confused about Microsoft system backup (windows7)

LCPete

LCPete

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Hi Just realised I've not done this yet
(just read Andy,s reply about backing up in post processing section which he recommends doing on a regular basis)
I,m confused about what it actually does and how I would get back windows7 if the hard drive fails
there are 3 options system backup, repair disc and create a system image
does the system backup install the operating system if I have to fit a new main harddrive?
does the system image install my programs like photoshop?
assume the repair disc is like a boot disc?
just done the system backup
I went into :
control panel
system and security
backup and restore
back up now (onto hitachi external)

also made a repair disc onto a CD


I tried to create a system image but got an error message saying it cannot be done as my disc drive (Hitachi external) is not formatted with NTFS
what does the mean do I need a different drive ?
also had option to write to DVDs , would it need loads of discs to do this or can I do it to a USB stick
thanks:)
 
Repair disk: Writes a CD containing everything you need to be able to recover your computer should your disk go bad EXCEPT the files on the drive. It's the disk that will boot and has enough of Win7 on that it can restore data, fix boot sectors etc.

System image: creates a complete IMAGE of the drive. If you make a system image and a restore disk, you can replace your HDD in the computer with a new one and get back exactly what you had on your old one (e.g. upgrading a 500G system drive for a 1TByte one). Everything remains as it was - programs, data, preferences etc. The only way you know you've changed the disk is to see that it is bigger.

System backup: backs up what you tell it to. You will need to schedule it using Windows Scheduler if you want to use it automatically.

I use different tools, but I have a recovery disk (you only need to create this once). I IMAGE my main drives weekly and BACKUP user data every 20 minutes.

Does that make it clearer?
 
LCPete said:
I tried to create a system image but got an error message saying it cannot be done as my disc drive (Hitachi external) is not formatted with NTFS
what does the mean do I need a different drive ?
Click to expand...
It just needs to be formatted. Assuming you don't mind losing all the data that is currently on it, right click in explorer -> Format and choose NTFS and let it quick format the drive. The drive will need to be bigger than the drive you are backing up....
 
Thanks Andy and neil thats brillaint I understand it now:)
The system image is what I was hoping for will get another external drive and keep it for that :clap:
Will be great peace of mind wont have to worry about reinstalling all the programs again:)
 
arad85 said:
Repair disk: Writes a CD containing everything you need to be able to recover your computer should your disk go bad EXCEPT the files on the drive. It's the disk that will boot and has enough of Win7 on that it can restore data, fix boot sectors etc.

.................
Click to expand...

I think the word SUPPOSEDLY should be in there.

The repair disc certainly wasn't able to repair my unbootable PC last week!

Fortunately, I was able to restore from the image after a couple of tries but only after reformatting my SSD first.
 
All sorted :)
Hitachi external drive arrived yesterday
formatted it to NTFS and ran the system image overnight and made a repair disc as well
seems to have backed up OK as there is now 272GB on the external drive
Thanks again Andy and neil:)
 
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