Windows 7: system restore

akramh · 01 Jul 2009

hello, my friend has windows XP on his computer, I want to format and install a version of windows 7 on it, but I want to know if there is a way to backup his system using something like system restore, what software is available to do that? I heard about norton ghost is that a good solution? or is there something better out there? I want something that can backup the whole partition to a file on the external harddrive , and be able to restore it if we decided windows 7 is not working well on it, thanks!

Orbital Shark · 01 Jul 2009

I'll be honest i don't even use backup software

There is however 1 way that doesn't require formatting the HDD. If you choose a custome install then install to the partition that Windows XP is installed in then Windows 7 will move everything to a windows.old folder.

You can then copy the user files to the new Windows 7 folder. Once done you can delete the windows.old folder.

Note

This can be long winded & is just 1 way that you can clean install without formatting your system.

Warning

You may need to take full control/ownership of the windows.old folder

Hope this is helpful

Jeff

Cindy · 01 Jul 2009

Hi akramh

You could make a partition on the PCs Hard Drive then install Windows 7 to that partition (making a dual boot) partition needs to be around 15 to 20 GB, some free partition software > Free Partition Editors, Managers and Recovery (Partitioning Software) (thefreecountry.com)

zigzag3143 · 01 Jul 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by akramh

hello, my friend has windows XP on his computer, I want to format and install a version of windows 7 on it, but I want to know if there is a way to backup his system using something like system restore, what software is available to do that? I heard about norton ghost is that a good solution? or is there something better out there? I want something that can backup the whole partition to a file on the external harddrive , and be able to restore it if we decided windows 7 is not working well on it, thanks!

Shark is of course correct. I also use Norton as well because I can restore from a bootible disk. Also there is acronis that a lot of people swear by. If you're looking for the easiest GUI I would thinks is Ghost.

Hope this helps

Ken

Orbital Shark · 01 Jul 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by Cindy

Hi akramh

You could make a partition on the PCs Hard Drive then install Windows 7 to that partition (making a dual boot) partition needs to be around 15 to 20 GB, some free partition software > Free Partition Editors, Managers and Recovery (Partitioning Software) (thefreecountry.com)

+1, nice suggestion

Quote: Originally Posted by zigzag3143

Shark is of course correct. I also use Norton as well because I can restore from a bootible disk. Also there is acronis that a lot of people swear by. If you're looking for the easiest GUI I would thinks is Ghost.

Hope this helps

Ken

+2, nice suggestion

There's 3 for you to ponder over mate

akramh · 01 Jul 2009

hi, my friend really wants to format the whole harddrive, since his disk is small only 80GB, and because he thinks it's slowing his computer. I don't mind formating just worried about not being able to run windows 7 and all his software properly on it, so I want a way to fall back and restore the system the way it was before I formated, so if you know of any good solution that can do that, would be much appretiated. I'm prepared to purchase a copy of ghost, but wondering since it was out many years ago if there is a better solution out there, that is even compatable with other windows versions too. I did google about ghost alternatives, and I found a link that has like more than 15 solutions, but I don't know which one to choose there is so many of them it seems, it's confusing, if you know of a review that compares those types of solutions and could point me to a link that talks about that it would be hellfull, or if you have personal experience with any of them, thanks!

Orbital Shark · 01 Jul 2009

How old is the computer? Some used to come with a backup DVD which will setup during boot (Angel was 1) which will delete the partition & re-install to factory settings.

zigzag3143 · 01 Jul 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by akramh

hi, my friend really wants to format the whole harddrive, since his disk is small only 80GB, and because he thinks it's slowing his computer. I don't mind formating just worried about not being able to run windows 7 and all his software properly on it, so I want a way to fall back and restore the system the way it was before I formated, so if you know of any good solution that can do that, would be much appretiated. I'm prepared to purchase a copy of ghost, but wondering since it was out many years ago if there is a better solution out there, that is even compatable with other windows versions too. I did google about ghost alternatives, and I found a link that has like more than 15 solutions, but I don't know which one to choose there is so many of them it seems, it's confusing, if you know of a review that compares those types of solutions and could point me to a link that talks about that it would be hellfull, or if you have personal experience with any of them, thanks!

Does your friend have an external drive to store the backup data on?
K

akramh · 01 Jul 2009

he lost his recovery CD, the computer is HP Pavilion dv5000, I have an external harddrive so I managed to back up his data.

zigzag3143, thanks for pointing out about acronis, I am downloading it now, I read some good reviews about it. I hope I can do something with the trial version untill I get to buy it.

zigzag3143 · 01 Jul 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by akramh

he lost his recovery CD, the computer is HP Pavilion dv5000, I have an external harddrive so I managed to back up his data.

zigzag3143, thanks for pointing out about acronis, I am downloading it now, I read some good reviews about it. I hope I can do something with the trial version untill I get to buy it.

My pleasure

after you decide what changes to make you need to APPLY them. It will then reboot and take a while but it has always worked for me

Ken