Can you restore the C drive by just copying files

Hi,

I was wondering if I copied all the contents of the C drive to an external drive, and something when wrong with the C drive, could you restore the files by copying them from the external drive to the C drive partition (in Linux running from a DVD for instance) and when you boot into windows, would it work normally. I'm ignoring windows backup or any other backup solution for now, just wondering what would happen if you just copy and pasted the files back to the C drive.

Thanks,
Tom

You can't just copy - nothing would work, as far as programs,OS)
You can copy pictures and such and that would be OK.
You have to do a backup, and I don't know why you are not doing so.

That is a recipe for disaster.

I use Acronis Trueimage DiscWizard | Seagate

The program is free if you have a Seagate or Maxtor HDD.
You can also get the program free if you have W a WD HDD WD Support

You create a boot cd (from the program) and if your comp won't boot, the cd will bring up your backup locations and will restore your comp exactly as it was.

BTW - less space is needed on the backup drive because the backup is compressed -My C drive backup is only 21GB complete.

I'm not actually doing that, I'm using windows backup to backup my files, I was just wondering if it would work because all the files would be there for everything to work- so why wouldn't it?

I'm confused.

You said you were NOT using a backup program.
You can copy to an external HDD, but if you are talking about a System crash and restoring from that - it will not work.

Download the program I mentioned and put that on your external HDD.


If you have a crash, you can easily restore your C drive - programs, OS, and all.

Make a boot cd (from program instructions) and if your comp won't boot, the cd will bring up your Recovery location(s) and you'll be back in business quickly.

The problem with simply copying the files on the C: drive is that not all files will be copied. There are critical system files, including the registry, that are locked for exclusive access and cannot be copied. Without a valid registry you have no hope of restoring the system to a workable state.

It's entirely possible for that to be done and if done correctly it WILL WORK. However, problem is to do that correctly. For the copy to be done correctly, you must do that from outside the OS, from that Linux you name for example, but anything that can read/write to NTFS will do. And watch out for that hidden 100MB partition many Windows installs have, you must copy that too (the external OS must be able to see it).
Apart from copying all that, you must be able to regenerate the boot sector of the HD too (the only thing that isn't in a file). Again, booting from another OS you can run some tool to install the bootcode for Windows 6.x there. The Windows install CD is also a viable option.

Anyway, I don't think that such a "brute force" backup is preferable. It's possible, sure, but often more serious backup programs or strategies are better.

The answer is no. Copying all the contents of the C drive to an external drive, and when something goes wrong with the C drive, you just copy everything back and hope it works. Not possible, dear! The technology is not here yet. MS will not make life easier for all of us.

You cannot restore the files by copying them from the external drive to the C drive partition (in Linux running from a DVD for instance) and when you boot into windows, it would not work normally.
The registry is damaged, boot up items damaged, and drivers damaged. You have not repaired them. How is your PC going to work.?
Your copying did not include these working items.

Imaging the drive, yes. Copying, no. Try imaging.

LMiller7 said:

The problem with simply copying the files on the C: drive is that not all files will be copied. There are critical system files, including the registry, that are locked for exclusive access and cannot be copied. Without a valid registry you have no hope of restoring the system to a workable state.

Best answer!

This entire thing was just about can it be done, not I want to do it. I'm am not or want to use that method. I use Windows Backup to backup my files. I was just curious if it were possible, and as it turns out it isn't.
Just one more question: even if I show all hidden system files, would it still not work.

Sorry for the confusion I have caused. Didn't mean to!

Thanks for answering my questions, sorry again about the confusion.