Is a shadow copy the same as a system image restore

[ayabrea38]

Playing with my new external hard drive,as usual I find another question popping up.As the title says,are they the same?Which is generally more reliable(assuming the HD won't get lost or dropped etc)
I just want to be able to resurrect my pc if the worst happens,and with it being an OEM I don't want to have to start again.Not too bothered about files as in documents,music,photos etc,but I do love all the settings,add ons and bookmarks and it has taken me over 2 years to get it just so,couldn't face starting all over again!
Thanks for any answers
Aya

[ChuckFickens]

What's popping that question up?

[ayabrea38]

Sorry,guess my pop up blocker does not work on me :(

[VHG]

First make a Windows 7 System Repair Disk as follows:

If you have Windows 7 (and I believe also Windows Vista) you can easily make something called a Windows System Repair Disc.

This disc may be useful if ever Windows fails to start and you want to try to fix it.

The disk is easy to create and anyone can do it.

In Windows 7 click on the "circle" in the bottom left (to get the Windows menu) and in the small "search" field type "System Repair Disc" (note the "C" at the end not a "K").

This will display an option called "Create a System Repair Disc". Click on this option and a small window is displayed.

Follow the simple instructions (you will need an empty CD or DVD) and your System Repair Disc will be created.

Keep it in a safe place as you may need it in the future if your computer fails to start.

You can use this repair disc to "boot" the computer if it wont start in any other way, and from there can select various repair options.

To find out more go into the Windows help and search for "System Repair Disc".

[VHG]

Then make a Windows System Image as follows:

Following on from my "Make a Windows System Repair Disc" topic I created earlier, this tells you how to create a Windows System Image.

If you have Windows 7 (not sure about Vista) you can create a system image of your hard disk which will allow you to "reinstall" Windows very quickly if your computer should crash or Windows fails to start.

This function is built into Windows 7 so no need to buy or install any software.

It is probably best if you have an external hard drive on which to store the image (or a set of empty DVDs), as if your computer fails to start you still need to be able to access this image.

On Windows 7 click on the "circle" in the bottom left, and in the small search field type "Backup" and an option will be displayed called "Backup and Restore".

Click on this "Backup and Restore" option and a window is displayed called "Backup and Retore your files"

On the left will be an option "Create a System Image", select this and a window will be displayed offering you the option of where to store the image:- on your hard disk, on DVDs, or on an external hard drive.

Select your choice and go through the various windows till the process starts and your image is created.

Once you have your image keep it safe.

If at some future date you need to reinstall Windows then you can "boot" the PC with the Windows System Repair Disc I covered in my other append, then you can select the image you created earlier, and reinstall Windows.

Note this reinstall will TOTALLY overwrite everything on your hard disk so make sure you take regular backups of your personal files in case you ever need to do this reinstall.

Note also that the reinstall will only put your computer back to the time you took the image, so any programs you have reinstalled since will need to be reinstalled.

If your computer changes a lot it may be worth taking one of these images every month or 3 months or whatever.

[ayabrea38]

Thank you very much VHG,that is a brilliant walkthrough,I don't think I can go far wrong now.
Thanks again
Aya