Making a Factory Restore/Backup

whs said:

They are both OK. EaseUS may be a bit easier.

I've used both and I would agree. But my vote for a third party (free or paid) imaging program goes to Macrium Reflect. It's been around a long time and can't recall any real negative comments.
I use Windows own and Macrium and have found both ok.

whs said:

You should know though that mjf is a Windows Imaging expert.....

thank you I think but

in my dreams

Zeldafan1993 said:

ok just 1 question if i make a Image does that make everything on my Hard rive go into that image so if i restore the image it will be just like when i made the image?

mjf said:

whs said:

You should know though that mjf is a Windows Imaging expert.....

thank you I think but

in my dreams

ok ill take a look at Macrum but i saw a video and it was like you have to make a CD etc so you can even get the chance to Restore your files?? is that true?

It think you are confusing two different types of Backup.

1. Files Backup - it is not absolutely necessary to have a special program for that. You might have files that you want to keep copies of somewhere else - e.g. on an external hard drive.

If you want to do that - you can just copy and paste them

There are also programs which do files backup for you - they will automatically make copies of the files /folders you tell them to. You need to tell them where to store those those file backups, and how often you want them to do it - eg. every day, or every week- it's up to you.

If you want to get any of the files back again - you can do that from Windows.


2. There is a different kind of backup - usually called imaging.

What that does is make a copy of an entire partition - and everything on it. It is usually stored in a compressed format to save space.

You need a program to do that.

Again, you need to tell it which partition(s) to make an image of , how often to do it, and where to store those images.

If you want to restore an image of your windows partition ( or the system partition - that is the one contaning the critical operating system files needed to start up ) - you need to do that from outside of windows.

The way you do that is by using a "boot" disc - it is also possible to use a usb stick - or even by starting up a special file that can be on hard drive .

Those contain a small operating system which loads into memory and you run the image restore from there.

SIW2 said:

It think you are confusing two different types of Backup.

1. Files Backup - it is not absolutely necessary to have a special program for that. You might have files that you want to keep copies of somewhere else - e.g. on an external hard drive.

If you want to do that - you can just copy and paste them

There are also programs which do files backup for you - they will automatically make copies of the files /folders you tell them to. You need to tell them where to store those those file backups, and how often you want them to do it - eg. every day, or every week- it's up to you.

If you want to get any of the files back again - you can do that from Windows.


2. There is a different kind of backup - usually called imaging.

What that does is make a copy of an entire partition - and everything on it. It is usually stored in a compressed format to save space.

You need a program to do that.

Again, you need to tell it which partition(s) to make an image of , how often to do it, and where to store those images.

If you want to restore an image of your windows partition ( or the system partition - that is the one contaning the critical operating system files needed to start up ) - you need to do that from outside of windows.

The way you do that is by using a "boot" disc - it is also possible to use a usb stick - or even by starting up a special file that can be on hard drive .

Those contain a small operating system which loads into memory and you run the image restore from there.

yea i was looking for a Imaging type of program cuz what i want to do is install 1 program on each mine and My Mom's Computer and make it do a Network "image" back up of the windows Partition Only (so it gets like all my program files etc and if i ever run into problems i can just go and restore and boom everything is the way i left it) on my Server in my Room

Pick an app. you like the look of - there are a few good free versions.

You will need to run off the boot cd that comes with any of them.

Zeldafan1993 said:

yea i was looking for a Imaging type of program

Look at Macrium Reflect Free Edition, EaseUS TODO Backup, or Acronis.

The first 2 are free downloads. Acronis is free if you have a Seagate or Western Digital hard drive.

Macrium is probably the easiest to use and among the most reliable.