Is it good to backup os partition & small system partition?

[coldhart]

1. im thinking about backup the small system partition, Windows 8.1 & win 7 (Both x64 os) but i heard that there are always issue even when hardware is not change after backup & restore os. which is better clean install or backup with utility like acronis true disk?

2. Which utility is better for such task macrium or acronis?

3. is it possible to backup system without installing these software(some boot disk) means when i restore system it won't restore installed utility (just activated OS with no extra apps)?

 

[Berryracer]

Answers to your questions:

1) If I were you, I would create a backup of all my partitions, but my personally, when I buy a new computer, I format it right away without even seeing what the factory OS looks like and I do a clean install. I am obsessed with having a clean registry but not through using Registry Cleaners as those sometimes remove stuff that is not really harmful and cripple your OS. Nothing comes near a clean install especially those AVs they preinstall are a big headache to remove sometimes without leaving remnants

2) I have been using Acronis True Image for many years but with the new computers, it doesn't support GPT Disks unless you purchase an add-on and even when you do, I have created backups on GPT disks successfulloy but the restoration failed me. I now switched to Macrium Reflect which supports GPT disks out of the box and is very easy to use. I've restored many times using Macrium and it has always worked

3) I never install the software, I just burn the Boot CD and I create the backups, then when I need to restore, I pop iin the Boot CD again. This way you don't have any service running in the background and a cleaner registry

PS: you must install Macrium one time at least in order to create the Boot CD

 

[flexy]

Acronis TI is "good" but EaseUS Todo Backup, or Macrium Reflect etc. are better. I am running EaseUS Todo Backup now and I think it's very good.

The only issue which CAN arise if you do a backup of a partition and a restore is that POSSIBLY the bootsectors/BCD are not restored. (Happened for me with Acronis TI often, means the system is not bootable even after you restored the partition).

But you can always boot a Windows DVD and then do a startup repair which fixes the BCD/boot loaders

Edit: If there were "always issues" and a clean install would be "better", what would be the point of a OS partition backup?

 

[Berryracer]

Acronis TI is "good" but EaseUS Todo Backup, or Macrium Reflect etc. are better. I am running EaseUS Todo Backup now and I think it's very good.

The only issue which CAN arise if you do a backup of a partition and a restore is that POSSIBLY the bootsectors/BCD are not restored. (Happened for me with Acronis TI often, means the system is not bootable even after you restored the partition).

But you can always boot a Windows DVD and then do a startup repair which fixes the BCD/boot loaders

Edit: If there were "always issues" and a clean install would be "better", what would be the point of a OS partition backup?

yup, you're right, exactly why I stopped using Acronis True Image.

For older computers with MBR disks Acronis True Image 2011 is best, 2013 is bloated with usesless extras.

For new computers with GPT disks then Macrium Reflect or EaseUS To Do Backup are the best

 

[WilliamM2]

Since Windows 7 came out, I have always just used the image creator built into Windows. I've used it on 7 & 8. Never had any issues backing up or restoring such as those stated above.

It's already installed, free, faster, and dead reliable. You can restore from within Windows, but be sure and make an emergency recovery disk in case you have complete drive failure, and can't get into Windows.