Backing up OS?

[Magnus Blade]

So, I had another concern arise when thinking about my new build. There should be no reason whatsoever if anything goes wrong with new PC after it's properly built, but if in the worst case scenario that something does happen, I'll be in a bit of a pickle.

You see, I only have one hard drive (it's not an SSD. Just a normal hard drive disk), and said hard drive is being re-used from my eMachines computer. I see that in order to install the operating system onto the new PC, I have to format the hard drive. So let's assume that things don't go well after installation to the point where I might have to temporarily switch back to my old PC. Since it's a clean hard drive now, will I lose Windows 7 on the eMachines PC, since I'm assuming when it was pre-built, it was installed on this hard drive considering... yeah, it's the only one in there. Is there a way to back up your OS if something like this happen?

 

[lxskllr]

You need more than one drive to make a backup. There are probably some hacky workarounds, but they have a danger of data loss themselves, and a backup to the same drive isn't a backup.

 

[Magnus Blade]

Darn... I see. I only saved up enough money for all my essentials, so I unfortunately won't be able to afford another drive at this time. And I want to work on this in between the 30 day period in case something goes wrong. Guess I'll just have to hope and pray everything goes well. Thanks.

 

[Kenmitch]

USB sticks are pretty cheap these days. I'd imagine you could pick one up large enough to use for a backup. I got a 128GB USB drive from BestBuy for like $20 or so a couple months ago. You'd probably want around a 32GB one.

 

[SimMike2]

I always make an Acronis image of my boot drive before I do anything big. Throughout the year I periodically make images of my main computers boot drives. With Acronis True Image, I always boot to the CD disk and run the program from there. I don't do it from within Windows, although that probably works.

 

[lxskllr]

USB sticks are pretty cheap these days. I'd imagine you could pick one up large enough to use for a backup. I got a 128GB USB drive from BestBuy for like $20 or so a couple months ago. You'd probably want around a 32GB one.

Or if you have a small flash drive, you could install GNU/Linux on it, and boot from that. That'll let you test the machine, and not have to dick around with MS licensing. I'd definitely save money for a backup drive if you have data you don't want to lose. It's all fun and games til your O/S can longer read your drive, and it's the only one you have.

 

[Magnus Blade]

Hmm. Thanks for all the replies. I have a 16GB USB handy on me, but I don't think that'll be large enough for the OS backup, since 32GB is recommended (@Kenmitch: or was 32 an estimate?). But if it is too small, I could try the GNU/Linux route.

EDIT: Sooooo...my dumb self didn't realize the product key for Windows 7 was on a small label at the bottom corner of the side panel. Does this mean I could just download a bootable version of the installation on a flash drive and re-install it there if I have any need to use the eMachines PC again?

 

[Ketchup]

That label is not the same number on the OS that came on the drive, but you can use that number to activate Windows again. May take a call to Microsoft, but it will work.

What I would recommend: make recovery media on the original computer. Should take a few DVDs. Use a flash drive to store your personal data.

Then feel free to nuke the drive and install your new OS, programs, and data.

 

[Magnus Blade]

That label is not the same number on the OS that came on the drive, but you can use that number to activate Windows again. May take a call to Microsoft, but it will work.

What I would recommend: make recovery media on the original computer. Should take a few DVDs. Use a flash drive to store your personal data.

Then feel free to nuke the drive and install your new OS, programs, and data.

Ohh, I see. I'll definitely have to keep that in mind then.

Sorry if I'm asking too many questions (I'm still somewhat of a beginner), but how do I go about creating recovery media when I manage to get some clean DVDs? That does sound like my most convenient (and less expensive) route.

 

[Underclocked]

You can download and install Macrium Reflect (free) and use it to make your backup. You will need to make sure you also create the program's boot media. http://knowledgebase.macrium.com/di...p+image+of+your+computer,+drive+or+partitions

How big is your hard drive? If large enough, I would also create a partition large enough to hold a backup of your operating system (and any other required partitions for OS function). Make sure you are able to access the backup partition with the boot media for whatever program you use. While I agree that having a backup on the same drive is not generally a good idea, in this case ANY backup is better than none at all. You could use Minitool Partition Wizard free version to create the backup partition.

