System Imaging as Additional Protection

[Wishmaster]

System imaging should be a common practice with modern PCs, although many have never heard of or understand the importance of it.

It should be considered, not only for unexpected drive failure, but as a form of system security as well.

Although it should never be used in place of a proper security setup. Proper Security is still top priority.

Everyone should be aware of its importance, and IMHO, put it into practice.

What is System Imaging?​

Imaging is quite simply a "snapshot" of the partiton or Hard Drive you Imaged.​

It is an exact copy of your Windows installation, files,folders settings etc at that exact moment in time the image is created.​

Why is System Imaging important?​

As we all know, the first defense against a Virus and/or Malware attack is your Security system itself. (AV & Firewall)
Generally speaking, the name of the game is preventing an infection from ever happening.​

But what happens when dispite our best efforts something gets through?​

Many times, you can remove & recover from an infection.
However, occasionally the damage may be so severe there simply is no recovery, in which case a clean install of Windows may be needed.​

There are also other factors you must consider that may not involve a Malware or Virus infection at all.​

Such as:
1) A failing or defective harddrive.
2) A Bad software or driver Update
3) File Corruption
4) Registry corruption or system file corruption
(which may not be able to be repaired)​

These things can be caused by faulty software, user error etc.​

In the event something bad does happen, and all resources including System Restore fail, you can simply re-image the Entire system back to a know good state.​

Quite lierally, anything that happened or changed after that image was created, never happened.​

What is the best method to use for a System Image?​

There are a few options at your disposal. Many of which are free, and cost only a couple minutes of your time. The payoff however, should you ever need it, will be worth its weight in gold.​

Some of the most common & recommended software is as follows:​

1. Windows 7 built in Imaging
Free & included with Windows 7​

Tutorial: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html​

2. Macrium Reflect ( Macrium Reflect Backup and Hard Disk Imaging for Windows 7, Vista, XP and Server 2003/2008)​

Tutorial: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?ltr=I
Macrium offers a free and paid version of their software.​

3. Paragon Free Backup Software: Paragon Backup & Recovery Free Edition - Overview
Paragon offers a free and paid version of the software.​

4. Acronis ( Backup and restore system software and PC system utilities for Windows and Linux OSs)
Acronis is a paid software & offers many advanced features such as Incremental, Differential backups. As well automatic scheduled task and much more.

** Many HD manufactures also offer a free version of Acronis (such as Western Digital) This is a basic version of the software allowing you to clone and make basic back ups. You just need to register your product to gain access to it.

When should I make a Image and how often?​

1) The first Image you should make should be right after you install Windows.
Install your prefered imaging software and activate Windows.
Make a image right then!
This way, you always have a fresh, clean activated image Windows with no drivers or software you can fall back on.
Burn this Image to a DVD, or an external HD and store it somewhere safe.​

2) The next main image you should make is after you get all your main software installed, activated, updated, and Windows set up the way you want it.​

3) Before any major system change.
This includes installation of any new software, Updating or rolling back graphics drivers etc.​

4) Before any major update/patch such as Windows updates.​

5) How often you image will depend how often you change things on your system, and your own habits.
I would suggest a complete Image at least once a week.
As long as space is not a issue, you can really never make to many.​

For how often, just keep in mind:
If something devastating happened right now, how many days could you lose without losing to much work? A week, 2 days?​

Remember, its a good habit to keep a few images in store. Perhaps 1 or 2 a week fro the last month.
Not just the most current.​

I can not stress the importance creating System Images has.
Many of the tools are completely free (unless you wish to have extra features) and cost only a few minutes of time.
The time it can & will save you in case of disaster however, will be significant.​

 

[Petey7]

This should be stickied. Or at least put in security basics.

 

[Lemur]

+1 for Macrium

 

[derekimo]

Excellent Post! I agree, it should be,

This should be stickied. Or at least put in security basics.

Also agree,

+1 for Macrium

 

[whs]

Excellent - maybe it can find a place in the tutorial section.

 

[Wishmaster]

Thanks

I wasn't sure exactly where to put it. As a tutorial or a topic.

I thought this may be the best place for it.

Hopefully between everyone we decide the best place for it.

 

[antharr]

Macrium FTW!!!

 

[Tews]

Very well said Wishmaster!!! This should be required reading for all new members... Its sooo much easier/faster to restore an image than reinstall the OS/programs...

 

[pparks1]

Although I do use system imaging from time to time, with as fast as it is to load an operating system these days and the fact that I keep my data backed up separately, I don't find that imaging is an absolute necessity. For most people though, who don't want to go through the hassle or put in the effort, this makes sense and should be strongly considered.

 

[antharr]

Although I do use system imaging from time to time, with as fast as it is to load an operating system these days and the fact that I keep my data backed up separately, I don't find that imaging is an absolute necessity. For most people though, who don't want to go through the hassle or put in the effort, this makes sense and should be strongly considered.

I do like to perform a fresh install from time to time but can be a hassle if you need your system up pronto. Installing an OS+apps can take hours and reloading an image takes minutes and you get the same results.

