Comments on: Create A Windows 7 System Image [How-To] http://www.groovypost.com/howto/microsoft/windows-7/create-a-windows-7-system-image/ Groovy Technical and How To Articles for New and Advanced Computer Users Sun, 14 Mar 2010 00:02:53 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Troy S http://www.groovypost.com/howto/microsoft/windows-7/create-a-windows-7-system-image/#comment-13773 Troy S Sun, 21 Feb 2010 19:50:35 +0000 http://www.groovypost.com/?p=1945#comment-13773 Steps 6 and 7 create a system repair disk by burning it to a CD or DVD? What if the computer does not a CD/DVD burner. Can the Windows 7 backup process create an ISO image instead so that I can copy the ISO image to another computer to make a CD/DVD? Steps 6 and 7 create a system repair disk by burning it to a CD or DVD? What if the computer does not a CD/DVD burner. Can the Windows 7 backup process create an ISO image instead so that I can copy the ISO image to another computer to make a CD/DVD?

]]> By: Windows 7 Data Backup and Restore Guide [How-To] http://www.groovypost.com/howto/microsoft/windows-7/create-a-windows-7-system-image/#comment-12642 Windows 7 Data Backup and Restore Guide [How-To] Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:01:44 +0000 http://www.groovypost.com/?p=1945#comment-12642 [...] ways of protecting your PC and Data from a system crash using a system restore point as well as a system image and as you can see with Windows Backup, you should have all the tools you need to protect your data [...] [...] ways of protecting your PC and Data from a system crash using a system restore point as well as a system image and as you can see with Windows Backup, you should have all the tools you need to protect your data [...]

]]> By: Restore Windows 7 Using A System Image Backup [How-To] http://www.groovypost.com/howto/microsoft/windows-7/create-a-windows-7-system-image/#comment-12635 Restore Windows 7 Using A System Image Backup [How-To] Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:01:13 +0000 http://www.groovypost.com/?p=1945#comment-12635 [...] to our RSS feed or our daily Email updates for regular How-To tutorials and Tech News.Once you’ve created a Windows 7 system image, you’re probably curious how to use it to restore your computer.  If Windows 7 is still [...] [...] to our RSS feed or our daily Email updates for regular How-To tutorials and Tech News.Once you’ve created a Windows 7 system image, you’re probably curious how to use it to restore your computer.  If Windows 7 is still [...]

]]> By: Cindy http://www.groovypost.com/howto/microsoft/windows-7/create-a-windows-7-system-image/#comment-11494 Cindy Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:57:18 +0000 http://www.groovypost.com/?p=1945#comment-11494 Ahh - now hang on - NAS won't work - it needs a directly connected (USB or other port) - It will NOT image to a NAS on a NETWORK drive. Hope this helps! Cin. Ahh – now hang on – NAS won’t work – it needs a directly connected (USB or other port) – It will NOT image to a NAS on a NETWORK drive. Hope this helps!

Cin.

]]> By: Cindy http://www.groovypost.com/howto/microsoft/windows-7/create-a-windows-7-system-image/#comment-11491 Cindy Tue, 19 Jan 2010 07:05:18 +0000 http://www.groovypost.com/?p=1945#comment-11491 OK - yes I had not thought of burning two images - one to the spare HDD, one to the NAS (which is co-located), then store the HDD in our safe deposit box. I am assuming that the boot DVD ("restore boot DVD" I guess as a description) can only be made once? Seems to be both an HP and a Compaq "issue". Following on, have you ever tried using a standard DVD copy of a restore DVD and made it work? I am wondering if I should go to the effort? As a supplemental question - on the Compaq, should I go for an Upgrade to Win 7 Home premium (no need for domains etc.) and install "over the top" or do a re-install from the Vista recovery partition, then upgrade? Thanks heaps for your help - it's really appreciated!!! Here's three virtual beers for you!!! Cindy. OK – yes I had not thought of burning two images – one to the spare HDD, one to the NAS (which is co-located), then store the HDD in our safe deposit box.

