Backing up OS using imaging software and restoring it.

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FaH33m

FaH33m

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Ohk my Seagate 500GB(ST3500320AS) is on its deathbed. RMAin this one for second time, first time it died all of a sudden due to the famous firmware issue.:@

The S.M.A.R.T report.- http://www.hddstatus.com/hdrepshowreport.php?ReportCode=4079022&ReportVerification=7D3B0A4B

Since my Windows 7 RTM is installed on the primary partition of this HDD (100GB), I need some imaging software to backup the complete OS and then move it to another hard disk .

Doing a fresh install of all the applications and then the settings etc . is a real PITA.:(

I have another free primary partition of 30GB on my other HDD. Is there any way I can make a complete backup/ image of the current OS and move it to the 30GB partition temporarily and then again move it back to the RMA'ed 500GB when i get it .

PS : Though the current Win partition is 100 GB ,only ~21-3 GB is used , so the 30GB temp. partition should be adequate for the backup i guess.

Anyone who has done this before or has better suggestions ? :ashamed: Will acronis / partition magic etc be helpful ?
 
Any idea how to do it ? Dont want to screw up .:ashamed:.

I read somewhere that the partition whose image is to be backed up and destination partition need to be of the same size. is that true ?

In that case i wont be able to move the current OS to a temp partition.
 
use the win 7 utility. on my system it took only 10 gb when around 18gb of c: was used.

use the win 7 utility to store the backup anywhere, either on the current harddisk or an external or even on a couple of dvds. no need to use a third party app like acronis when win 7 has an in built utility for such a purpose.

i have also created such a partition just after installing the os and all my favourite or essential apps. though i haven't used this image but it should work perfectly.
 
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^ Does the Windows 7 utility backup the whole partition, as in all applications as well or only the Windows system files?

No, the size doesn't really matter. It creates a backup archive of the entire partition which you can store anywhere you want.

Its pretty easy. Just select the option to backup the entire partition and select the OS partition.
 
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use the win 7 system utility. you just need to create a system image and create a recovery disc. boot from the recovery disc with the system image either in current hdd or connected via usb hdd, it will walk u throught restoring process. compression levels arent tht great, but it works very smoothly
 
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I just transferred a Win7 install from a dying Seagate 250 to an old and clunky (=reliable) 300GB drive using Acronis. Worked perfectly the first time... A straight disk clone works very well, and takes half the time of first backing up and then restoring.
 
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from the report:

Your hard disk is not below any attribute threshold. This is good.

Your hard disk was never below any attribute threshold. This is good.
Click to expand...

your hard disk is not dying

even the raw values are absolutely normal for a seagate
 
i use Norton Ghost v14.... have scheduled to backup my entire OS partition onto a slave hdd once a week. Something goes wrong? i just have to pop in the Ghost recovery disc, boot from it and restore the image... takes 7-10 mins in total... painless :)
 
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Thanks a lot guys for your replies.:hap2:

I think I will take a image back from both the Windows 7 utility as well as Acronis disk director suite.You know just to be on the safe side.

Already done with the Windows backup image,25GB of Windows file was saved as a 25GB image and some other settings and all were saved separately.

Is it ohk to keep this backup image on another internal HDD for restoring right ? I can just insert the recovery disc and point to the image on the partition of another HDD.:huh:

Or will I need a external HDD ?

Udit said:
from the report:

your hard disk is not dying

even the raw values are absolutely normal for a seagate
Click to expand...

From the same report.

Current Raw

Airflow Temperature

56

757858348

-Watch Warning: Airflow Temperature is below the average limits (63-100).

Hardware ECC Recovered

30

231201620

-Watch Warning: Hardware ECC Recovered is below the average limits (33-100).

Even ,The overall fitness for this drive is 81%.

All my other drive show fitness as 95-98 %.

Also Udit, I can feel my OS has becoming slow and at times it takes 10-12 properly display(open thumbnails) of a few files saved on to one of the paritions of this HDD.

Don't want to take any chances, infact i am thinking of selling it off after the RMA and get another 1TB or the 640 AAKS for the OS. ;)

Thanks again everyone.
 
^ Hope for getting a 7200.12 drive. Wouldn't have much problems then.

But your disk isn't really in a very bad condition. But it doesn't hurt to RMA so go ahead. :P
 
as long as the hard disk is connected it will detect it fine. i refered to a external disk coz i hv a laptop

FaH33m said:
Thanks a lot guys for your replies.:hap2:
I think I will take a image back from both the Windows 7 utility as well as Acronis disk director suite.You know just to be on the safe side.
Already done with the Windows backup image,25GB of Windows file was saved as a 25GB image and some other settings and all were saved separately.

Is it ohk to keep this backup image on another internal HDD for restoring right ? I can just insert the recovery disc and point to the image on the partition of another HDD.:huh:
Or will I need a external HDD ?
From the same report.
Current Raw
Airflow Temperature
56
757858348
-Watch Warning: Airflow Temperature is below the average limits (63-100).
Hardware ECC Recovered
30
231201620
-Watch Warning: Hardware ECC Recovered is below the average limits (33-100).

Even ,The overall fitness for this drive is 81%.
All my other drive show fitness as 95-98 %.

Also Udit, I can feel my OS has becoming slow and at times it takes 10-12 properly display(open thumbnails) of a few files saved on to one of the paritions of this HDD.

Don't want to take any chances, infact i am thinking of selling it off after the RMA and get another 1TB or the 640 AAKS for the OS. ;)

Thanks again everyone.
Click to expand...
 
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