 

[whs]

The real problem with a fresh install is that you get swamped with the updates. The other day I reinstalled a Vista from a 2007 recovery partition. It took 3 days just to get all the updates sorted out including SP1 and SP2. Then there are all the programs (about 50 in my case) and system and program settings. So I think setting back to a sensible image which takes 30 minutes is a much better deal.

 

[antharr]

The real problem with a fresh install is that you get swamped with the updates. The other day I reinstalled a Vista from a 2007 recovery partition. It took 3 days just to get all the updates sorted out including SP1 and SP2. Then there are all the programs (about 50 in my case) and system and program settings. So I think setting back to a sensible image which takes 30 minutes is a much better deal.

Agree with you 100% on this. If you perform a fresh install, perform updates, install apps, and tweak your system then create an image, what is the difference between the fresh install and the re-imaging? The only thing I can come up with is time.

 

[G1LLY]

Excellent Post

I use Paragon Drive Backup, I find it really easy to use & only ever need to use the bootable USB you can create.

Yeah, all I do is do a fresh install & obtain all relevant updates & drivers then make sure everything is set how I want it then just image the drive.

A restore of my system usually takes around ten minutes maybe less.

Never failed me yet

I had a look at Macruim the other day but there doesn't seem to be a bootable USB option, unless I'm not looking hard enough (only saw CD/DVD creation available) which is my main reason for using PDB, I can do a backup & restore all from the bootable USB.

Use it with my Netbook as well.

 

[whs]

With free Macrium you can image to a USB stick, but the recovery CD must be a CD. There is no stick option.

 

[hackerman1]

hi !

my thread: http://www.sevenforums.com/performance-maintenance/92465-few-tips-about-performance-etc.html might be of interest.

i use a "clean" system-partition and different partitions for programs & documents / media.
this saves a LOT of time when creating or restoring backups.
fx. restoring W7 with Macrium takes 14 minutes, on a IDE-disk.
i think it would be even faster if i had a SATA-disk....

 

[dranfu]

First off, nice article. Nice intro to imaging. Props to you.

IT techs, and the industry as a whole, have, of course, been imaging for years, and years, and years. But for the average user, it's probably something that most of them didn't realize they could do. And I would have to say, most of them shouldn't do, unless done right. Otherwise, it will just be a time consuming, painful and likely expensive mess.

Can you imagine how much work would be involved in constantly creating different images for for a 1TB HDD. It'd be insane.

Now, making an image using something like N-Lite, and then installing all your favorite apps on there, and maybe some really important static data, would be a good idea. But I would have to stick with backing up changing data on a USB. I know that even 3 or 4 years from now, I'm still going to want Wireshark installed, still going to want Ableton Live installed, still going want Visual Studio installed. But will I want the 200GBS of BS I downloaded off the internet? Probably not.

N-Lite


So, my imaging solution would be
1. Base / Clean Install Image with favorite Apps
2. I would include my music / movie / ebook collection (important static data)
3. Crap apps and data I would keep on a USB

That way, if I need to access my image, I'll always have my music, always have my favorite apps, and I'll still have a number of USB's, no doubt filled with crap, that I can pick and choose from. And I only have to update my image every few years, and only when I have a significant enough of new favorite apps, that I can't live without.

I just can't imagine constantly imaging a huge HDD. What a pain

 

[Tews]

Thats what differential backups are for...

 

[Wishmaster]

I think everyone does it differently depending on preference.

My system Images consist of the just the OS Drive.
Meaning Windows itself and all installed applications/programs.

I also have mine set to make a Full back and then daily incrementals for 7 days.
After 1 week, Start create a new Full back up & Consolodate previous week.

Usually takes about 6-7 minutes to back (full) & restore.


Games go on a seperate Drive and get there own Disc Image.

I also keep all other DATA separated from the OS, on other drives and each gets their own seperate Back Up archive.

Since My Music, Pictures, Videos etc change far less compared to the OS I usually just make a full Image monthly with weekly Incrementals.
With the exception of My Documents. It has the same Priority as the OS

Unless a new game is installed, I just make a new image once a month and weekly incrementals for these as well.


I know many may think my back Up habit are a bit over the top or even too many seperate ones,

but I wouldn't want Personal DATA & Games mixed with the OS and Apps. (Especially for the Image)

It makes things much more difficult & Time consuming IMHO.

 

[dranfu]

@Wishmaster

I agree, that's what I'm saying. Clean OS Image (trimmed with N-Lite/equivalent), Favorite Apps, Important Static Data (Music, Movies, etc). My install takes a bit longer, but all I have to do is pop the CD in, boot from CD-ROM, and come back and its all there. Then move some data from USB.

And of course, I only have to do this when something goes wrong. What program do you use for imaging, anyway?

 

[Wishmaster]

My personal prefrence is Acronis, but mostly because of the extra features.

Automated incrementals, consolodation etc is quite nice.

I tend to be forgetful at times, and it doesnt let me.

Been a couple times I went to install something new, or roll back a graphic driver and 1/2 way through think ...


BAH.. should have made a back up 1st .. then realize it had already done it for me