Windows 7 - Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

**Brink**

How to Create a System Image Backup in Windows 7

Information

This will show you how to create a system image (clone) backup of the entire hard drive or partition that Windows 7 is on, and any other selected drive or partition, to be able to restore the hard drive or partition at boot up back to the way it was at the time the backup image was created.

Note

Backup images are saved as backup periods in this format at the selected saved to location below.

(backup location)\WindowsImageBackup\(computer name)\Backup (year-month-day) (time)

For example, if your computer name is Computer, your backup image location is on hard disk or partition (network or local) D: , and you backed up on 11/22/2008 at 1:00:50 PM (It uses 24 hour time), then that backup image would be located in the D:\WindowsImageBackup\Computer\Backup 2008-11-22 130050 folder.

By default, Windows automatically saves as many system images as it has space for without taking up more than 30 percent of space on the backup disk. Once the disk starts running out of room, Windows deletes older system images. If a system image was created through Windows Backup instead with the Include a System Image of Drives box checked, you can set Windows to retain as many system images as it has space for on the backup disk or to only keep the most recent system image. You should always keep the most recent system image. If you are saving your system image on a network location, you can only keep the most recent system image.

Warning

Windows 7 cannot backup the partition or drive that you are saving the backup image to.
You can only save the backup image on a separate hard drive (recommended) or partition than Windows 7 is installed on.
Only the Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions can backup to a network location.
You cannot restore a 64-bit Windows 7 backup image on a 32-bit system.
You cannot restore a 64-bit Windows 7 backup image with a 32 bit Windows 7 installation DVD or recovery partition, or the other way around. You must use the same 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7 installation DVD or recovery partition as the backup image is.
When restoring a system image from a dynamic volume, the disks on your computer cannot be formatted to match the layout of the disks on the backup. To have full functionality, select a volume (partition) on a basic disk as your backup location instead.

RELATED LINKS:

Here's How:

1. Open the Control Panel (All Items View).

2. Click on the Backup and Restore icon.

3. Click on the Create a system image link. (See screenshot below)

4. If prompted by UAC, click on Yes.

5. Select the location to where you would like to save the backup image at, and click on the Next button. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: See the Warning box at the top of the tutorial. Only the Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions can backup to a network location.

6. If availabe, check any additional hard drives or partitions (ex: Vista) that you would like to include in the backup image with the Windows 7 (System and C: ) partition or hard drive, and click on the Next button. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: See the WARNING box at the top of the tutorial. If you do not want to add any additional hard drives or partitions, then just leave the others unchecked. You will not see this, if you do not have any other OS installed other than Windows 7.

7. Click on the Start backup button. (See screenshot below)

8. You will now see this window. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If you wish to stop creating the backup image during this point, click on the Stop backup, Stop, and Close buttons.

9. When it is finished you will see this create a System Repair disc pop-up window. Click on No. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If you do not want to see this pop-up window again, then check the box.

10. Click on the Close button. (See screenshot below)

11. Close the Backup and Restore window. (See screenshot below step 3)

That's it,
Shawn

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**Bare Foot Kid** · 11-22-2008

Hello Brink.

So this will do exactly the same as Acronis TI will do?

Later

Ted

**Brink** · 11-22-2008

Hi Ted,

It's just like the Complete PC Backup feature in Vista. It creates a clone of your hard drive that you can restore at the System Recovery Options boot screen from your Windows 7 installation DVD.

I'm sure that Acronis may have more options than this basic feature though.

**Bare Foot Kid** · 11-22-2008

Thanks for the explanation!

Later

Ted

**Brink** · 11-23-2008

You're welcome Ted.

**Mr GRiM** · 11-23-2008

I wanted to give that a go but I couldn't deselect my Vista drive and I didn't have enough space for both so if you know how I can get to just select C: drive for a image backup let me know.

**Brink** · 11-23-2008

Sorry Mr GRiM, but it will not let you save the backup image on the same partition as Windows 7 is on. It will only let you save it on another partition or hard drive that has enough space for the backup image.

**Mr GRiM** · 11-23-2008

No that's not what I meant, I have a external Hard Disk but which it selects as my backup drive but it is only 300GB and that is not enough room for both my Vista and Windows 7 Drives.

So my question was can I deselect my Vista Hard drive from the backup which would leave just my C: Drive to backup which has only about 65Gb used at the moment.

**Brink** · 11-23-2008

LOL, sorry Mr GRiM.

In step 5, it should only have the Windows 7 drive or partition selected by default. I'm not sure why you would have Vista selected, or how to deselect it if it will not let you.

**Mr GRiM** · 11-23-2008

That's OK, thanks anyway and if you do find a way let me know. Here is the screen I have.