50. Create A Complete Backup And Restore
Image
Important Note
The Complete PC Backup option referred to in this
article is only available in Windows Vista Business,
Enterprise and Ultimate.
Unlike Windows XP et al, Windows Vista does not
have a repair install option. Well not in the sense
of being able to re-install the operating system
over the current version without damaging or
altering software applications you have installed
over and above the Windows operating system.
This is not to say that there are no repair
options, because there are; they simply work
differently.
Recovery Console, for instance, does not exist in
Windows Vista. Instead, if you want to repair your
installation, you would be able to do so if you had
previously created a Complete Backup of Windows
Vista and saved it to either a separate partition or
a series of DVDs.
For piece of mind it is wise to create the first
backup of Windows Vista after you have installed the
operating system and completed the installation of
any additional applications. it is not wise to
backup the system until the operating system has
been officially activated.
While Microsoft recommend creating a backup image
every six months or so, it may be far wiser to
create a new backup image after any major
alterations or upgrades to your system.
Creating a backup image using Windows Vistas'
Backup application is quite straightforward. All you
need to ensure is that you have adequate media (if
you are saving to DVD) or enough hard disk space (if
you are using a hard drive partition) to accommodate
the backed up image.
It is unfortunate that the Windows Backup
application doesn't support compression. If the
drive is 20GB in size then the backup image will
also be 20GB.
To start the backup image, proceed as follows:
1/ Click the Start button.
2/ From the Start Menu, Click
All Programs>Accessories>System Tools.
3/ On the System Tools menu,
Click the Backup Status and Configuration
option.
4/ In the backup Window, Click
the Complete PC Backup option.
5/ In the Complete PC Backup window,
Click the Create Backup Now option.
6/ User Account Control (UAC)
asks for permission to continue. If you are the
administrator, Click the
Continue button. If you are not the
administrator you will be required to supply the
relevant authority before being able to continue.
7/ Vista will now search for operating systems on
your PC.
8/ After Vista has located the operating system
details the Where do you want to save the
backup window appears.
9/ Select either the Hard drive
or DVD option. Please ensure you
have enough free disk space or the required quantity
of DVDs before proceeding.
10/ Click the Next button.
11/ The next screen asks Which disk do
you want to include. You should note that,
if you are using a dual boot system
- for instance, Windows XP and Vista, both the XP
and Vista drives will be marked up for backup, and
that these options cannot be changed by the user. If
XP is on the first partition, Windows Vista will
store its bootloader files there, hence the need to
backup both partitions/drives.
12/ The Vista drive will already be selected. If
you have other partitions/drives you wish to include
in the backup now is the time to select
them.
13/ Once you have selected the partition/drive
you wish to include in the backup, press the
Next button.
14/ In the Confirm your backup settings
window, Check that everything you want to
backup is listed in The following disk will
be backed up dialogue box, and then Press
the Start Backup button.
15/ Windows will now prepare to Create a
Backup.
16/ If you are using DVDs, you
will now be asked to Insert a blank disk
larger than 1GB into your DVD drive.
17/ Insert the DVD.
18/ The DVD will now be formatted.
After formatting Windows will start to backup your
PC's data.
19/ If you are backing up to a separate hard
drive or partition the backup process will start as
soon as you click the Start Backup
Button.