Solved What are my options?

[shadow2201]

I have a computer that has a lot of information on it. I want to save everything from the computer and then reformat it to be used elsewhere. I want to be able to save it down to program settings, etc. Can I accomplish this by cloning the HDD? What program should I be using? Does this post even make any sense(lol)?

It's a Dell Precision Laptop, Windows 7 Professional 64 bit.

 

[richc46]

You could download the free Macrium Reflect. I will make a complete image of your entire hard drive. You can then put the image on another computer. You must be in compliance with the EULA of Microsoft or they will not validate the image. You cannot have the OS on two computers at the same time and if the OS came with the computer, you cannot transfer, even as an image, to another computer.

 

[shadow2201]

You could download the free Macrium Reflect. I will make a complete image of your entire hard drive. You can then put the image on another computer. You must be in compliance with the EULA of Microsoft or they will not validate the image. You cannot have the OS on two computers at the same time and if the OS came with the computer, you cannot transfer, even as an image, to another computer.

That's true, didn't even go through my mind(can really tell it's Monday). Will the image made by Macrium Reflect be accessible from an external? Like if I make the image with that program, can I access the files and folders from wherever I store the image or is it just an iso image?

 

[richc46]

I use Macrium to back up my OS. No matter what happens, as long as I keep it up to date, I am back in business.
I keep my images on an external, in case my hard drive goes. So, yes the image can be stored on an external drive.

 

[richc46]

You boot into your computer using a ISO made DVD, from the Macrium website. You can then get to your external and you are in business
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html
When you restore with the image, everything will be just like it was on the day you made the image.

 

[Ranger4]

Sorry to butt in, but shadow2201 did mention using the image elsewhere, so I assume he might be thinking of transferring it to another computer, which is OK if that is the only one he is using, as has been discussed.

If he wished to transfer it to another computer or to reinstall to his existing computer after changing the motherboard for example then the free version of Macrium will not work. To do that he would need the paid version which has a redeploy feature to enable this.

 

[gregrocker]

If you reimage to different hardware, especially a different motherboard, then you may need to Adjust Win7 to boot on new hardware with Paragon Adaptive Restore CD

If this is the original factory install which is the worst possible install of Win7 one can have, or it is less than the install described in this blue link coming up, then I would strongly consider having the best instead by doing a Clean Reinstall Windows 7

 

[shadow2201]

My original post might have been kind of misleading I suppose. I guess I don't need to be able to re-use the image on another computer, basically, I want to back up all files and folders before I re-format. I want to be able to have access to all the files and folders that were/are on the laptop now, but I didn't want to have to go through and copy and paste every folder over to an external or whatever. Is there any utility that I can just make a backup of all files and folders, and be able to access them from an external if I ever need a file?

 

[richc46]

Try Macrium its easy and I think it is just what you want. When you put the image on the new drive, everything is exactly the same as it was. Everything is done in one shot.

 

[DavidE]

My original post might have been kind of misleading I suppose. I guess I don't need to be able to re-use the image on another computer, basically, I want to back up all files and folders before I re-format. I want to be able to have access to all the files and folders that were/are on the laptop now, but I didn't want to have to go through and copy and paste every folder over to an external or whatever. Is there any utility that I can just make a backup of all files and folders, and be able to access them from an external if I ever need a file?

Then do as richc46 said and create a Macrium Backup Image.
You can always browse it and copy any files from it if you ever want to.
It will look just like another partition in Windows Explorer.

 

[gregrocker]

Are you wishing to reinstall due to performance or other reasons? Yes or No? You said "reformat" which is only a step in doing a Clean Reinstall Windows 7. But it still isn't at all clear what you want to do.

If you want to reinstall then you'll need to back up your files first as laid out in the blue link tutorial so you don't forget anything, unless you are going to reinstall to another hard drive or PC, or can shrink a new partition on the same hard drive to install upon. Then you can bring over the data you want into the new install, or link it to its present location if that's what you want.