Windows 7 Create a System Image

[tonyolson]

My Dell Desktop comes with a standard DVD Reader/Writer (DVD +- GH3ON ATA Drive) and works fairly well writing storage data etc. I've previously created a "System Repair disk" with no problems.

I decided to try my hand at creating a system image to DVD, but when I did I kept getting format message dialog boxes (which I allowed) and then an error box that stated "Windows Backup found errors on the media while saving a backup on it and ..." then I had to stop the backup.

I tried blank DVD and DVD r/w media (two different manufacturers) but no luck. It's not totally important I get this to work but has got my curiosity aroused.

Any ideas?

 

[richc46]

I and several others have noticed that making a copy to DVD does not usually work. Usual problem is a freeze, it becoming difficult to even remove the DVD, which requires drastic action. Bottom line, you may want to save to an external Hard Drive. You cannot save to a flash.

 

[tonyolson]

Well never say die

I was thinking about trying to create a Windows 7 systems image (to DVD) using Image Burn. Assuming ( I haven't tried it) I can do just that what files/folders do I use to create the image file?

I've found other threads (other win 7 forums) addressing the windows 7 image burner and some think there is a bug in the software of Win 7 systems recovery software (in the Create A system Image). Who knows .

Thanks.

 

[mlandstreet]

Has anyone figured this out yet. I really need to be able to make System Images of machines on DVD after I get them set up so that I can restore them back when people screw them up or leave the company or have a failure with no backup. The policy is to make images once every 2 weeks but it doesn't always happen. The file backups are on automatic to an external drive so that happens.

I know this can work because it works flawlessly on my ProStar with anything I put in the drive but a dual layer. The corporate Dell machines almost always fail. I can get them to work with DVD+RW disks but all DVD+R and DVD-R disks fail. I have tried several different brands with no joy. My experieince is that the shelf life of the RWs is not as long as that of the Rs.

I usually make 3 images of each machine. One with all the OS activated and the basic anti-virus and utilities installed and activated. The second includes the general tools such as Microsoft Office and the SQL client. The 3rd has the full developer suite on it (the first time it goes to a developer). These backups make it very easy to repurpose a machine quickly as needs change. Usually if I try to do them to a hard drive the 3rd one overwrites the 1st one.

What I am saying is that backing up these machines to external drives and just leaving the drives on the shelf is not an option.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Mason

 

[richc46]

Welcome,

It was my experiece, when I tried to back up to DVD that when the process was about 60% complete, it would freeze and I even had to pull the plug to get my machine back. There were at least 6 or 7 threads reporting the same problem.

Why not give it a try yourself. Read the instructions carefully and hope for the best. There were about 2 threads indicating that they were successful. good luck.

 

[mjf]

I think it is the luck of the draw. I have saved MS system images to DVD and recovered ok. But it really is a pain in the neck. You can get a low cost external USB HDD for under $100. It's FAR faster to create an image and restore from the HDD and you can retain a number of images.
I also keep MS and Macrium reflect (free edition) system images but MS has always worked for me(so far).
You will need to have a DVD (or CD) recovery disk (system repair disk) if you cannot run the recovery software from your computer HDD operating system.

 

[mlandstreet]

Welcome,

It was my experiece, when I tried to back up to DVD that when the process was about 60% complete, it would freeze and I even had to pull the plug to get my machine back. There were at least 6 or 7 threads reporting the same problem.

Why not give it a try yourself. Read the instructions carefully and hope for the best. There were about 2 threads indicating that they were successful. good luck.

I'll try to find those threads. My problem is not as much locking up. It simply won't verify on the Dell machines unless I use CD-RW disks. These seem to be a little less reliable long term.

 

[mlandstreet]

I think it is the luck of the draw. I have saved MS system images to DVD and recovered ok. But it really is a pain in the neck. You can get a low cost external USB HDD for under $100. It's FAR faster to create an image and restore from the HDD and you can retain a number of images.
I also keep MS and Macrium reflect (free edition) system images but MS has always worked for me(so far).
You will need to have a DVD (or CD) recovery disk (system repair disk) if you cannot run the recovery software from your computer HDD operating system.

It works great on my ProStar. It is just the Dells. I am responsible for about 20 of them. All the users are admins. Most are developers. They hose their machines just as a course of events every so often. My experience is that over time DVD+/-RWs are less reliable than +/-R. Bearing that in mind, not only is the idea of putting them all on an external HDD even less likely to be reliable over time it is putting all my eggs in one basket. Once I get a backup to work they are always reliable to restore. The Dells just don't make it through verify on +/-R DVDs. Seems like there should be some sort of registry tweak or something for maximum read speed or number of retries on verify. Pleas note that these DVDs work fine with other Windows 7 burning procedures.

I do have Recovery Discs. The seem to work fine. I ususally use CDs. I am not sure what the difference is in the recovery disc and the orignal install disc in recovery mode. I thought that the recovery disc would have the RAID drivers and the like on it but I still have to provide drivers for controllers not native to Windows 7.

Thanks,
Mason

 

[mjf]

Now you've confused me. Are you saying you have administrative responsibility for backing up an (office) environment of 20 PCs and are using DVDs?

 

[mlandstreet]

No. I have responsibility for the initial setup the machines. I need to make backups of them at different stages of the initial setup so that I can repurpose them easily. I have tried several different ways of doing this but it always comes back to needing a set of DVDs that I have full autonomy over that I can pull down for the machine to bring it back to a given states or I have to start from scratch.