Windows 7: Can I store/employ a system image on the internal hard-drive ?

I totally agree Jack, but someone may have a system that doesn't work the way i use/understand.
I have an old XP era pc (my snip 1) that is now "migrated and transformed" from a single boot XP to a triple boot with w7, w8.1, and w10
It works for me, how i use it, and what i use it for.
A lot of that setup is due to the ports/cables/psu power available, and my ability...

I probably shouldn't have posted my DM snips, it may be taking the OP off topic, and confusing things.
I just posted them as an example of what is possible - ANYTHING (imho).

I think BuckSkin knows and understands using offline backups is important based on post #4.

if BuckSkin has only a 500 GB MBR drive always online that is 90% used including user data, and wants to save a BU image to that same drive, it ain't gonna work.
that's why i asked for a DM screen print - i just gave some examples of what is possible.
there are too many possible situations/PC's/Configs to give an answer without more info, seeing DM would help
if BuckSkin has a 3TB GPT drive that is 10% used, that's a different scenario.

I'll quit posting, without knowing what BuckSkin has, i can't even try to help any-more.
I'll just watch and learn.

Can I use that system specs thingie that I downloaded from here to list the specs of all four of our machines, or is it specific to only a single machine?
The fact that I may be asking about one machine and my system specs be about another is why I have hesitated to run that deal; I was afraid it may create confusion.

I ever so much appreciate you guys helping me.

AH, i understand your dilemma, and that is great question(s).
Yes, the system specs thing is only good for 1 PC, each PC can be different.
As far i know it, SF specs only allow for entering specs for 1 PC.

So, you have multiple (4) PC's with different specs, but the same "question/issue" for each of the PC's.
Yes, it does get confusing.
Each of these PC's may have a better answer depending on specs/setup/disk-usage.

I still believe you can create a backup image on the same drive for each PC, depending on that PC setup/config/disk space ...

If i had your issue,
I would create 4 different SF threads, 1 thread for each PC
- list the specific specs for that PC/thread
- include a DM screen print for that PC/thread

Maybe i could better help with 1 or more systems, and others may be able to better help with other systems.
We are all just volunteers here, trying to help.

As you see with my specs/DM snips my situation is unusual/confusing.
When i have a problem and ask for help, i post any/all specific info as best i can to help solve the issue.
For me, i may have to create a thread in Eight Forums or Ten Forums, if appropriate, because of my multi-boot.

I don't like to post about my personal tech problems,
most forum helpers would say i'm a lunatic for doing what i do with pc setup,
and i can't disagree with that

I also help others and post threads/questions about their system and include specific info about their PC/setup as needed.
I always post in the thread/PC it is not about what is in my forum specs, i give the problem PC specs/info as best i can.

I've been multi-booting and VM'ing for so many years.
For me it's a fun thing to play with and learn
I always have a full reliable backup/restore available - i learned that lesson eons ago !

What specs would be relevant to this particular thread and I may be able to list them manually.

The internal drive on all of our machines is 500-GB; on considering some of the things I have gleaned thus far, I may be better off to wait until I install 3TB secondary drives and then come at this from that angle.

From what I gather, in Win7, a 3TB drive cannot be formatted NTFS, but GPT?? some-such-or-other, so that may bring even another wrinkle in the horn.


Further musing leads me to even another question; the system images I have saved thus far have included not only the OS and all of my installed programs, but the contents of Libraries as well.

I keep all of the library stuff backed up via file synchronization, so there is really no need for all that extra baggage to be included in a system image.

Maybe this question warrants a thread of it's own; can I limit my system images to only the OS and program files; and, if so, is this something I can simply opt for in AOMEI, or do I need to repartition things in disk management ?

I really appreciate you guys patience in dealing with my unlearnedness and never ending stream of questions.

A W7 drive > 2.2 GB must be initialized as GPT, it can be formatted as NTFS.

A drive is initialized as MBR or GPT, NTFS formatting is not relevant to initializing.
See my first screen print in post #6.
My Backups 3TB drive (Disk 2) is initialized as GPT and formatted as NTFS.

Yea, you have a lot of different questions, and that is good imho.

For help with what i bolded, you should tell us what imaging program you use.
I'm using Macrium Reflect free now, and i can browse a backup image in Windows (file) Explorer to see what is in the image.
I expected you have user data in [C], i tried to point that out earlier, i don't save user (library) data in the OS partition.

To "fix" the issue with saving user data in the OS partition is completely different than your original question about creating a system image on your (only) disk drive.

i tried to answer that as best i can in post #13 with this:

Yea, that's a separate question imho.

I don't know if AOMEI can do this easily or at all.

I can exclude files/folders in Macrium, but it is not a Macrium supported feature.
It does require manually editing the registry, not something i recommend or suggest.
I do it, but i have tested my registry changes and backups/restores, to do what i want without errors.

EDIT:
Adding info for MR reg keys to exclude files as requested

Key data i added:

$AllVolumes$\hiberfil.sys /s
$AllVolumes$\pagefile.sys /s
$AllVolumes$\swapfile.sys /s