Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

You can get a 99% assurance by testing the image of a test partition. I have made a little guideline for a Macrium test which you could follow.


I usually make a test as follows (takes less than 30 minutes):

1. I shrink 2GBs from C and create a 2GB partition
2. I move some data into that partition - just anything
3. I take an image of this partition
4. I delete a file or folder from the partition
5. I restore the partition from the image
6. If the deleted file/folder is back, I know it worked.
7. I delete the 2GB partition and return the space to C

Hello Taiyoyuden,

This tutorial could easily be used for that purpose just as well. :)

• Create a system image on a HDD or partition other than the one you are using as the new HDD.
• Replace the HDD.
• Do a system image recovery to the new HDD using the system image you just created.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Hello MV,

Yeah, it would be best to save the system image backup to a separate HDD that is different than the HDD your Windows 7 partition and the partition that you keep your user profile folders are on. This way you will be able to include both locations in the system image backup. Plus, whatever partitions or HDDs that are included in the system image backup will be formatted to be able to do a system image recovery to them.

A system image backup is a complete clone of the HDD(s) and/or partition(s) that you include in the image backup down to everything on them, and the layout and size of the partitions on them. When doing a system image recovery, the image backup will be restored to the HDD(s) exactly how it was when it was created. This is useful if you need to restore Windows 7 and the included HDD(s) back to how they were when the system image was created due to say a complete unfixable failure.

A restore point is part of system protection. It creates a backup of only the Windows 7 system files and registry. It does not include your user folders and files, and is not a complete backup of the HDD or Windows 7. A restore point is helpful to create right before say installing programs or drivers, or making changes to the system (Windows 7). This way if what you just did messes up Windows 7, you may be able to do a system restore to go back to a restore point dated before what you did to undo it. It's basically helpful as a quick fix to try and avoid having to reinstall Windows 7.

Either one is helpful, but both should be used. In case a system restore fails, you always have a system image backup as a fallback to recover with. :)

Yeah, I would recommend to use restore points until you are finished with installing programs and adjusting your settings, then create a system image.

Unless selected, system image should ignore the F: drive while creating a image backup. However, you would need to make sure that you exclude (step 9 below) the F: partition when doing a system image recovery to avoid it from getting formatted or deleted.

System Image Recovery

Hmm.. could it have something to do with moving My Documents, Pictures, Videos, etc. over to the larger data disk? (the C: drive in on a much smaller SSD, which I just wanted for basic OS and so can't accommodate a lot of that other stuff)

That's it. Win7 imaging always grabs everything that they think is part of the system.

If you want to image the C: partition only, use free Macrium. It is a lot better imaging product anyhow. Imaging with free Macrium