System Backup Image with New Build

Hey all. I'm new to BETA-testing an OS, and I was wondering, if I had backed up my computer's files to a system image, and upgrade to a newer build of Windows 7, would I be able to restore all my computer's files and programs through that image?

I'm currently using Windows 7 Build 7000.

Also, if my comp has both C and D drives, when I backup, both drives are saved, correct?

Thanks in advance.

~ Bioran

A few backup products make a 'system image'. If you are talking about that included with Windows, I have found it too difficult to use as the restore boot CD seems to need an installed OS to restore over (meaning it is more meant for recovery to a broken same OS rather than a different OS). I prefer a product that does not care and can restore to an empty hard drive, since I prefer to clean a broken HD rather than restore over a dead OS. That is from my toying with it over the years.

I have used Acronis True Image for 5-7 yrs with no problems, but it is a purchased product (trial period ver is avail). Unfortunately TI does not install at this minute on W7x64 (x86 is fine), but their recovery CD works fine for both backup and restore on X64.

So, basically, I can back up all my programs and files using TI, and I can clean-install a new build without losing my programs and files?

If so, thanks. :)

~ Bioran

Yes. I would make a recovery CD from the TI install to be able to restore to an empty drive. I usually clean and pre-partition a new HD when I restore, so it must be done from the CD. If the dead OS is just wounded, still boots and the installed TI still works, you can do a restore that way without a CD.

I know nothing about Acronis, but the W7 image backup will restore the exact image as was saved. As far as I can tell, you cannot preload the new Beta and then restore the image.

The files backup is something I will try since it just restores some of your personal stuff, haven't checked into exactly what, but it may not work if the kernel is changed. Maybe someone else knows for sure.

Saltgrass said:

..the W7 image backup will restore the exact image as was saved...

Does it do it to a naked hard drive (cleaned)? When I recently booted the W7 backup/restore CD, it seemed to need to find a Win partition to be able to do a restore. I also did not see an option to do one partition of a multi partition drive. I put my OS on C: and my data on D:, so I only need to backup/restore C: to get an old OS. I didn't see that flexability in the Win7 backup system.

I don't see much flexibility in W7 either. I had a single partition with the 200mb one W7 makes. Part of my drive was unformatted. When I backed up the image, both the C and unnamed partitions were saved. I don't think it does partition backups, just drive backups, but I could be wrong.

I wanted to put the restored image on a larger hard drive with a larger partition, so I formatted the new drive prior to restoring. The restore utility states the exact image will be restored and it was. I had to go into Disk management to change the size of the partition afterward.

And yes, I do believe it will do it on a clean drive. I have only done this once so I may have missed some of the options, but I don't believe so.

Alright, I've downloaded and installed a trial version of Acronis TrueImage, but it stills seems to me that it only takes an exact image of your OS, and can't be restored on an upgraded build of BETA. The program seems to only create an entire image of my OS, backup my personal files or OS settings, and applications settings. Not the actual .exe of applications which I can restore on a newer BETA.

If somebody could elaborate, I'd be very thankful. :)

~ Bioran

Thanks garysgold. That answered my question.

And thanks to everybody else who helped. Much appreciated.

~ Bioran