System Image

I am Running Win7. 64Bit. and I am going to make a System Image.

I found this on YouTube

But do I just got a Hard Drive that is 1. TB just like my Win7. Hard Drive.
But do I have to Format the Drive that the System Image will be saved to?

 

Images are compressed, typically by 50%, but it's best to keep more than one so 1TB would a sensible choice for an external drive. You can't use any drive until it has been formatted but it only takes a minute or two. Get one in a caddy.

I would suggest you avoid using the built-in system imaging tool - even Microsoft advise you to use a third party tool - and there are several free ones available which are far superior. I suggest you take a look at AOMEI Backupper and Macrium Reflect. Both are available here at MG.

 

Are you sure you want to use the Windows tool for this? Earthling is right. Problem for me is that the restore disk is the Windows repair disk, which is a little bit unreliable. For backups, I would rather have a restore disk that is only for restoring backups than something like the Windows repair disk. Only the repair disk can restore Windows backups...no other tool.

I recommend burning the Windows repair disk to a CD (DVD not required) for purposes other than backup restore and then finding another application for backups as Earthling suggests. Burn its restore disk and you are in business and ready to restore in an emergency...

 

Well this is one thing I do not understand?

If I use Win7. to make a System Image and my Hard Drive goes Down.
I Boot from the System Disc it makes.
Then use it to Pull the Image back to a New Hard Drive in the PC.

But if I use this

But if I use the Program Above in the Video and make a System Image on a Drive.
If the Drive in my PC. goes Down and I put a New Drive in my PC.

How do I pull the Image off the Drive I have it on into the New Drive?

 

I would download both of E's suggested programs and create their respective boot cd/ usb's
. And maybe even a 3rd product. I've had times when Backupper made a great re-image when I needed it, but the system wouldn't boot. I used a 2nd boot cd/usb made with the 2nd product and it offered a 'Fix Boot Problems' selection which solved the problem quickly.

An example shown on this page of the "Fix Boot Problem" option in the Reflect product. Other imaging programs also have a similar offering.

https://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW/Fixing+Windows+boot+problems

Which ever way you go, I recommend trying the boot cd/usb a few times to make sure you know how to use it when needed. It can be booted without any changes made to your system. You will be glad of the effort if you ever really need to use it!

 

Hey Biferi. If you go with the Windows option you will need to click on the circled link below. This picture is taken from the video included in your original post:


Follow the instructions to do this at some point, even if you aren't going to use the Windows backup feature. You will need this disc to restore an image if you use the Windows backup. That said, this disc has other repair tools too that can be handy. For example, under some circumstances you can run a system restore from the Windows repair disc. I have had this work for me before. It's really good to have this disc.

If you decide to try Aomei, you will need to also burn its restore disk. There should be instructions in the program explaining how. I have used Paragon Backup and Restore since 2012, so I can't help with Aomei. Imandy Mann seems to be indicating that Macrium's restore disk is not overly difficult to make. I know with Paragon it was one click from the main menu...

 

Agree with @AtlBo about the Paragon program also being worth the time to check it out. And as he stated about the Windows repair disc, all the boot cd/ usb's have other tools useful in certain situations.

I see you on many threads with curious questions on many topics, so I know you have an interest in varied topics of this sort. If you spend a little time on this you will find these are easy ways of giving yourself some insurance against disaster or even slight mess-ups.

With most of these programs able to make bootable usb's even with only 1 spare usb you can try any product, one at a time till you get a feel for it and may decide that having a couple cheap usb's around can be a good investment.