I am assuming that the boot DVD (“restore boot DVD” I guess as a description) can only be made once? Seems to be both an HP and a Compaq “issue”. Following on, have you ever tried using a standard DVD copy of a restore DVD and made it work? I am wondering if I should go to the effort?

As a supplemental question – on the Compaq, should I go for an Upgrade to Win 7 Home premium (no need for domains etc.) and install “over the top” or do a re-install from the Vista recovery partition, then upgrade?

Thanks heaps for your help – it’s really appreciated!!! Here’s three virtual beers for you!!!

Cindy.

]]> By: MrGroove http://www.groovypost.com/howto/microsoft/windows-7/create-a-windows-7-system-image/#comment-11489 MrGroove Tue, 19 Jan 2010 06:24:05 +0000 http://www.groovypost.com/?p=1945#comment-11489 NAS Vs. External USB Drive... The NAS drive is nice because it's your "storage in a cloud" so to speak. Depending on the size of your NAS, that might be the way to go since anytime you can cut a new image or push a backup to it. That being said, the drawback is NAS is probably more expensive than you simple USB external drive and might be better used storing your images, files etc... rather than storing your PC image and regular Windows backups etc.. so that's +1 for the External Drive on USB. Another Plus for the external drive is you can keep your System Image and Backup's on it and keep it locked in a Fire safe ($200.00 from Costco etc..) or take it to work and lock it in your desk in case your house burns down. Either way, might be worth cutting an image and storing it in both place :) NAS Vs. External USB Drive… The NAS drive is nice because it’s your “storage in a cloud” so to speak. Depending on the size of your NAS, that might be the way to go since anytime you can cut a new image or push a backup to it.

That being said, the drawback is NAS is probably more expensive than you simple USB external drive and might be better used storing your images, files etc… rather than storing your PC image and regular Windows backups etc.. so that’s +1 for the External Drive on USB. Another Plus for the external drive is you can keep your System Image and Backup’s on it and keep it locked in a Fire safe ($200.00 from Costco etc..) or take it to work and lock it in your desk in case your house burns down.

Either way, might be worth cutting an image and storing it in both place :)

]]> By: Cindy http://www.groovypost.com/howto/microsoft/windows-7/create-a-windows-7-system-image/#comment-11481 Cindy Tue, 19 Jan 2010 01:58:14 +0000 http://www.groovypost.com/?p=1945#comment-11481 Dexter - my thoughts exactly. It's the new HP Envy 15, and yes I am clearing the crap off it, and installing office, firefox, AVG etc., then I'll do the image. I won't be upgrading from Office 2003 Pro anytime soon, mainly because of compatability issues with other people. Nice to see someone has the same approach as me! I agree - we always buy the best we can afford, and are very PC savvy, so we like our boxes to run at 100% all the time, so hopefully this new imaging software win Win7 will allow us to do it more easily than the old Ghost (even V10 wouldn't run correctly on our other Vista box), Macrium Reflect etc. Just confirming - seperate HDD or NAS for the target of the backup do you think? The HDD connects via a USB, NAS is on our home network. Thanks awfully for your suggestions! Cin Dexter – my thoughts exactly. It’s the new HP Envy 15, and yes I am clearing the crap off it, and installing office, firefox, AVG etc., then I’ll do the image. I won’t be upgrading from Office 2003 Pro anytime soon, mainly because of compatability issues with other people. Nice to see someone has the same approach as me! I agree – we always buy the best we can afford, and are very PC savvy, so we like our boxes to run at 100% all the time, so hopefully this new imaging software win Win7 will allow us to do it more easily than the old Ghost (even V10 wouldn’t run correctly on our other Vista box), Macrium Reflect etc.

Just confirming – seperate HDD or NAS for the target of the backup do you think? The HDD connects via a USB, NAS is on our home network.

Thanks awfully for your suggestions! Cin

]]> By: grooveDexter http://www.groovypost.com/howto/microsoft/windows-7/create-a-windows-7-system-image/#comment-11480 grooveDexter Tue, 19 Jan 2010 01:04:28 +0000 http://www.groovypost.com/?p=1945#comment-11480 Yup, it's best to create backups on a different HDD incase the one you are operating on goes haywire. Yup, it’s best to create backups on a different HDD incase the one you are operating on goes haywire.

