Vista - Disk Imaging without OS?

**phanmo** · 10-08-2008

I'm not sure if this is the best place, please feel free to move this to another thread...

I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to do a clean install of vista home premium, I've got my data already backed up. What I'm wondering is if there's some way to do a disk image style backup but without the operating system?
What I'd like to do is reinstall vista then restore a "disk image" so I can avoid reinstalling all my programs and settings. I only have the main partition on my hard drive.
Any suggestions would be appreciated, even if it's just to say "it can't be done"

Cheers!!

10-08-2008

On Wed, 8 Oct 2008 08:47:15 -0500, phanmo <guest@xxxxxx-email.com>
wrote:

Quote:

> I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to do a clean install of vista home
> premium,

What makes you think so? It's very seldom the right choice.

Quote:

> I've got my data already backed up. What I'm wondering is if
> there's some way to do a disk image style backup but without the
> operating system?
> What I'd like to do is reinstall vista then restore a "disk image" so I
> can avoid reinstalling all my programs and settings.

Not possible. Almost all programs have pointers and references to them
within \windows, in the registry and elsewhere. If you reinstall
Windows, you lose all of that and all your programs have to be
reinstalled. Backing up programs doesn't help you.

Quote:

> I only have the
> main partition on my hard drive.
> Any suggestions would be appreciated, even if it's just to say "it
> can't be done"

> Cheers!!
>
>
> --
> phanmo

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

**phanmo** · 10-08-2008

Okay, that's what I thought.
The whole reason for this is that I misguidedly deleted the driver store FileRepository in a bid to gain some desperately needed free space. Now vista won't recognise the majority of my usb devices. I tried copying the FileRepository from a friend who also has Home Premium but it didn't seem to help. Some devices work half-assedly, for example my external hard drive will work, but only if I click "ask me next time" when vista tries to install it as a new device(which it does every time I plug it in). It won't recognise my Sony memory card or my Sony Ericsson phone(but I can connect through MyPhoneExplorer).
I'm thinking of trying a repair install but I'd like to avoid it if possible.
Any suggestions would be very much appreciated!!

10-08-2008

phanmo wrote:

Quote:

>
> Okay, that's what I thought.
> The whole reason for this is that I misguidedly deleted the driver
> store FileRepository in a bid to gain some desperately needed free
> space. Now vista won't recognise the majority of my usb devices. I
> tried copying the FileRepository from a friend who also has Home Premium
> but it didn't seem to help. Some devices work half-assedly, for example
> my external hard drive will work, but only if I click "ask me next time"
> when vista tries to install it as a new device(which it does every time
> I plug it in). It won't recognise my Sony memory card or my Sony
> Ericsson phone(but I can connect through MyPhoneExplorer).
> I'm thinking of trying a repair install but I'd like to avoid it if
> possible.
> Any suggestions would be very much appreciated!!
>
>

Have you tried doing a System Restore to before you made the mistake?

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

**phanmo** · 10-08-2008

Unfortunately I didn't notice for quite some time, so all of the restore points are from after I deleted it.

10-11-2008

Vista has an excellent ability to repair itself. Boot on your Vista restore
disk, and select the repair option. If Vista files are missing they will be
replaced, and your data and programs will not be disturbed.

Good luck.

"phanmo" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message
news:9e0859a734f58c9cbda2bc0aae34dbfc@xxxxxx-gateway.com...

Quote:

>
> Okay, that's what I thought.
> The whole reason for this is that I misguidedly deleted the driver
> store FileRepository in a bid to gain some desperately needed free
> space. Now vista won't recognise the majority of my usb devices. I
> tried copying the FileRepository from a friend who also has Home Premium
> but it didn't seem to help. Some devices work half-assedly, for example
> my external hard drive will work, but only if I click "ask me next time"
> when vista tries to install it as a new device(which it does every time
> I plug it in). It won't recognise my Sony memory card or my Sony
> Ericsson phone(but I can connect through MyPhoneExplorer).
> I'm thinking of trying a repair install but I'd like to avoid it if
> possible.
> Any suggestions would be very much appreciated!!
>
>
> --
> phanmo

**phanmo** · 10-13-2008

I've now done a repair instal and everything seems to be okay. Thanks for the help everyone!!
Chers!

