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| Vista Tutorial - Backup Complete Computer Backup Complete Computer
How to Create a Complete Computer Backup and Restore Image in Vista
Published by Brink
10-16-2007
| | How to Create a Complete Computer Backup and Restore Image in Vista Information | | Windows Complete PC Backup creates a backup image, which contains copies of your programs, system settings, and files. The backup image is then stored in a separate location from the original programs, settings, and files. You can use this backup image to restore the contents of your computer if your hard disk or entire computer ever stops working. This only applies to Vista Enterprise, Ultimate, and Business editions. For more information, see: Windows Help and How-to: Back up your programs, system settings, and files |  | NOTE | | BACKUP LOCATION: A) If you want to delete or copy the entire WindowsImageBackup folder to save it to another location to keep a copy of it, you will need to open each subfolder in the WindowsImageBackup folder and grant access permission to them first by clicking Continue twice for eace folder. You will then be able to copy this folder like any other folder. You may want to do this because when a new Complete PC Backup is made it can overwrite the previous Complete PC Backup with the differences to create the new backup. - Backups are saved in a folder with this format: (backup drive letter)\WindowsImageBackup\(your computer name)\Backup (year-month-day) (time)
- If the backup was done on Local Disk D: at 9/7/2007 1:00:50 PM (It uses 24 hour time), then the full backup file path would be:
- D:\WindowsImageBackup\Computer\Backup 2007-09-07 130050
- You would right click the folder Backup 2007-09-07 130050 and click Delete to delete that backup.
B) To delete all but the most recent Complete PC Backup, you can use Disk Cleanup. You will just need to select the drive that the complete PC backups are stored on and select the More Options tab. C) To delete the Complete PC Backup completely, you just need to take ownership of the WindowsImageBackup folder and subfolders. Afterwards, you will be able to delete the folder. |  | WARNING | | - Vista cannot backup the partition or drive that you are saving the complete backup to.
- If you dual boot with Windows XP, then everytime you start in XP the System Restore Points and all except the most recent Complete PC Backup files in Vista get deleted. For how, see: How to Stop System Restore Points from being Deleted in Vista when Dual Booting with XP
- You cannot restore a 32 bit Vista version complete pc backup on a 64 bit Vista version, or the other way around.
|  | RELATED LINKS: Here's How:1. Open Control Panel. (Classic View) 2. Click on the Backup and Restore Center icon. 3. Click on the Back up Computer button. (See screenshot below) 4. Click on Continue in the UAC prompt. 5. You will see this for a moment as Vista searches for backup devices. (See screenshot below) 6. Dot the location to save the backup image to. (See screenshot below) WARNING: Vista cannot backup the partition or drive that you are saving the complete backup to.A) On a Hard Disk: For saving to a different hard drive or partition. NOTE: You cannot save the backup image on the same partition as Vista is installed on. It can only be saved on another partition, a separate hard drive, USB device (external hard drive), or on multiple DVDs. If you wish to create a new partition for backups, then see: How to Shrink and Create a Partition with Disk Management in Vista
B) On One or More DVDs: For saving to multiple DVDs that are bigger than 1 GB in size each.
C) Click on Next.  7. Click Start backup to confirm the backup settings and start the backup process. (See screenshots below) NOTE: This will tell you how much space will be used on the other hard drive, or how many DVDs it will take. WARNING: If you have a previous complete PC backup in this location, this complete backup will only backup the differences between now and when the previous backup was made. (See the right screenshot below)   8. You will now see this window. (See screenshot below) 9. If you selected On One or More DVDs (step 6), then this window will pop-up asking for the first DVD. (See screenshot below)A) Insert a blank DVD into the DVD drive and click on OK. NOTE: It will continue to ask for DVDs until it is finished. See step 7 to see how many DVDs will be required.  10. When the backup is completed it will let you know. Click on Close. 11. Close the Control Panel window. That's it,
Shawn |  Published by | | | Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 23,756
Rep Power: 150 | |
 Tutorial Tools | | |
 Applies to | | Business,Enterprise,Ultimate | | 64 Bit & 32 Bit | |
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10-17-2007
