Question re System Image

V3xar · 26 Nov 2009

Good day all!

I created a System Image a few weeks ago which I saved to a partition on my hard drive. No problems...all worked fine and a new folder with the relative info in it was created.

After a few new installations (programs) and changes to my system I have now created a new System Image.

My questions are as follows:

The new System Image has replaced the "older" one. Is that normal, or should it have created a completely new Image?

The folder name of the new image "WindowsImageBackup" is still dated with the date of my original Image that I created but the contents ie "Catalog, Backup and Media ID" all have the date of the new Image.

Will this create a problem should I do a restore?

Thanks for your advice and help.:)

richc46 · 26 Nov 2009

Everything is fine. The images are incremental, ie the second one just reflect the changes made since the first. In addition the date will reflect the original image. This will continue until, you delte present copies or disable image, which deletes all prior files.

Have a good day and I hope that I have helped.

Its not too late, Have a Happy Thanksgiving

V3xar · 26 Nov 2009

You have indeed helped richc46

Many thanks for the speedy reply and for putting my mind at rest.

+ repped

Frostmourne · 26 Nov 2009

You can also look at changing the settings in Backup and Restore.

win7clutz · 27 Nov 2009

You could also perform backup images creating a different file/ folder name such as date. Example: “Clean Image 11-25-2009”. Then go to the scheduler and disable any archive to that new folder thus letting the original backup increment all ongoing changes.

The advantage is that you create various images that are clean and you have confidence in as future restore images.

Ultimately, as your scheduled backup achieves to the original image it’s going to include all the “junk” @ie viruses, malware, corrupt registry, and so on that currently exist on your system...Therefore if the box decides to crash and burn your restore is going to bring all the old crap with it.

If you have multiple dated images that you have confidence in, you can avoid the problem.

Happy Trails:

V3xar · 27 Nov 2009

All the advice given is very helpful. :)

Thanks all for the input!

gregrocker · 27 Nov 2009

I keep my first backup image as a baseline I can fall back to without any possible collected corruption. I will still reimage using the latest one, but the baseline is there if I discover corruption.

I also store several copies in the folders of my external for each home computer, so if I need to reimage I place the one I want to use in the root of the drive and make sure it is renamed back to WindowsImageBackup so the Installer's Image recovery app will detect it from boot.

I also keep one in a primary partition for easiest detection, and for reimaging while traveling with laptop (a good reason to have 100mb so Recovery tools are avail at F8).