Trying to reinstall Win 7 SP1 and not lost my stuff

[Eric3742]

Do take note that if you made a lot changes in the system, do a backup.

Before you do the backup, it is better to do a shutdown, then turn on.

This is to ensure everything is in order.

Also if you can, do create a system restore point, as system restore would be quite helpful.

 

[bigmck]

Do take note that if you made a lot changes in the system, do a backup.

Before you do the backup, it is better to do a shutdown, then turn on.

This is to ensure everything is in order.

Also if you can, do create a system restore point, as system restore would be quite helpful.

Windows will automatically create some System Restore points, but I always do one every Wednesday just to make sure there is one at least every week.

 

[rbaron]

Thanks much for the Macrium tip. I'll get it.

 

[rbaron]

Ok, so if you backup your entire computer, I have a main C Drive and 2 other drives which makes up my computer.

Do I backup everything or just the C drive? Which is where my system is?

Say I want to backup my C drive. I back it up to my D drive. If I have a crash and have to format and reinstall my system 7 from the OEM DVD, I would just have to reinstall Macrium Reflect and run it then restore the C drive correct?

I am just trying to give myself peace of mind and know that Macrium is doing it's job and I have no worries.

Thanks much....

 

[AddRAM]

You install windows and get it exactly how you want it, all your programs, all your updates installed etc. and of course a perfect system file check.

You then create an image of your C partition and the System Reserved Partition if you have one. That`s it nothing else.

You store that image on another drive.

Now if you ever screw up windows, all you have to do is boot from the windows install dvd or a system repair disc, which you create from within windows.

You then simply restore windows back to A1 perfectly working condition from the image you created earlier instead of installing windows all over again.

Windows native built in imaging and Macrium Reflect both work great and you should make images with both programs.

Here`s my layout and Disk 1 is dedicated to images, made by both Windows and Macrium. I personally have never had an issue using windows imaging.

And after a week or 2 or after a new nvidia driver is installed and checks out ok after a few days, I`ll format my image drive and create 2 new images.

 

[DavidE]

Ok, so if you backup your entire computer, I have a main C Drive and 2 other drives which makes up my computer.

Do I backup everything or just the C drive? Which is where my system is?

Say I want to backup my C drive. I back it up to my D drive. If I have a crash and have to format and reinstall my system 7 from the OEM DVD, I would just have to reinstall Macrium Reflect and run it then restore the C drive correct?

I am just trying to give myself peace of mind and know that Macrium is doing it's job and I have no worries.

Thanks much....

You should create a bootable Macrium Rescue CD.
It's in the Macrium Menu > Other Tasks > Create Rescue Media

Then if Windows can't boot, you boot with the Macrium Rescue CD and restore the Macrium backup image.

Post a maximized/resized screen print of Disk Management for help on what you need to image.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/274797-disk-management-post-screen-capture-image.html

 

[rbaron]

Got ya' I get it now. I did not know that Macrium created a startup disk.

Thanks for the info... Also please let me know how to start the backup from this screen.

 

[bigmck]

Ok, so if you backup your entire computer, I have a main C Drive and 2 other drives which makes up my computer.

Do I backup everything or just the C drive? Which is where my system is?

Say I want to backup my C drive. I back it up to my D drive. If I have a crash and have to format and reinstall my system 7 from the OEM DVD, I would just have to reinstall Macrium Reflect and run it then restore the C drive correct?

I am just trying to give myself peace of mind and know that Macrium is doing it's job and I have no worries.

Thanks much....

When you say you have three drives I am assuming you mean three physical drives, not three partitions. I have two drives. One for my OS on C: drive and a separate D: drive for Documents, Pictures Etc.. I have a third drive E: that is for my backup. I back up both C: and D: once a week to E: Then once a month I have an external drive that I back up C: and D: to just in case my whole computer is fried one day. You do want to backup all of your drives. I feel sure all information is important to you.

 

[bigmck]

Got ya' I get it now. I did not know that Macrium created a startup disk.

Thanks for the info... Also please let me know how to start the backup from this screen.

When you backup your files to Macrium, you then take a blank cd and make a Rescue CD. This is used so that if your PC will not boot, you can boot from the Rescue CD and restore your backups.
This site explains it. Starting with the rescue CD

 

[DavidE]

Ok, so if you backup your entire computer, I have a main C Drive and 2 other drives which makes up my computer.

Do I backup everything or just the C drive? Which is where my system is?

Say I want to backup my C drive. I back it up to my D drive. If I have a crash and have to format and reinstall my system 7 from the OEM DVD, I would just have to reinstall Macrium Reflect and run it then restore the C drive correct?

I am just trying to give myself peace of mind and know that Macrium is doing it's job and I have no worries.

Thanks much....

For you, the simplest and safest way to do a "System Backup" is include the Disk 1 System Reserved and partitions in the backup image. The System Reserved Partition has the bootloader, and the [C] partition has Windows. Save the backup image to your [D] drive. [QUOTE="rbaron, post: 3263818, member: 125856"]Also please let me know how to start the backup from this screen.[/QUOTE] You can't start Macrium from the DM screen print you posted in post #27. You can start Macrium from the Start Orb / All Programs / Macrium. You can save a shortcut to start Macrium from your desktop, a Quick Launch toolbar, or whatever is easiest for you. I use a "Quick Launch" type toolbar, and that's the easiest/quickest way for me to start Macrium. ALSO, asking what you want to do with Disk 2 opens a new can of worms, adds more confusion :zip: