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#31
The image file remains wherever you stored it--on the external in this case. It doesn't move.
Once that image file is restored and C is known to be working OK, you could delete the image file from the external.
From what I gather from the various reports in this thread, it isn't likely to take over an hour or so to make and then restore.
It would take longer if you had a big C drive or were imaging large data partitions, but you aren't.
Twenty minutes average to save your WIndows backup image to external, then 20 minutes to reimage it onto the new HD. Unplug the old HD and boot from Win7 DVD or Repair CD.
Illustrated steps here:
Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup
System Image Recovery
Half as long to clone since you don't need to save the image first, just clone old HD to new one in 20 minutes avg.
Koolkat,
your confusion level may be high at this stage. I think simple is the way - ok???
Yes image - reimage will probably take 20+20 minutes as indicated. BUT it is essentially a couple of button clicks.
Make your image by simply going to the backup & restore window and press the make a system image button over on the left. Just select you external HDD to store it on.
Reimage by booting the system repair disk (you should always have one of these) and select restore an image. If you haven't made one of these just say so.
These are all inbuilt tools. If they don't work it's no big deal - try another method.
Edit: When you read the options again. With the larger HDD it would be a good idea in the "cleanup stage" to put your D: partition data in the new space and extend your C: from the small size it is now to use all of the D: space as well. Your OS partition is very small at the moment. Now is the perfect time to do it.
Last edited by mjf; 10 Dec 2011 at 13:46. Reason: Edit:
thanks kado,whs,mjf,iggy, greg and anybody i missed out on this post. its time for me to sleep now 12.33 am got work in the mornig
so i will read your posts peacefully when i get time and let you know what i start with. probably back up of my stuff will be the first.
so good night to you all, and have a good day if its not night there
:)
hi guys thanks for the replies :)
im still reading the posts and thinking what i should start with.
right now i have one question that is: when we do a fresh install we have to update the computer all over again.
is there a way to keep these updates and not download them when & if i decide to format? the only reason i dont want to reinstall is because of these updates. i have around 36 installed.
I assume you are referring to Windows updates?
As far as I know, there is no way to save them if you reformat.
But you can go to Microsoft and download an EXE file that contains Service Pack 1. You run that EXE just like any other application. It will update you to the level of Service Pack 1, which was released earlier this year.
But I think for the post-Service Pack 1 updates, you would have to go to Windows Update and get them. For that matter, you can get SP 1 that way, but using the EXE will likely simplify matters.
SP 1 is here:
Download: Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (KB976932) - Microsoft Download Center - Download Details
Be careful to get the right version. If you have 64-bit Windows, you would need the next to last file (903.2 GB). If you have 32-bit Windows, you would need the last file (537.8 GB).
Or as Kado says, you can find an ISO with SP1 integrated into Windows 7 and then burn it to a disc.
yes i mean windows updatesI assume you are referring to Windows updates?
Last edited by koolkat77; 11 Dec 2011 at 07:49.