How to make sure to create and USE an image for restoring

[mgaspa87]

Hello everybody!
I'm searching for a way of restoring windows 7 with all the software I need already installed, instead of re-install windows from the beginning and the install again all my programs.
It should be easy, but it's not!

Once I format, re-install windows 7 and install all my software, one of these things happens:

if I set a restore point everything seems ok, but when restore time comes, my restore poit is disappeared, or, if I can see it, after everything is done and rebooted, system tells me something like "impossible to complete the restore process" and so nothing is done, so I have to re-install everithing manually.

Instead, if I use the windows tool for creating a restore CD/DVD, when I boot from such CD/DVD, i can't see anything that refers to the time i created the disk.

In the endm, every time I have to format my PC (I use to do this about once every 6 months), I install all my software by hand and then I say: "Now I want to make sure that next time I have to restore, i will not have to install everything"... but actually I never cn do this, and i ALWAYS have to intall everything by hand!

Anyone can help me, please?

 

[richc46]

Welcome
The best way to back up everything is with the free Macrium Reflect. Once the computer is running the way you want, make a back up. On a regular basis make a current back up. In the event of problems you can just reinstall. I had a problem and Macrium saved me.
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx
Use an external hard drive to store your images.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?ltr=I

 

[mgaspa87]

Welcome
The best way to back up everything is with the free Macrium Reflect. Once the computer is running the way you want, make a back up. On a regular basis make a current back up. In the event of problems you can just reinstall. I had a problem and Macrium saved me.
Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download
Use an external hard drive to store your images.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?ltr=I

thank you for very quick reply! I already heard about macrium. Once I created the image and stored in on an external drive, shall I boot from that drive, or can I create a DC/DVD?

by the way, you are telling me that windows 7 has NOT a tool to make what I explained?

 

[richc46]

It has what is called System Image, which works like Macrium. Many, including myself, prefer Macrium the choice is yours.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/675-system-image-recovery.html

 

[whs]

1. To restore you need the WinPE CD. The download link for the .iso is in my tutorial is under "Note". You cannot boot from the image.

2. Do NOT use windows 7 native imagimg. It is a big mess and will give you nothing but headaches.

 

[richc46]

Be sure to read additions I made to my above post, plus post of WHS.

 

[mgaspa87]

It has what is called System Image, which works like Macrium. Many, including myself, prefer Macrium the choice is yours.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/675-system-image-recovery.html

Actually I was asking if I could use windows tool since last time I formatted, I made everything I could in order to save an image (creating restore point, create restore DVD), so I would like to be able to use them and avoid re-installing everything

 

[whs]

Restore points and restore CD are different than images. If you want to save the status of your system at a given point in time, you need images. Absolutely no need to reinstall for that. Suggest you read the tutorials that Rich linked.

 

[Saltgrass]

If you want to use Backup and Restore to create a DVD image backup for your system, yes you can. You will have to boot into the recovery environment to restore the image as whs mentions. I like to get my system set up and activated before I create such an image.

Make sure you insert the last DVD first when you are ready to restore. Testing may be a good idea to ease your mind.

I normally keep my images on a second internal drive, or an external one. But I did do a DVD backup to test just yesterday.