Making a snapshot image of factory installed system (DV6T with Windows 7)

Hi,

I have seen posts with questions asked on how to do this, but couldn't find answers for the approach I am looking to adopt, so please bear with me.

Having purchased a DV6T Quad Edition laptop (details on my profile), before I start messing about, would like to take a complete snapshot so I can restore the system to 'day 1', the way it came with Windows 7.

(I have created the Windows 'Recovery Disc'. It's on a USB drive and about 16GB in size)

• Would like to do an 'offline imaging'

I would prefer taking the snapshot with a backup tool that comes with a boot CD, instead of installing software in Windows that creates an image. I've seen Clonezilla being suggested.

• Can Clonezilla handle the Windows 7 filesystem types?

Should I be worried about Clonezilla bring able to handle the version of NTFS filesystem used by Windows 7? I can see 4 partitions on my drive [ details here] (SYSTEM [NTFS], one for the primary C drive [NTFS], RECOVERY [NTFS], HP_TOOLS [FAT32])

• UEFI

I get the impression from reading the posts that my laptop could be using UEFI. How do I verify this?
Does anything in UEFI need to be backed up as part of system imaging? Or am I talking nonsense?

• If BIOS

If I am on the good old BIOS then I suppose I need to back up the MBR too. Will this be sufficient?

Code:

dd if=/dev/hdx of=/path/to/image count=1 bs=512

• Restore

When restored from an image, am I likely to experience the Windows Genuine Advantage and Activation nuisance?

Any guidance will be gratefully accepted.

 

Wouldn't the USB Restore do exactly that?

 

Will a Windows 7 'Recovery Disc' recreate all 4 partitions?
Including HP_TOOLS ? That's HP specific, isn't it?
And the drivers installed on the system when new ?

Sorry, my knowledge of Windows is somewhat limited.

 

You have already created everything you need with that 16gig USB "recovery disk". I am guessing it is the same recovery disk that HP's Recovery Manager app prompted you to create?

That USB drive, contains everything you need to restore your PC back to it's original factory installation. Including the ability to run the Recovery Manager from the USB drive or HDD. Among other repair tools, you can also use it to create and use Windows System Restore points. IMO, the best feature of the recovery disk, is the option to format your HDD with HP's minimal system installation. Which essentially installs only necessary system drivers and none of the OEM bloat.

When you choose to reformat and reset your PC back to it's factory condition, via your HP recovery disk, the software will format the entire drive. And you will have only the SYSTEM, RECOVERY and Windows installation partitions. HP_TOOLS can be easily put back on later either through the Recovery Manager's driver/software install utility (you can go back and choose which factory bloat you want on your system) or by downloading/installing via HP's support page.

Now if you wish to create a custom image that contains your OEM installation plus any third-party apps you want, then I suppose Clonezilla, Paragon Partition Manager or Arconis True Image might be something you want to look into. Speaking for myself personaly, I just used Windows 7's built-in Backup and Restore application. Easy. No fuss. No muss. Worked great for me, but I hear that results can sometimes vary.

 

Was just got to write what Izagaia wrote, but yea you have it already =)

 

Guys, thanks for your responses.

Getting a new SATA drive in a few days to try out the Recovery 'Disc' (on USB). Then try out Linux. Any ideas on how to figure out if this piece uses UEFI or BIOS?

@Izagaia Yes, I used HP's Recovery Manager.

Might take a while, but will come back and post updates and add rep power once I have tried it out.

==== Updated 19-Apr-2012 ====
Late reply (I don't use Windows much). I tried it out. For the benefit of anyone reading this thread to look for answers:

Indeed the Recovery Disc created through the HP Tools reformats the entire drive and creates all the partitions all over again, restoring the system to its original condition.

I am using the Windows Backup and Restore Tool, but while researching the subject I came across this useful website. A flexible approach that is handy when you have a multiboot system. Posting it here in case someone finds it useful - How To backup Operating Systems

 

In windows backup, you can make a system image. That will do what you want free of charge. You can then burn a DVD that goes along with it that will do the booting and will pull the files off your backup drive.