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    Vista Business/Ultimate Backup and Restore Center

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by Tim, Dec 30, 2009.

  1. Tim

    Tim Notebook Virtuoso

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    Has anyone used Vista's Backup and Restore Center? Specifically has anyone used the Back up computer option, and how did that work for you? I am considering replacing my hard drive and I want to make a backup of everything and save this to my external hard drive and then replace the hard drive and copy the image back to my new laptop hard drive.
    Tim
     
    Tim, Dec 30, 2009
    #1
  2. gerryf19

    gerryf19 I am the walrus

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    It worked fine for me--albeit, the OS was originally installed by me so there were not any goofy OEM partitions.

    I always have mixed success with OEM installs and imaging software.

    I wanted to add that if the re-image fails, you can still mount the image file in Virtual PC and recover data (though not programs)
     
    gerryf19, Dec 30, 2009
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  3. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I think I once played with the "backup" on Vista Business... and then for wanted to use it when I messed something up... no use... so I went down the recovery, complete reinstal route - I think the problem was I used an external drive, then deleted system restore points and the computer no longer found it... something like that...

    If you get a new drive though, that's generally a good excuse for a fresh start :)
     
    DetlevCM, Dec 30, 2009
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  4. Tim

    Tim Notebook Virtuoso

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    Yeah, I agree a fresh start would be good. It's just a pain to do it though.
    Tim
     
    Tim, Dec 30, 2009
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  5. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    On that I agree...
    Well, you can always try and if it doesn't work do the fresh start :) maybe write an article fro NBR :D :) on how it worked? :)
     
    DetlevCM, Dec 30, 2009
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  6. gerryf19

    gerryf19 I am the walrus

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    It's pretty straight forward with a usb external drive.

    1) Make the backup to an external drive
    2) Remove old drive/Insert new drive
    3) Boot the computer with your vista disk, choose the RESTORE COMPLETE BACKUP from the WinPE menu. Sit back.

    You might have trouble if it is a firewire external drive...not sure how Windows built in generic firewire drivers work.

    The most annoying thing is Vista does not allow a complete backup to a network drive
     
    gerryf19, Dec 30, 2009
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