volume 0     Z                       DVD-ROM         0 B  Geen medi
  volume 1     S                       DVD-ROM         0 B  Geen medi
  volume 2     C   System       NTFS   partitie     113 GB  In orde    Systeem
  volume 3     D   Data         NTFS   partitie     352 GB  In orde
DISKPART> [COLOR=red]sel vol 2[/COLOR]
Volume 2 is nu het geselecteerde volume.
DISKPART> det vol
  Schfnr.   Status         Grootte  Vrij     Dyn  GPT
  --------  -------------  -------  -------  ---  ---
* Schf 0    Online          465 GB  3072 KB
Alleen-lezen               : Nee
Verborgen                   : Nee
Geen standaardstationsletter: Nee
Schaduwkopie           : Nee
Offline                     : Nee
Versleuteld met BitLocker: Nee
Installeerbaar            : Ja
Volumecapaciteit       :  113 GB
Vrije ruimte op volume :   77 GB
DISKPART> [COLOR=red]sel par 1[/COLOR]
Partitie 1 is nu de geselecteerde partitie.
DISKPART> [COLOR=red]det par[/COLOR]
Partitie 1
Type     : 07
Verborgen: Nee
Actief   : Ja
[COLOR=royalblue]Offset in bytes: 32768[/COLOR]
  Volume ###  Ltr  Label        FS     Type        Grootte  Status     Info
  ----------  ---  -----------  -----  ----------  -------  ---------  --------
* volume 2     C   System       NTFS   partitie     113 GB  In orde    Systeem
DISKPART> list par
  Partitie  ###  Type              Grootte  Offset
  -------------  ----------------  -------  -------
* Partitie 1    Primair            113 GB    32 KB
  Partitie 0    Uitgebreid         352 GB   113 GB
  Partitie 2    Logisch            352 GB   113 GB
DISKPART>

ComputerN00b · Jun 30, 2012

I think you'll probably get a better response if you post this question in the section called "Installation & Setup". From what I understand it's not possible to upgrade from 32 bit to 64 bit (or downgrade from 64 to 32 bit.) It can only be done by a clean install and that should automatically take care of formatting the drive. Hard to say why your CPU usage is higher without knowing what's using the CPU either through Task Manager, Resource Monitor, or some other 3rd party program.[/QUOTE]

Well as my name states I don't really know much about computers I already reformatted and installed a new copy of windows but is it true that windows would be searching for something twice because of having an old windows still there even after I deleted it
sorry if this doesn't make any sense

Kaktussoft · Jun 30, 2012

do you see this?

Source: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/675-system-image-recovery.html

jsmlb · Jun 30, 2012

Hello all,

1- I was using Acronis True Image and it was doing the job with no complications but when I knew that Windows 7 back and restore can do the same, I tried it.

2- I'll try what Kaktussoft advised; Untick Format and Repartitions disks and see the outcome.

Thanx a lot,

Kaktussoft · Jun 30, 2012

jsmlb said:
Hello all,

1- I was using Acronis True Image and it was doing the job with no complications but when I knew that Windows 7 back and restore can do the same, I tried it.

2- I'll try what Kaktussoft advised; Untick Format and Repartitions disks and see the outcome.

Thanx a lot,

Untick Format and Repartitions disks =>I think it's greyed out, so impossible. Can you untick?

jsmlb · Jun 30, 2012

Hi Kaktussoft, I'll check it next week and get back to you.

Windows 7 / Creating a system image: formatting all partitions!!

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