System Image Strategy recommendation please

Greetings,

OK, I've read about the difference between cloning and imaging. Looks like imaging is for me. I can get an external drive (or drives) to hold the data.

But, what to image? This should be an easy answer for someone. As I read online, trying to avoid posting such simple topics here, I run into articles that say stupid things like "you don't really need an image, you can just reinstall Windows and Photoshop and Office" etc. Duh.

I get confused when they refer to making an image of the System files. Is that the whole system with all of the drives, or just C with the Windows files and a System partition? Also, I hope to swap out a larger SSD for a little more elbow room some time in the future. (I'd make all of the drives SSD if I were made outa money! lol)

I ask for your suggestions for me and my "system." Here's what I've got.

What say you?

Thanks,

DrCarl


C: SSD 80 GB - holds Windows System partition and then the rest of C
D: 1 TB - lots of photos, music and most programs. I'm a photographer.
F: 300 GB - old HD with low priority 'stuff' on it
R: 1 TB - more data storage; email client files, instructional videos, etc.

Win7x64 (Win10 is in my future probably some months away), 6GB RAM,
1394, SATA and USB 3.0 connections and an open bay or two (but I'd have to figure out how to install and power up a new drive; I suppose I am looking for "easy". I was lucky when I put my F drive in because the wires were all just sitting there.)

 

Macrium Reflect free edition would be worth having a look at.
Read about it, and the extras that come with the paid edition at -
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

As far as what you should image, definitely C and D.
For F and R, backup anything that you couldn't bear to lose.

 

Also have a look at Paragon Backup & Recovery 14 Free Edition.
http://www.paragon-software.com/home/br-free/

 

drcarl...

Using the imaging programs out there, you can image the entire partition as you have mentioned you would like to do and then also use the program to create routine (daily/weekly, etc.) updates of your files. The files backup won't provide you with an updated version of Windows and its settings or updated versions of programs and their settings, but you will easily be able to restore the partition to the state at the time of the image and then restore the most recent (current) version of your files. Good idea for the sake of Windows updates and program updates to update your Windows partition image once a month or so and this can be scheduled too.

You could also go with a syncing program for your files that would keep them up to date in real time. It's basically an automated copy/paste operation that simply saves changes in two places for all files in designated folders. You can ask around about what are good syncing programs as I haven't gotten around to syncing to date, but the previously mentioned imaging programs are popular. I have used Paragon, and it is quite good. It reduces a partition containing 35 GB of data to about 16 GB using compression. Make sure you don't forget to burn the restore disk for whichever imaging program you choose. That's what makes it possible to restore to a new disk during boot time. This is the primary advantage of imaging.

Image your main drive and its boot sector and then create a separate backup containing only your files (double protection for your files this way). You can use your imaging program to backup your files or go with a syncer, either way. Ideally you could keep your two backups in a separate place (using a 2nd AND 3rd drive), but a thumb drive is not a good choice for backup. For storing portable programs or for very temporary storage of files like to move files from one machine to another, thumbs are OK. They aren't very reliable for long term storage of important files, however.

 

THANK YOUS...perfect! That really helps me bundle up my understanding. ..awesome.

 

All I would add to the previous advice would be to think about, if you haven't done so already, moving the folders that make up your personal profile - Documents, Music, Pictures etc to one of the other drives, probably D. The reason, which Atlbo has already touched on, is that when you restore a system image, to be sure you have removed a virus for example, you will also overwrite your personal files with whatever you had when the image was created. Storing your files somewhere else both avoids that risk and simplifies your file backups. I use both Acronis and Macrium Reflect for monthly system imaging, and Syncback Free and WinRar (not free unfortunately) for automatic daily file backups and I've never lost a system or any of my files in 15 years or so. You move your personal folders using the Location tab in the folder Properties.

 

All of these suggestions are awesome. Thank you SO much for the balance (everything online, even the "news" articles seemed like ads - lol)