10-08-2008	#1 (permalink)
phanmo Vista Home Premium 32 French 7 posts	Disk Imaging without OS? I'm not sure if this is the best place, please feel free to move this to another thread... I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to do a clean install of vista home premium, I've got my data already backed up. What I'm wondering is if there's some way to do a disk image style backup but without the operating system? What I'd like to do is reinstall vista then restore a "disk image" so I can avoid reinstalling all my programs and settings. I only have the main partition on my hard drive. Any suggestions would be appreciated, even if it's just to say "it can't be done" Cheers!!
My System Specs

10-08-2008	#2 (permalink)
Ken Blake, MVP n/a posts	Re: Disk Imaging without OS? On Wed, 8 Oct 2008 08:47:15 -0500, phanmo <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote: Quote: > I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to do a clean install of vista home > premium, What makes you think so? It's very seldom the right choice. Quote: > I've got my data already backed up. What I'm wondering is if > there's some way to do a disk image style backup but without the > operating system? > What I'd like to do is reinstall vista then restore a "disk image" so I > can avoid reinstalling all my programs and settings. Not possible. Almost all programs have pointers and references to them within \windows, in the registry and elsewhere. If you reinstall Windows, you lose all of that and all your programs have to be reinstalled. Backing up programs doesn't help you. Quote: > I only have the > main partition on my hard drive. > Any suggestions would be appreciated, even if it's just to say "it > can't be done" > Cheers!! > > > -- > phanmo -- Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience Please Reply to the Newsgroup
My System Specs

10-08-2008	#3 (permalink)
phanmo Vista Home Premium 32 French 7 posts	Re: Disk Imaging without OS? Okay, that's what I thought. The whole reason for this is that I misguidedly deleted the driver store FileRepository in a bid to gain some desperately needed free space. Now vista won't recognise the majority of my usb devices. I tried copying the FileRepository from a friend who also has Home Premium but it didn't seem to help. Some devices work half-assedly, for example my external hard drive will work, but only if I click "ask me next time" when vista tries to install it as a new device(which it does every time I plug it in). It won't recognise my Sony memory card or my Sony Ericsson phone(but I can connect through MyPhoneExplorer). I'm thinking of trying a repair install but I'd like to avoid it if possible. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated!!
My System Specs

10-08-2008	#4 (permalink)
Malke n/a posts	Re: Disk Imaging without OS? phanmo wrote: Quote: > > Okay, that's what I thought. > The whole reason for this is that I misguidedly deleted the driver > store FileRepository in a bid to gain some desperately needed free > space. Now vista won't recognise the majority of my usb devices. I > tried copying the FileRepository from a friend who also has Home Premium > but it didn't seem to help. Some devices work half-assedly, for example > my external hard drive will work, but only if I click "ask me next time" > when vista tries to install it as a new device(which it does every time > I plug it in). It won't recognise my Sony memory card or my Sony > Ericsson phone(but I can connect through MyPhoneExplorer). > I'm thinking of trying a repair install but I'd like to avoid it if > possible. > Any suggestions would be very much appreciated!! > > Have you tried doing a System Restore to before you made the mistake? Malke -- MS-MVP Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic! FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ
My System Specs

10-08-2008	#5 (permalink)
phanmo Vista Home Premium 32 French 7 posts	Re: Disk Imaging without OS? Unfortunately I didn't notice for quite some time, so all of the restore points are from after I deleted it.
My System Specs

10-11-2008	#6 (permalink)
Wandering n/a posts	Re: Disk Imaging without OS? Vista has an excellent ability to repair itself. Boot on your Vista restore disk, and select the repair option. If Vista files are missing they will be replaced, and your data and programs will not be disturbed. Good luck. "phanmo" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message news:9e0859a734f58c9cbda2bc0aae34dbfc@xxxxxx-gateway.com... Quote: > > Okay, that's what I thought. > The whole reason for this is that I misguidedly deleted the driver > store FileRepository in a bid to gain some desperately needed free > space. Now vista won't recognise the majority of my usb devices. I > tried copying the FileRepository from a friend who also has Home Premium > but it didn't seem to help. Some devices work half-assedly, for example > my external hard drive will work, but only if I click "ask me next time" > when vista tries to install it as a new device(which it does every time > I plug it in). It won't recognise my Sony memory card or my Sony > Ericsson phone(but I can connect through MyPhoneExplorer). > I'm thinking of trying a repair install but I'd like to avoid it if > possible. > Any suggestions would be very much appreciated!! > > > -- > phanmo
My System Specs

10-13-2008	#7 (permalink)
phanmo Vista Home Premium 32 French 7 posts	Re: Disk Imaging without OS? I've now done a repair instal and everything seems to be okay. Thanks for the help everyone!! Chers!
My System Specs

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