Using System Restore Points and/or 3rd Party Imaging Software

[Golden]

Please cast your vote. Do you use both System Restore Points AND 3rd party imaging software, or only one of them. Feel free to add your comments.

 

[mitchell65]

Well I can't really join the poll as I use Restore Points and Windows System Image backup as in Brinks tutorial. Both work well for me so I don't the feel the need for any 3rd party software. Needs another choice in the poll as I'm sure many people use the same system as me!

 

[Kari]

The poll does not have my method. I'm using both restore points and Windows 7 native imaging. I'll create a restore point before installing something new, to be able to quickly restore to the point before installation if needed; I'll create an image of my system in about once a week.

Using Windows 7 native Backup & Restore for imaging / restoring an image has not failed me yet.

Kari

 

[Golden]

Ouch...I missed the Native Imaging. Is there any way to edit the poll? I can only edit the original post.

 

[mitchell65]

Ouch...I missed the Native Imaging. Is there any way to edit the poll? I can only edit the original post.

Beg or send money to Admin

 

[Golden]

I just begged.

 

[Bill2]

A lot of OEM users just rely on the inbuilt OEM recovery partition and OEM recovery disks.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

I use both sometime and this makes it very easy to have plenty points if needed and it can also be added to the Task Scheduler so points will be created in case the PC is never restarted.


System Restore Point : Create at System Startup

 

[mitchell65]

I just begged.

You must have the "Midas" touch! Have now voted in the poll!

 

[Imperfect1]

Up until now I've only used System Restore, so your poll is reminding me of what I SHOULD be doing, and that is, to do both System Restore and imaging. So I think I'll wait to cast my vote until after I do my first system imaging.

 

[mitchell65]

Up until now I've only used System Restore, so your poll is reminding me of what I SHOULD be doing, and that is, to do both System Restore and imaging. So I think I'll wait to cast my vote until after I do my first system imaging.

May I suggest to make life very easy that you look at Brinks excellent tut:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html?ltr=B

 

[James Colbert]

System Restore and Acronis TI. I've used both since the late 90s.

James

 

[Hopalong X]

All three.
Not in the poll.

System Restore, System Image/Back Up and free Macrium.

Mike

 

[Imperfect1]

Up until now I've only used System Restore, so your poll is reminding me of what I SHOULD be doing, and that is, to do both System Restore and imaging. So I think I'll wait to cast my vote until after I do my first system imaging.

May I suggest to make life very easy that you look at Brinks excellent tut:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html?ltr=B

Thanks John. Yep, I've seen it, I just haven't done it. . .

 

[MoInSTL]

System restore and Acronis TI for images.

 

[kado897]

System Restore and W7 Imaging.

Tried Macrium free but it was no quicker (limited by speed of USB HDD) and the linux rescue disk was a bit iffy in finding the backup drive so I dumped it. The W7 repair disk has no such problems.

 

[Ztruker]

I allocate about 4GB for System Restore, gives me 12 to 14 days.

I also use Acronis True Image 2010 (not 2011, it was a disaster).

I also use Acronis Online Backup.

I also use a program called Mirror Image to backup critical data (same data I backup online) to a 2nd computer over my LAN.

I have never, ever lost a byte of data.

Overkill? Absolutely. DOes it work? Darn tootin!

 

[seekermeister]

I would have used the native backup, but when I tried several times, right after getting W7, it hung each time without completing, so I went back to True Image and restore points (when they are available).

 

[James Colbert]

I allocate about 4GB for System Restore, gives me 12 to 14 days.

I also use Acronis True Image 2010 (not 2011, it was a disaster).

Hi ztruker,

I skipped 2010 and am currently using 2011. Two things I learned with ATIH over the years (since version 7):

You may already know, but:

1) Always create an image of existing install before installing the new version.
2) Always completely uninstall all traces of the previous version.


I've found 2011 to be the best, most stable version to date (of course, ymmv).


James

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I don't really consider System Restore and imaging as competitors. Each has its purpose and each is appropriate, depending on circumstances.

I use system restore probably 2 or 3 times a month.

I make images of my system partition (C, containing no personal data) every couple of months, but have not had to restore an image in at least 5 years.

I'm curious why anyone would NOT use System Restore to the extent it worked for them---i.e., what is the reason to use something else, such as an image, if system restore is available and will solve the problem?

I realize SR was buggy in earlier iterations and still is not foolproof and will occasionally fail. With those caveats, are there people who won't even try it when it's available?

I've had System Restore fail to run successfully perhaps 2 times--in over 100 attempts.