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| | uvbogden Windows Vista Ultimate x86 SP1 Provo, Utah, USA | Re: Backup Complete Computer Thanks for doing this tutorial, I think it will help a lot of people. | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Dell XPSm1710 Laptop OS Windows Vista Ultimate x86 SP1 CPU Intel Core 2 Duo Memory 2 GB Graphics Card NVIDIA GeForce Go 7950 GTX Sound Card SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC Monitor(s) Displays 17" LCD Screen Resolution 1920 X 1200
10-17-2007
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| | Administrator Vista x64 Ultimate SP2 Texas, USA | Re: Backup Complete Computer You're welcome Uvbogden,
Thank you for the suggestion to create one for it,
Shawn | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Custom OS Vista x64 Ultimate SP2 CPU Core2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz 12MB Motherboard Gigabyte X48-DQ6 Memory 8 GB (4x2) DDR2 PC2-8500 1066 MHz Patriot Extreme Graphics Card BFG GeForce 9600 GT OC 512MB Sound Card Realtek HD Audio ALC889A Integrated Chip Monitor(s) Displays 28" Hanns-G HG281DJB and 17" eMachines E17T4 Screen Resolution 28" 1920x1200 and 17" 1280x1024 Keyboard Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution Mouse Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution PSU Antec NeoPower 500 Watt Case Tagan El-Diablo Full Tower Cooling 250 mm Front, 360 mm Side, stock CPU, 120 mm SiLenX Rear Hard Drives 64GB Patriot SSD (v2)
750GB Samsung HDD HD753LJ SATA 32MB Internet Speed 3382 kb/s Download and 312 kb/s Upload Other Info Creative WebCam Instant
12-07-2007
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| | hello KiDdy Vista™ Business 32-bit Malaysia
Rep Power: 14
  | Re: Backup Complete Computer Hi Shawn,
Windows Complete PC Backup will back up everything like those system files, updated definitions, installed software & icons setting(i've done alot of customization)... etc? | My System Specs | | OS Vista™ Business 32-bit
12-07-2007
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| | Administrator Vista x64 Ultimate SP2 Texas, USA | Re: Backup Complete Computer niGht kiD,
Yep, it will be a complete total backup.
Shawn | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Custom OS Vista x64 Ultimate SP2 CPU Core2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz 12MB Motherboard Gigabyte X48-DQ6 Memory 8 GB (4x2) DDR2 PC2-8500 1066 MHz Patriot Extreme Graphics Card BFG GeForce 9600 GT OC 512MB Sound Card Realtek HD Audio ALC889A Integrated Chip Monitor(s) Displays 28" Hanns-G HG281DJB and 17" eMachines E17T4 Screen Resolution 28" 1920x1200 and 17" 1280x1024 Keyboard Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution Mouse Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution PSU Antec NeoPower 500 Watt Case Tagan El-Diablo Full Tower Cooling 250 mm Front, 360 mm Side, stock CPU, 120 mm SiLenX Rear Hard Drives 64GB Patriot SSD (v2)
750GB Samsung HDD HD753LJ SATA 32MB Internet Speed 3382 kb/s Download and 312 kb/s Upload Other Info Creative WebCam Instant
12-10-2007
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| | hello KiDdy Vista™ Business 32-bit Malaysia
Rep Power: 14
  | Re: Backup Complete Computer thanks... | My System Specs | | OS Vista™ Business 32-bit
12-10-2007
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| | hello KiDdy Vista™ Business 32-bit Malaysia
Rep Power: 14
  | Re: Backup Complete Computer Another question for you Shawn..
I've created a Windows Complete PC Backup on my D Drive.
But how do I erase the backup? Just delete the folder?
Thanks.. | My System Specs | | OS Vista™ Business 32-bit
12-10-2007
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| | Administrator Vista x64 Ultimate SP2 Texas, USA | Re: Backup Complete Computer niGht kiD,
Yes, you can just delete the backup if you do not want it anymore.
Shawn | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Custom OS Vista x64 Ultimate SP2 CPU Core2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz 12MB Motherboard Gigabyte X48-DQ6 Memory 8 GB (4x2) DDR2 PC2-8500 1066 MHz Patriot Extreme Graphics Card BFG GeForce 9600 GT OC 512MB Sound Card Realtek HD Audio ALC889A Integrated Chip Monitor(s) Displays 28" Hanns-G HG281DJB and 17" eMachines E17T4 Screen Resolution 28" 1920x1200 and 17" 1280x1024 Keyboard Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution Mouse Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution PSU Antec NeoPower 500 Watt Case Tagan El-Diablo Full Tower Cooling 250 mm Front, 360 mm Side, stock CPU, 120 mm SiLenX Rear Hard Drives 64GB Patriot SSD (v2)
750GB Samsung HDD HD753LJ SATA 32MB Internet Speed 3382 kb/s Download and 312 kb/s Upload Other Info Creative WebCam Instant
12-10-2007
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| | hello KiDdy Vista™ Business 32-bit Malaysia
Rep Power: 14
  | Re: Backup Complete Computer ... | My System Specs | | OS Vista™ Business 32-bit
12-20-2007
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| | Member
Rep Power: 12
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