Drive Imaging
System backup using drive images
Limitations of other backup methods
Backup the Windows XP Registry
"Recovery" CDs (or hidden disk partitions) that come with your computer are like snapshots of your "C-drive", taken just before it left the factory.
Drive images are updated snapshots -- bit-by-bit copies -- of your hard drive. They do the same thing as Recovery CDs, but they are up-to-date, at least when you "snap" them. Drive images are like "Restore Points" for your whole C-drive, not just a few critical Windows files. If something goes wrong later, even if you need a new hard drive, you can restore your computer to the way it was the day you made the image.
If you restore your computer from a restore CD, you return your PC to the "factory" state. That means you'd lose everything you've added since you got it. The programs you've added, Windows updates, your email, documents, pictures, tax records, music, -- everything -- will be gone! If you reinstall Windows instead, you can end up with nothing but Windows -- not even the programs that came with the computer.
Even if your hard drive fails completely the solution is simple if you have a drive image. Simply buy a replacement hard drive and "restore" it using your latest drive image. Everything will be up to date again. Your computer will never know the hard drive was replaced. Fred Langa has more information on the process in "Choosing the best backup software".
Drive images are not a replacement for regular backup unless you make new images frequently. If you made a drive image a month before you needed to restore it, you'd lose all the changes or additions you made to your personal files during that month. For example the new entries that you made in your address book would be missing, and that new cowboy poem you wrote would be gone. You still need to make your regular backups (or make images on the same schedule).
My imaging approach
I invest a lot of work keeping my computers set up just the way I want them. I'd hate to need to do all that work over again. I also install and uninstall a lot of software and try other risky things. Why else have a computer? :-) Trouble is, bad stuff happens when you continually mess about. Drive images have "saved my bacon" many times. Most recently? September, 2006.
I partition my primary hard drive so that I can keep data files separate from Windows and program files. When I need to restore an image, it leaves my data untouched. More importantly, it reduces the size of images dramatically.
I capture new drive images after I make significant changes, for example, after I install an important new program. If it's a big change, like a service pack, I also make an image just before I install it. You can learn more about drive imaging at Acronis.
Storing images
Imaging programs need a several CDs or a few DVDs to store the whole image. The easiest place to keep drive images is on an external or second hard drive though. Some programs can store images in a partition on your primary hard drive. However, if it fails you will lose your drive images too. :-( Then you're stuck reinstalling Windows and everything else.
Drive imaging programs
Update: The Business, Ultimate and Enterprise versions of Windows Vista include a Complete PC Backup utility, which includes making full drive images.
Acronis True Image, and Norton Ghost are the main-stream drive imaging programs. They capture a complete mirror image of your system hard drive. Fred Langa had important things [part 2] to say about drive imaging programs in his recent newsletter too.
Acronis True Image seemingly came from nowhere, and according to reports offers the best features at the best price. (It's the one that I use too.) Ghost costs around $70. "Gizmo" Richards conducted a recent comparison between the two.
Gene Barlow, who made a presentation for the club, represents Acronis and some other good software product lines. They are available at his Web site, with a nice user-group discount. For example, you can buy True Image for $34 instead of $50 list or download it for $29. Just use "Happy Trails Computer Club", and Order Code UGFEB06 or UGAZACC when you order.
For experienced computer users, BootIt Next Generation is a superb alternative to the main stream imaging programs. It's small enough to fit on a floppy, but it's more powerful than the name brands. BootIt also handles partitioning very well. In addition it includes a slick "boot manager" (so you can put more than one operating system on the same computer).
BootIt is not easy to use. If you don't have experience with partitioning and drive imaging, you'll struggle to make it work. I decided not to invest the effort since I already have True Image. Learn more about BootIt Next Generation from Langa's newsletter.
XXCopy is a free alternative that performs the primary tasks very nicely too. For more information on software and utilities for managing disks and partitions, go here.
Limitations of other backup methods
You cannot back up your Windows installation by copying, or by using ordinary backup programs. On its own, Windows is unable to access, much less restore all of the contents of your hard drive. If you want to back up your whole system -- Windows and your programs -- you need special disk imaging software.
Limitations of the restore disk that came with your computer
Most new computers come with "restore" CDs (or hidden hard drive partitions) that put your computer back to where it was when it was new. There are two problems with that approach.
The first problem is minor: The CD may not restore your computer exactly the way it was when shipped-- just close. The manufacturer may have found and fixed a few bugs by changing the master image used at the factory. There may be a time lag before the restore disks are updated to reflect the fix. If you ever are forced to "restore" your computer, you'll loose those fixes forever.
The second problem can be a major one. When you "restore" your computer, all the programs, documents, pictures, email, or anything else you've created, downloaded or installed will be deleted. Restore CDs obviously don't include anything you've subsequently added. You'll need to reinstall all the programs you added after you bought the computer. If you've backed up your documents, etc. you'll be able to put them back too.
"Drive images" are the way around the restore disk problems. These images can do pretty much what a regular restore disk does, but they can be up to date. You'll only need to restore the documents you added, and the programs you installed after you made the latest drive image.
Limitations of Windows "System Restore"
Windows XP, and ME include a comprehensive system backup utility called "System Restore". It's not as complete as a drive image backup, but it comes close for Windows itself. However, it does nothing for programs you install, documents, pictures or other data.
Fred Langa gives a good explanation of System Restore and how to use it at Information Week. I've used System Restore to fix calamities a few times myself. The results have always been fine. You will need to reinstall any programs that you installed after the restore point though. Usually that's not too many.
You can check to see when your last restore point was made. Windows usually makes one the first time you start your computer each day. Just open System Restore [Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore] and select "Restore my computer to an earlier time". Then click Next. Not to worry -- you're just cocking the hammer, not pulling the trigger. Dates that have system restore points are shown in bold font.
Backing up your BIOS and boot sector
These two elements of the computer control the basic elements of your hardware and startup of your computer. They are targets for some malware. If they are modified, your computer probably won't even start. "Restore" disks can be used to repair boot sectors. Drive images do not (they're actually partition images and the boot sector isn't part of the partition).
It's possible to reset the BIOS manually too if you wrote down all the BIOS settings before the troubles began. If you didn't, you can start with the default settings, and then figure out the changes needed (if any) to get back to normal. Look in your user's manual to figure out how to get into BIOS "settings" -- if you don't have one, try turning on the computer and then immediately press and hold the "F2" or "Ctrl" key until you get the "settings" screen. Try it now because you may not be able to get to this page after you have a problem. Be sure to exit without saving any changes. If you can't figure out how to do that, unplug your computer, and then restart it.