Create Drivers And Applications Disc And System Restore Disc

[Want-to-know]

Help. I bought my desktop 5 years ago and use Windows 7.

I have never made a backup recovery disc and I realise if I make one now, it would mean that the operating system would be set at factor default, which I do not want, as I would loose a lot of hardware/settings I have added on to my computer. (I send my documents to be saved only to Mozy.)

I am looking at alternatives and my questions are:

1) I presume if I make a System Restore Disc, there will not be any changes on my computer - sort of like downloading a document to a disc??
2) Can I use a stick, instead of a disc, for making System Restore?
3) I read information on how to make a Create Drivers and Application Disc, in case of emergencies. Can this be used instead of making a backup recovery disc if I have an error?
4)Does this cover all parts of the Operating System and is worthwhile doing?
5) Can I use a Stick for this, instead of a disc?
6) When creating Drivers and Application backup, I presume I will not lose anything - hardware or software - when doing this?

Any advice would be most helpful, but please keep it in simple terms as I am a computer illiterate and not very good on technical terms.

Thank you.

[Buenchico]

This is an excellent article on backing up your computer:
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/software/3201489/the-7-best-ways-to-back-up-your-pc/
(NB: There are 8 full pages. Keep clicking 'Next').

System Restore backs up your registry, not your data files. You can also export a copy of the registry to any location you choose, including a USB drive:
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/windows7/ht/backup-registry-windows-7.htm

Alternatively you can create a complete copy of your hard drive by cloning it but (since USB memory sticks don't hold anywhere near as much content as modern hard drives) you'll definitely need another hard drive to do it:
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/askjack/2011/jan/20/cloning-a-windows-hard-drive

[Want-to-know]

Thank you for your answer Buenchico, but I am even more confused. You say "system restore backs up your registry, not your data files". Are data files document files and registry programmes like Windows Media Player, Aim, etc. I am not sure what I should be doing now.

I just want something on a disc in case my computer has a nervous breakdown, without going back to a factory setting. I have used system restore if I am having a problem, so take the computer back to say a previous setting a few days before. Anyway I will read your other links.

Thank you.

[Buenchico]

The registry is basically an index of where everything is on your computer, together with what links everything together. So, for example, it includes a record of which drivers to call upon when you use devices such as printers and scanners. It also knows which application to launch when you double-click on a file and where to find the font files to display documents and web pages.

However it doesn't include actual programs (other than some Windows default programs) or data such as documents, pictures, videos, etc. So it's a relatively small (but essential) file which can easily fit onto a USB memory stick.

I'm happy enough to just keep back-ups of data such as pictures and documents, together with things like my browser bookmarks. If my computer crashes completely I can reload all of my software (such as word-processing and image manipulation software) onto a new computer and still have all of the really important stuff available to me again. (OK, it takes about a day to get a new computer up and running with all of my software reinstalled, and things like printer drivers in place, but I can live with that).

Many people are like me and only back up the really critical stuff (such as irreplaceable photographs or key business documents). However if you really want a complete copy of everything on your computer (so that you can simply set up a new computer exactly as if it was your old one) then you need to clone the disc (as per my third link above).

[Want-to-know]

Thanks for your reply Beunchico. So if I go to "Create Drivers and Applications Backup Disc", does that mean I am backing up the Registry or is that something completely different? Should I back up Registry and Drivers/Applications.

Where you would choose to copy your documents onto a new computer, I would at least want to try and recover/repair my computer to get it working, before as a last resort, buying a new computer. As mentioned, I do not want to go back to factory setting and I do use Mozy for my document backups which I do daily.

Thanks.

[Buenchico]

Hmmm.

As far as I can tell from Googling, that option is a specific function of certain manufacturers' software (HP? Acer?) rather than being part of Windows 7. So exactly how it works will depend upon what that manufacturer has designed it to do.

However if it 'does what it says on the tin' it should back up your programs and the relevant drivers (for your printer, etc) but it won't actually clone your disc and your operating system.