Windows 7 System Image Quick Question

[SevenNerd]

When creating a system image in windows 7 is EVERYTHING saved at the time of the back up? Music? Pictures? Programs? Drivers? Just wondering

 

[Darician]

Depending on the drives and partitions you select, it could. However, when doing a system image backup, it backs everything up on a drive or partition, there is no picking or choosing, it's everything or nothing.

 

[SevenNerd]

Great, everything is what I was hoping for.... : )

 

[JFLAG]

What might be the most practical method to make sure everything was mirrored correctly, to rule out the possibility of a backup disc error? The reason for my asking is in my first every imaging performed today using a new (empty) external drive, the image used only 32GB of the external, for imaging some 278 GB of C: drive contents. That kind of compression just seems unbelievable so I'd like to at least proof test the image/restore/backup before I feel at ease relying on it.

Your inputs are greatly appreciated!


I posted some additional details in the tutorials forum before being guided here:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup-37.html?filter[2]=Backup%20Restore

Thanks!

 

[Greg S]

What might be the most practical method to make sure everything was mirrored correctly, to rule out the possibility of a backup disc error? The reason for my asking is in my first every imaging performed today using a new (empty) external drive, the image used only 32GB of the external, for imaging some 278 GB of C: drive contents. That kind of compression just seems unbelievable so I'd like to at least proof test the image/restore/backup before I feel at ease relying on it.

Your inputs are greatly appreciated!


I posted some additional details in the tutorials forum before being guided here:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup-37.html?filter[2]=Backup%20Restore

Thanks!

Since we've moved this discussion here, me thinks it's not complete in light of the screenies you posted. I know karl makes mention of MS being clever about what goes into the WindowsSystemImage but not having roughly 250 GB's seems to me a red flag. The only possibility I see is that you had a couple of hundred gigs of recycle bin trash and restore points etc.. and there again, that's going on the assumption that restore points are not part of what MS includes in it's Image file.

 

[karlsnooks]

JFlag,

Shawn has very recently updated that tutorial and I believe that you will find all of your questions answered now.

 

[karlsnooks]

When creating a system image in windows 7 is EVERYTHING saved at the time of the back up? Music? Pictures? Programs? Drivers? Just wondering

Yes and no. If all is on the system partition, then yes.

If not, then you must tell backup to backup any other desired partitions by checking them off on a dialog which will be presented to you.

This very point, amongst a couple of others, has been elucidated by Shawn in an update to his excellent tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html

 

[karlsnooks]

Depending on the drives and partitions you select, it could. However, when doing a system image backup, it backs everything up on a drive or partition, there is no picking or choosing, it's everything or nothing.

Please see my reply to SevenNerd addressing this point.

 

[JFLAG]

Something Karl said about MS being smart about saving has resonated with me. I was actually surprised that there was 278 GB on my C: volume in the 6 months since having this machine. I generally browse the web only, and don't download files of any size. No movies, music, images, etc. But since yesterday my C: volume has increased from 278 GB to 281 GB leading me to believe there's some kind of dubious backups being accumulated that are (wisely) not being imaged and the actual size of my disc may be in fact 32 GB.

Maybe are these automatic restore points? My restore point disk manager indicates that 5.23 GB is the current usage with a max usage limit of 14.65. That leaves about 281-32-5.2=244 GB unaccounted for.

I've checked for automatic settings in Windows and the Dell Datasafe application but can find nothing obvious turned on that would account for the C: swelling. Any suggestions?



Thanks
Jeff

ETA-
Ran the Window disk cleanup utility and freed up 1.5GB in recycle bin and various temporary files.