Windows backup - Will it destroy the Dell recovery partition?

I said backups. Image and backup are different. Backup and restore - incremental?

The OP asked if it was safe to use Windows Backup and Restore. I and many others say yes. Now is it the best at this task? I don't know. If the op wants to use a more robust imaging program then your suggestions are good way to go. I was just answering the OP's question with an example of what I just did recently.

Thanks for all the replies guys. I should make it clear, I want a single image that I restore so that if anything goes wrong, I can put it back as it was with a perfect install.

I currently have all my documents, music, picture and download user folders residing on my second partition. So they will not get touched, I am not bothered about incremental backups as I also backup my important stuff manually to my external drive, as well as using windows backup for my user folders.

So to reiterate, I would like to make a single one time image in case of windows screwing up or hdd failure. Will the windows imaging suffice, or do I needs this free program you mention?

Reallly appreciate the help peeps!

One more try. I have given you the answer.
But
Yes you will be ok blindly following the Windows imaging. Provided Windows imaging itself doesn't foul up. But it will be inefficient because you will be continually imaging a static amount of Recovery data.

I have already spelt out a better approach using Macrium and cannot make it any clearer.
Except, you can use the two software packages. Make some with Windows imaging + Macrium Reflect images.

One more voice to this discussion - mine. :)

So to reiterate, I would like to make a single one time image in case of windows screwing up or hdd failure. Will the windows imaging suffice, or do I needs this free program you mention?

If you use the Windows 7 imaging tool it will image your entire hard drive. Reserve partition, recovery partition, and the main partition that contains your operating system and any other programs or data you may have installed. If this system image was made on August 1, 2011 (just as an example) and you use it on October 1, 2011 (again, just an example) your computer will be restored to exactly the way it was on August 1. You would then have to install all updates that came out since August 1, any new programs that were added, etc.

If using the Windows 7 imaging tool, many people recommend making at least two system images. For example, you bring a new computer home from the store (or restore it from the recovery partition), then spend many hours eliminating unwanted bloatware, installing needed programs, getting all updates, making your customizations for themes, user settings, etc. Make a "master" system image so you don't have to go through all that customizing later on. Then, every week, or every two weeks, or every month (whatever works for you) make a new system image with the latest Windows Updates, newly installed programs, etc.

The Windows 7 imaging tool automatically names the system image WindowsImageBackup. If you made a second system image it would simply overwrite the first WindowsImageBackup. So to keep the first image and also a second (or third), I just rename the first image to something like MasterSystemImage080111. Then when the second image is created I'll have the two images showing as MasterSystemImage080111 and WindowsImageBackup. Then I can rename the second image to WindowsImageBackup081511 and so on and so forth. If you ever want to use the MasterSystemImage (or any of the others you've saved) just rename it back to WindowsImageBackup.

As mjf has said, using the Windows 7 imaging tool images everything on your hard drive each time you use it to make another image. The reserve partition and recovery partition should never change so the 7 imaging tool wastes time imaging those partitions each and every time you make a system image. A tool like Macrium gives you more flexibility to image specific partitions and no others.

Hope this doesn't add more confusion.

Thanks very much mjf and marsmimar, that is what I was looking for and I understand now! I don't like installing unecessary software, and prefer to use built in tools if possible. I will however check out this free program you mention as an alternative method of backup!

I'm slightly paranoid because I firmly believe in Murphy's Law: if something is going to go wrong it will go wrong at the most inopportune time. I use the built in Windows 7 imaging tool. I also use Macrium free and Paragon free. I have 3 separate external hard drives because prices have come down quite a bit. Each imaging tool gets its own external drive. I figure if my Windows 7 image doesn't work hopefully either the Macrium or Paragon will. :)

One other caution. Whatever imaging tool you decide to use, make the companion System Repair Disc for just in case you can't boot your computer. The system repair disc will let you boot to the imaging tool's system recovery options if you can't access the recovery options provided by your computer manufacturer.

Quick update, something broke in my windows install so I used the windows seven backup image and it worked fine without destroying my restore partition.

Good to hear. Images can be a real lifesaver.