Dual Boot Image Backup? Anyone ?

[jlm86]

Existing Dual boot XP/Win7 on same drive.

In the past, with a single os, i always backed up complete image to separate drive, and it compressed nicely.

Now, with dual boot, the size of the image is 350G, and includes BOTH XP/WIN7 os.

Is there a way to backup only the Win7 os, and thus get a smaller footprint on the image? Or is both os needed to actually perform a recovery?

See attachment image for partition information...
thanks

 

[ignatzatsonic]

What imaging app are you using?

Windows 7 imaging "works", but has little flexibility.

Paragon, Macrium, and Acronis should give you more control.

You should probably make a rescue disk for whatever imaging app you use--and it's probably a good idea to use that disc to restore, even if Windows is still accessible.

 

[jlm86]

Using R-Drive Image

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Absolutely never heard of that one so I can't help with it specifically.

Paragon and Macrium both have free versions that are well spoken of around here.

Acronis is a paid program, but if you are restoring to a WD or Seagate drive, you can get a free version from the websites of those 2 drive manufacturers.

Generally, I would think that an app is worthless if you can't choose the specific partitions to include or exclude in the image.

 

[Qdos]

Reduce the image size drastically by specifying in both OS's that personal archivage should occur on another physical drive. Turning off system restore will also have an impressive impact.

 

[gregrocker]

Try this CMD to image only one drive:

Try running Windows System Image from the command line.

That way, you can select any partition(s) to image, and any location to store the image:

I did it like this:

Open an elevated cmd and type

C:\windows\system32>WBADMIN START BACKUP -BACKUPTARGET:G: -INCLUDE:C: -QUIET

That will make a backup image of C and store it on G.

If you repeat it - or set up a scheduled task - successive backups will be incremental.

Restore from the boot disc as usual - it will restore to the same offset - you can't restore anywhere else - again , as usual with Windows backup.