Why You Need an Image Backup

     Everyone who has a computer has or will have problems.  There are millions of people who are now having problems with their computer because of many things such as a virus, new software installed, updates on the operating system, power surges, improper use, hard drive failure, etc.
 
     With a backup image of your operating system and programs any future problems you may encounter are easily fixed without causing you grief.
 

What is Disk Image Backup - Why is it Better?
     When most people think of backup they think of copying their pictures, music and personal files onto floppies or CDs. A disk image backup works differently. It creates a mirror-image copy of the drive or partition that holds Windows (usually C drive). This is not a copy of just the files on the drive but rather a copy of the whole drive itself, including the boot sector. The backup can be stored on CD/DVD and/or on another partition.

     When Windows becomes corrupted the entire configuration can be restored quickly without needing to reinstall programs, drivers, etc. In other words, you can restore "C" drive and replace it with a backup of "C" drive.

     Under normal circumstances, a re-install of Windows can take a full day or more. You not only need your Windows CD but you also need the installation CDs for all of your hardware and software, copies of all patches you've installed, copies of your internet connection settings, etc.

     If you've made a disk image backup then none of that is necessary. Windows can be easily re-installed with everything already configured, just as it was. If you then, also, keep separate backups of personal files, what used to be a disaster of lost work and time becomes a minor inconvenience.

Partitioning for Better Backup

     The hard disk (sometimes called the hard drive) is the hardware component where data is stored. It's "where" your files are. On most computers there is an A drive, which is the floppy drive. There's also a C drive, which is Windows. And there's a D drive, which is the CD. In other words, a drive is anything that Windows sees as an independent storage area. The hard disk is usually C drive, but through the use of partitioning software, the hard disk itself can be divided up into multiple "partitions" and those partitions will be seen by Windows as separate drives.
    A Windows installation with numerous programs installed rarely needs to be over 3 GB, and there are advantages to not having C drive any bigger than it needs to be:

• Disk maintenance, such as de fragmenting, is faster and easier on a smaller drive; and a disk image of the drive will likely fit on 1 to 3 CD's...or 1 DVD.

• Dividing up the hard disk provides room for redundant backup and multiple operating systems.

• If you use disk image backup it's best to store data on other drives rather than having "all your eggs in one basket".
For example, if you've collected hundreds of family photos and you only have a C drive, your photos will all be on C drive. When Windows becomes corrupted your photos will be lost.. everything on the computer will be lost. On the other hand, if you create a D drive on which to store your photos, the next time you lose Windows all the data on D drive will remain untouched. Once Windows is re-installed to C drive, the data on other drives will become available again.
 

When to Make a Backup
 
     It may be a good idea to make a backup before you install any new programs, Windows updates, or drivers.  Also after your computer has changed because of new programs, updates, or drivers and your computer is working fine.  It often happens that after your computer is changed that problems arise!
 

How to Avoid Loss of Important Files

     If you need to restore your computer to a time when it was working fine but don't want to lose any important files, you may want to get another program to make backups of those files.  There are many free backup programs you can get to make backups of those files on your "C" drive that you don't want to lose when you need to restore. One that I use is called ViceVersa Pro or a freeware program that's similar is called SyncBack and also a free Microsoft XP power toy called SyncToy or another shareware program SecondCopy . Some of these can run on a schedule or when you know files have changed in let's say your Address Book,  My Documents, or Favorites, you run your other backup program to back these changes up.  When you then restore your computer with a backup image, then restore your other files with your other backup program.

 
 
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