What are the first two partitions for, can I BU them with Paragon...

[gary777]

I am trying to figure out if I back up my c drive will it include the first two volumes, one I believe is for the drivers and the other for factory reset. I am not sure though, These partitions were put in by Dell.

I plan on using Paragon Backup & Recovery 2014. I have used Paragon before, it was the 2010 version, I BUed my XP system with it. The HDD crashed, I replaced the HDD with some help from my nephew, and used the paragon 2010 via snapshot to restore my OS, only problem was it did not copy the hidden partition on xp.

Will I have the same problem with my new Dell W-7 insprion premium 64 bit when I Back it up. I will use a snapshot, and also do a clone. Can these first two partitions which I believe are for factory restore & drivers be BUed & cloned in case of a HDD crash.

 

[SIW2]

You can select any of those volumes, or all , even unlettered ones.

If you want to be certain, you can always make an image with another free program, this one is excellent, small and fast, too FREE Backup software for Windows 7, 8 and Server 2008 R2, 2012

 

[whs]

Typical Dell setup. The bootmgr is in the recovery partition. So if you make images, you need both partitions in case your disk fails. If only the OS fails, recovering the C partition is usually enough.

If you want to always image c only, you can copy the bootmgr to C. But then you loose the ability to reinstall from the recovery partition.

As a first image, I would image all 3 partitions. Then you are on the safe side. Later you can decide on lesser options.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Agreed

As a first image, I would image all 3 partitions. Then you are on the safe side. Later you can decide on lesser options.

If your PC is running correctly at the moment, image the entire drive.
Make sure that you verify the image.

Also make sure that you have:

• A verified copy of the image stored on an external device (e.g. USB HDD).
• A recovery CD/USB for the imagining program you are using.

Then, it should be safe to experiment.

 

[gary777]

OK, thanks, so far all good info. Still sorting this all out. W-7 a little different from XP. just wish W-7 Premium could create a computer image like W-7 Pro and Ultima, and not just my files....

 

[whs]

You don't want a Windows image - that is not so easy to deal with. Most of us use free Macrium. Easy, reliable and fast. Carefully read the NOTE trext in the blue box. From there you can get the recovery iso which you need to burn the recovery CD. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?ltr=I

 

[gary777]

^ Thanks whs for uploading the .iso file for all. Regarding my post, I was talking about W-7 Pro & Ultima having the capability to create a computer image, whereas W-7 Premium does not.

I am still don't understand exactly what is on the first two partitions.

 

[whs]

The very first little partition contains some Dell tools that might be useful.

The second partition is the recovery partition that allows you to restore the system to how it was out of the box. You can also burn a recovery DVD from that. Most important though - it contains your bootmgr. Without it, your system would not boot.

That is a Dell approach. The installer usually creates a seperate 100 or 200MB partition to house the bootmgr. But Dell chose to place it into the recovery partition. Advantage is that it saves one partition on the disk. If you want, you can copy the bootmgr to C, but do that only after you burnt your recovery DVD.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/209885-bootmgr-move-c-easybcd.html

 

[gary777]

^ OK, got that part. So in order not to lose the data on the recovery partition I can back it up also on and ext drive via what ever back up program I use? I am asking because I lost the recovery partition the last time I had my HDD crash on me, I replace the HDD, It went fine copying from a Paragon snapshot of my c: drive on to the new HDD except for the ability to be able to use the f8 or was 12 to get a factory reset on said computer. I thought copying the C: drive would include the partitions, I see now that they are seen by the BU software as separate drives so to speak.

I did make recovery disks, it took three DVD's.

One more question/comment if I do a clone, will it clone the C: & both partitions.

What I am trying to end up with, is for me to be able to restore my computer exactly to how it was before a crash, where the HDD needs replacing, and also have the ability to set it to factory setting if desired via the F8 key