Never Re-install Windows Again Part 1 to 3

[se224141]

At http://www.techsupportalert.com/partitioning-hard-drives-1.htm, author explains how you can create an image of your Windows installation. His explanation is based on WinXP.

Is that applicable to Vista Home Premium as well? Any comments or advice!

[bob3160]

Provided your drive never goes bad, it's a nice idea in the event of a system crash.

I still prefer to create my image on a different drive ( not a partition on the main drive ). If the main drive goes bad, I can then restore
it from the alternate source.

[hines232]

Sir, was thinking the same thing after my power supply went south, and I had to replace it. (Was dead in the water too), What alternate source are you using for a Crashed disk ??. I am open for suggestions ! Thanks

[Lisandro]

Is that applicable to Vista Home Premium as well? Any comments or advice!

Yes it is.
I have 4 partitions: one for Windows, one for programs, other for setup/installers/movies/etc. and the last one, encrypted, for data and documents

[Lisandro]

What alternate source are you using for a Crashed disk ??

Do you have a partition backup?

[bob3160]

Sir, was thinking the same thing after my power supply went south, and I had to replace it. (Was dead in the water too), What alternate source are you using for a Crashed disk ??. I am open for suggestions ! Thanks

I store my backup image on a usb external hard drive.
MySharedFiles is also stored and run from an external usb hard drive.
If the main computer goes down, I simply move it over to another system till the problem is resolved. 

[DavidR]

Is that applicable to Vista Home Premium as well? Any comments or advice!

Yes it is.
I have 4 partitions: one for Windows, one for programs, other for setup/installers/movies/etc. and the last one, encrypted, for data and documents

On my old system I used to separate my Programs from my windows partition.
This however, is an unnecessary step and one which I haven't done on my new system.

Why unnecessary, I can hear you ask. Well your registry is on the windows partition and some program settings on the C:\Documents and Settings\UserNameFolder\Application Data\ folder these are the links to your programs, on the second partition. So if you had a problem you would still have to restore the primary windows and secondary program partitions so they are effectively in synch.

So if you have installed, updated or tweaked any program settings in the period between the last back-up image and the crash, etc., these may not be reflected in the restoration of an image for just your primary windows partition.

I now just have the Windows primary partition, a Data partition to back-up to either 2nd HDD or external storage. If I had a lot of media files, then I would have them on their own partition, but for the small amount I have they get stored in a Media folder on the Data partition.

[Lisandro]

So if you have installed, updated or tweaked any program settings in the period between the last back-up image and the crash, etc., these may not be reflected in the restoration of an image for just your primary windows partition.

Sometimes, I want just the system back, and let the programs in the latest installed version (not reflected in registry, but in files).

[DavidR]

The problem is a lot of info is stored in the C:\Documents and Settings\UserNameFolder\Application Data\ folder so you could have some program related issues because of the possibility of being out of synch, whilst it is likely to be a limited/low risk it is still a possibility.

[Lisandro]

The possibility of being out of synch

For that things I use Mozy (on-line backup)
But you're right... without it, a lot of personal settings are lost...

[hines232]

Sir, was thinking the same thing after my power supply went south, and I had to replace it. (Was dead in the water too), What alternate source are you using for a Crashed disk ??. I am open for suggestions ! Thanks

I store my backup image on a usb external hard drive.
MySharedFiles is also stored and run from an external usb hard drive.
If the main computer goes down, I simply move it over to another system till the problem is resolved. 

Sounds good !. I am looking at a USB CD Burner (hp). May do the job !!. Thanks

[Lisandro]

I am looking at a USB CD Burner (hp).

I strongly suggest you use an USB HDD and not a CD Burner... more reliable, more space.

[bob3160]

I am looking at a USB CD Burner (hp). May do the job !!. Thanks

A usb CD drive would never accoplish what I described.

I utilize 3 external USB drives 2 at 250 Gig each and the latest addition is 500 Gig. 

[hines232]

OK !! Will check out some more USB HHD's. The ones i looked (Tiger direct) all had bad to unacceptable reviews. (any other place on line to look ?) I believe Bob gave a sight back when, But can not find it now. Thanks again all.

[timcan]

OK !! Will check out some more USB HHD's. The ones i looked (Tiger direct) all had bad to unacceptable reviews. (any other place on line to look ?) I believe Bob gave a sight back when, But can not find it now. Thanks again all.

Hi, I don't know where you live, but I just bought a I/O Magic usb 320gb external hard drive off the clearance rack at Target for $49 us. It works just fine.I personally wouldn't worry about reviews.Hope this helps, tim