System Image Repair Disk - Min CD-R Capacity Mb?

[Mendacious]

Hi
I periodically create a system image using an external hdd and a dvd.

I've run out of dvd's and have only got some cd-r's of 750Mb

Will they be big enough?

 

[Tews]

More than likely not, however, depending on your backup program (I use Acronis True Image 2011) it gives me the option to boot into the recovery mode before the computer boots, so I don't need a DVD to recover from a corrupt OS...

 

[Mendacious]

More than likely not, however, depending on your backup program (I use Acronis True Image 2011) it gives me the option to boot into the recovery mode before the computer boots, so I don't need a DVD to recover from a corrupt OS...

That sounds good.

How do I do that? Can you tell me or is there a guide I can read?

Is Acronis True Image freeware?

 

[whs]

Acronis is not freeware. Imaging to DVDs or CDs is really not a good idea. Depending on which imaging program you use, the images are more or less compressed. I use free Macrium and that compresses to about 55% of the data I image. But my images are still 30GB+ which would be a challenge for CDs - even DVDs. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?ltr=I

 

[mjf]

ditto - definitely avoid DVDs (& absolutely CDs) for images. Use external HDDs and more than one if you can afford it. Unfortunately, HDDs are expensive at the moment

 

[Mendacious]

Thanks, but I'm still a little confused?

When I create a system image using W7. I plug my extenal HDD into my laptop and copy the image of my C-drive to it. But at the end of the process W7 asks me if I want to create a system repair disk. What I was wondering is can I use a CD-R for the disk?

I think you use the disk to book from the BIOS then connect the external HDD image?

PS
My external HDD is a n old laptop HDD mounted in a USB drive caddy.

 

[whs]

OK, the system repair disk is another story. That is a CD and you should burn one asap. Else you cannot restore the image the day you need to do that.

 

[Mendacious]

I create a system image roughly every month, it doesn't take long.

Do I need to burn a new system repair disk each time?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I create a system image roughly every month, it doesn't take long.

Do I need to burn a new system repair disk each time?

No.

But you should make a new one if you upgrade to a new version of your imaging application.

And you should test your existing disk from time to time to confirm it will boot and show you all partitions and the required image file.

 

[whs]

I would recommend to make an image at least once per week. Once per month exposes you to losing a lot of stuff when you recover. During a month, a lot of changes are happening and you would be losing all of those.