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May 22nd, 2011 16:00
Windows 7 Backup and Restore - System Image
Just got a new Dell E6320 laptop with an SSD set to AHCI mode. An examination of the SSD shows a Recovery partition, OS (C:) partition and a small 39MB FAT 16 partition. From what I gather, win7 Backup/Restore will not image the FAT16 partition. So, when I need to restore the image, will the proper alignment for the SSD be maintained?
The FAT16 partition is at the beginning of the drive - will this space remain unallocated (or what)? Also, I plan on using an external HDD drive via eSata connection - will this be recognized during the restore from the win 7 backup/restore CD?
Thank,
Harvey
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Mary G
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May 22nd, 2011 17:00
That is incorrect. System Image will copy everything--even the Recovery partition and the diagnostic partition no matter what the file structure. What is confusing is Backup will not backup (make a compressed backup file)those partitions but it's not necessary. System Image works differently than backup and will put everything back on a reformatted drive. You only make a new system image when you make a major change--add or delete programs etc. Backups are made on a regular schedule. I have reformatted an awkwardly partitioned drive and used system image to put everything--all my programs, files and windows files--back. It worked perfectly. Just be sure to make a System Repair disk so you can access the system image stored on an external drive. A cd is big enough for a repair (boot) disk. Some Dell computers have a problem with DVD repair disks, although I've successful made both.
hgratt
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May 22nd, 2011 18:00
This is confusing. The Recovery and OS partition are NTFS, the 39MB partition is FAT16. If I understand you correctly, one has the option to only create a System Image (not a "Backup") and this will image any type of partition. Thus the created system image will have all partitions on it (NTFS, FATxx) - is this correct?
On a side note, do you know if Backup/Restore CD will recognize the Dell SSD and an external HDD connected via esata?
Thanks,
Harvey
hgratt
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May 23rd, 2011 06:00
O.K., I still have my USB 2.0 external HDD so I tried to make the System Image from win 7 B&R. It recognized the external drive, BUT it only saw the Recovery and OS (C:) partitions - both of these are NTSF. It did not see the 39MB FAT16 partition. So it looks like B&R System Image will only backup NTSF partitions - or am I still missing something?
If only the NTSF partitions are backed up, what happens to the space for the FAT16 partition when a restore is performed? Also, will the restored image be properly aligned onto the SSD?
Thanks,
Harvey