When you are ready to install the new OS, Minitool can also delete, wipe, and create whatever new partition you might need without damaging the backup partition. It can also be used to reclaim the backup partition space once you have established the new OS is running fine.

 

[Ketchup]

Blank DVDs are best, if you have a DVD burner. You may want to look for the recovery application on the computer and make sure it is at least starting properly before investing in blank DVDs.

If something has happened to the recovery program, you might be able to speak with Acer about getting a replacement. If not (and that is a possibility since eMachines is dead), then just back up what you can, and know that with the sticker on the case, you can re-install Windows if you need to.

Also, if you want to find out what the real code on your eMachines it, download and run this:
https://www.magicaljellybean.com/

 

[Underclocked]

To me, a recovery partition becomes useless once I have installed my software and tweaked everything to suit my purposes. I would sooner use that space to create a current image - hidden from the OS.

Most computers come with a means of creating those factory restore files on DVD if ever needed. Once that is done, why waste hard drive space? Factory recovery is a last resort at best.

 

[Magnus Blade]

You can download and install Macrium Reflect (free) and use it to make your backup. You will need to make sure you also create the program's boot media. http://knowledgebase.macrium.com/di...p+image+of+your+computer,+drive+or+partitions

How big is your hard drive? If large enough, I would also create a partition large enough to hold a backup of your operating system (and any other required partitions for OS function). Make sure you are able to access the backup partition with the boot media for whatever program you use. While I agree that having a backup on the same drive is not generally a good idea, in this case ANY backup is better than none at all. You could use Minitool Partition Wizard free version to create the backup partition.

When you are ready to install the new OS, Minitool can also delete, wipe, and create whatever new partition you might need without damaging the backup partition. It can also be used to reclaim the backup partition space once you have established the new OS is running fine.

Thank you for the link! And as for my hard drive space, it's a simple 500GB drive (It's got about 256GB available space at the moment). How big are partitions generally for an OS? I'll see if I can create one for this PC's OS. You are right though. It's not the best option, but anything to just have my eMachines PC functional and usable if something goes wrong with the new PC's building/installing. xD

So when I create a partition for my OS with Minitool, the partition won't be deleted even after I have to format the hard drive once it's in the new PC?

Blank DVDs are best, if you have a DVD burner. You may want to look for the recovery application on the computer and make sure it is at least starting properly before investing in blank DVDs.

If something has happened to the recovery program, you might be able to speak with Acer about getting a replacement. If not (and that is a possibility since eMachines is dead), then just back up what you can, and know that with the sticker on the case, you can re-install Windows if you need to.

Also, if you want to find out what the real code on your eMachines it, download and run this:
https://www.magicaljellybean.com/

Oh, cool thanks. I'll download that tool right away. I do believe I have a DVD burner (as I want to say I had to burn something on a CD a while back). I'll definitely check for the application, but it's nice to know that as a last resort, I can just start mostly fresh with re-installing Windows 7 via the real product key.

Most of my personal files are just material things that aren't worth fretting over if I lose them (and all of my steam games are safe on my account and ready to be re-installed). My actual important files can fit comfortably on my 16GB Flash. I just want to re-use this eMachines PC just in case my new PC build project has any problems during the building and installation processes, so being stuck with a wiped drive is no problem. I just want to have a working PC to fall back on, hah hah.

 

[Underclocked]

That backup partition won't be deleted if you use Minitool to only delete the other partitions. You would need to create a large partition to hold the backup. I would guess around a 200GB partition that would be positioned AFTER your current partitions. Create the backup using your chosen program (Reflect?) and place it on that 200GB partition.

Once that is done successfully, again use Minitool to delete the partitions other than the backup and then create a partition in all the now unpartitioned space. You should then be able to install the new OS as a Custom installation and be sure to direct it to the first partition.

Go slow, read, and certainly think as you do these steps. There should be no hurry. That backup is going to take considerable time to complete so be patient.