]]> By: grooveDexter http://www.groovypost.com/howto/microsoft/windows-7/create-a-windows-7-system-image/#comment-11479 grooveDexter Tue, 19 Jan 2010 01:02:15 +0000 http://www.groovypost.com/?p=1945#comment-11479 Hi Cindy, Great to hear you have a new computer on the way! With "when" to createa system image, it comes down to personal preference. If there are certain programs on your computer that you know you will ALWAYS use, then it can be handy to not worry about reinstalling them if you ever want to revert back to a clean slate. You'll have to consider how often you'll want to restore the image. You can also create multiple images, but this can quickly take up a lot of space. For me, the first thing I do after installing Windows 7 is Windows Update, followed by installing Microsoft Security Essentials. Then immediately after those two I create the system image. Why? I would opt to install Office and other programs, except that newer versions of those software are about to be released (Office 2010). I like to start with a clean slate everytime I revert back to the image without worrying about uninstalling the old software (which could possibly leave stray files and registry keys floating around). Some people aren't bothered by this but if I'm running an EXPENSIVE PC then it's a comfort to know it's clean and running at 100% efficiency. I'll usually only restore system images about 3 times a year as a sort of "housekeeping" procedure. You'll also need to take into consideration that if you purchased a Dell, HP.. etc. The PC is going to come packaged with a ton of software that you most likely won't want. Many of the software suites will be trial too, which can be frustrating however creating a system image and reverting back can be a way to extend some trial programs. such as ones that don't rely on date expiration. I would recommend uninstalling all unwanted software then creating the system image before installing any new software. There are other times to create a 2nd system image, such as: -Right before installing a new unfamiliar software application -If you have some good software installed but lost the CD or Product Key -On a regular basis incase your system crashes Hope this helps! Hi Cindy,
Great to hear you have a new computer on the way!

With “when” to createa system image, it comes down to personal preference. If there are certain programs on your computer that you know you will ALWAYS use, then it can be handy to not worry about reinstalling them if you ever want to revert back to a clean slate. You’ll have to consider how often you’ll want to restore the image. You can also create multiple images, but this can quickly take up a lot of space.

For me, the first thing I do after installing Windows 7 is Windows Update, followed by installing Microsoft Security Essentials. Then immediately after those two I create the system image. Why? I would opt to install Office and other programs, except that newer versions of those software are about to be released (Office 2010). I like to start with a clean slate everytime I revert back to the image without worrying about uninstalling the old software (which could possibly leave stray files and registry keys floating around). Some people aren’t bothered by this but if I’m running an EXPENSIVE PC then it’s a comfort to know it’s clean and running at 100% efficiency. I’ll usually only restore system images about 3 times a year as a sort of “housekeeping” procedure.

You’ll also need to take into consideration that if you purchased a Dell, HP.. etc. The PC is going to come packaged with a ton of software that you most likely won’t want. Many of the software suites will be trial too, which can be frustrating however creating a system image and reverting back can be a way to extend some trial programs. such as ones that don’t rely on date expiration. I would recommend uninstalling all unwanted software then creating the system image before installing any new software.

There are other times to create a 2nd system image, such as:
-Right before installing a new unfamiliar software application
-If you have some good software installed but lost the CD or Product Key
-On a regular basis incase your system crashes

Hope this helps!

]]> By: Cindy http://www.groovypost.com/howto/microsoft/windows-7/create-a-windows-7-system-image/#comment-11478 Cindy Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:28:31 +0000 http://www.groovypost.com/?p=1945#comment-11478 Thankyou MrGroove - just unboxed a new HP Envy 15, so shall do as you suggest. I assume it would be better to do the image to a spare HDD rather than our NAS? Cin Thankyou MrGroove – just unboxed a new HP Envy 15, so shall do as you suggest. I assume it would be better to do the image to a spare HDD rather than our NAS?
Cin

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