Windows 7 Ultimate's built in backup system?

[sygnus21]

Question about Windows 7 Ultimate's built in backup system.

If I create a full system backup of my "C" drive, then do a restore, will it just install the "C" drive partition only, or will it overwrite the entire HD, thus wipping the rest of the partitions? Not looking to have the other partitions wiped!

I did some looking around, but that question/issue doesn't seem to be addressed.

Thanks

 

[nate42nd]

I have done many restores with Windows imaging. This is a good question. Just to be sure I would include the other partitions if you have room. However my guess is if you only create the image of the "C" drive...it will only restore that partition, leaving the other how they were. You should have the option when creating it to check the boxes you want.

I know it will restore the exact size partition on another hard drive even if the new drive is bigger.....leaving the rest of the space "unallocated" so I would assume it will restore partition by partition.

I' not positive however. Good question.

 

[Saltgrass]

It will restore the C: partition exactly as it found it. If you are using the same hard drive, no problem. If you get a new, larger drive, it will restore it exactly as it found it.

The trick is to adjust the partition size before or after the image is made/restored using Disk Management.

If you were to try to restore it to a harddrive with a smaller partition and another partition, it probably cause problems for the second partition.

 

[sygnus21]

Saltgrasss I understand what you're saying about partition sizes and replacing hard drives, and you are correct, but my concern is as I stated, if I only backup "C" drive and do a restore on the same hard drive, will it wipe the other partitons? I just want to be able to restore Windows on the "C" partition should something happen, without worrying about the other partitions getting wipped.

@ nate42nd;

I looked at a few tutorials on the web and didn't notice any of them mentioning the option to restore individual partitions, thus my question here.

It sound like i'm better off with Acronis True Image as I know it can restore individual partitions without over writing others. I was just curious about whether Winodws 7's backup solution did the same.

Thanks

 

[nate42nd]

Acronis is more "feature rich" If you're concerned go with that. A lot of people like it....

 

[pparks1]

It will only overwrite the partition that you backed up and selected in the restore. I've had a 150GB C drive and a 850GB D drive. (2nd partition on the first hard drive). I've restored successfully from a backup on a USB external drive to the C drive and the D drive wasn't touched.

And BTW: This backup and restore utility (system image) is available in all versions of Windows 7 too...not just ultimate. Your post might have confused some people as it seemed to indicate that it was an exclusive feature to Ultimate.

 

[sygnus21]

Thanks. I also got my answer here http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup-12.html

As for exclusive feature, I guess I was thinking about this when I alluded to the exclusivity of Windows 7 Ultimate (and Professional)...

If you want to backup to a network location, say on your company's central server, network attached storage, or another computer on your network, you'll need Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate.

Link Windows 7 Features: Backup and Restore

Sorry for the confusion