Question about system images

Hi , I usually burn a system image using Windows and use it if If I get into trouble with malware since I don't keep many files at all and nothing important.

I found that after using the system image a few times I ran into a "Cyclic redundancy check " error and my system image no longer worked .

Is this normal and how often should you make a system image ? I don't have any backups because I would rather just use something to restore the whole thing where I can format .

Backups have always confused me because if I restored from a backup I would have double the amount of files if I wasn't able to format.


Thank you

jonnyhillow said:

Hi , I usually burn a system image using Windows and use it if If I get into trouble with malware since I don't keep many files at all and nothing important.

I found that after using the system image a few times I ran into a "Cyclic redundancy check " error and my system image no longer worked .

Is this normal and how often should you make a system image ? I don't have any backups because I would rather just use something to restore the whole thing where I can format .

Backups have always confused me because if I restored from a backup I would have double the amount of files if I wasn't able to format.


Thank you

Not sure I'm following your last point about double the amount of files. If you restore, your original files would get over-written and you wouldn't have double the amount. The old file X would get over-written by the restored File X. The old file X is gone.

How often you should make a system image varies according to your habits. If you install and uninstall many programs every day, maybe you make an image daily. If you have an average usage pattern where you make system changes less often, maybe you make an image weekly or monthly. If you very rarely make changes, maybe quarterly would be enough.

I don't know a thing about the cyclic redundancy check. I do know that Windows built-in imaging has its own peculiarities and isn't easily understood. Not well designed or explained.

So most of us on these forums use other products: Macrium, Acronis, Paragon, EaseUS, etc.

Thank you very much for the info , answered all my questions actually, but one. Which of the programs that you list is the most user friendly .

Thanks again

Macrium Reflect Free Edition:

Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download

Layback Bear said:

High light the text that is underlined and right tick on it. Go to the Big (U) at the top of the page and tick on it and the underline should go away.

Thank you Layback Bear

Now that I fixed that does anyone have any info on my "system repair pending " trouble or just don't worry about it.

Thanks