How to create OS image for easy reinstall?

Zascar

I usually reinstall windows every 6 months or so to keep things fresh, but its a pain to do and I want an easier way. In work, we have a custom image that is basically installed on the PC - where upon restart I have a boot loaded option, and if I want it just refreshes this image back on for a clean install.

I'm about to wipe and reinstall, what I want to do is get my PC working perfectly with programs and settings, then make it so that I can easily re-image back to this state whenever I want. Can anyone point me in the right direction of how to do this?

Cheers

Odaise Gaelach

All versions of Windows 7 and Vista Business, Enterprise and Ultimate come with a system image feature as part of backup and restore. (Windows XP doesn't).

There are third-party applications out there, but I've never used them, so I can't give you any recommendations.


Windows Vista
Back up your programs, system settings, and files
Restore your computer from a system image backup

Windows 7
Back up your programs, system settings, and files
Restore your computer from a system image backup

Zascar

Thanks, I'm on XP home

Dr_Phil

I use R-Drive. Fantastic program.

dnme

Almost not worth it @ every 6 months. May as well install from scratch. Everything has to be updated anyway.

desaparecidos

Install XP, get all the updates (SP3 etc), install software which won't likely be updated much in future and configure XP to your liking. This will be your base installation.

Then use a partition manager to create a backup of the partition this base installation is on, also backing up the MBR.

I have used Paragon Partition full version and it supports compressing the backup file, splitting to burn across multiple DVDs, save to a network location etc.

You can then use the Partition software's pre windows environment software to restore the base installation in future.

There should be lots of free drive image / backing up software solutions available.

One method might be to use a Linux based solution, so when you what to restore the base installation in future, you could just run a Linux live CD, and point it to the backup file on an external hard drive.

Paragon Partition Manager 11 Free Edition
http://www.paragon-software.com/home/pm-express/

EASEUS Partition Master (Free)
http://www.partition-tool.com/

PogMoThoin

I use Acronis for the very same. I got a legit copy of the older version 10 that works fine (someone posted a magazine special offer here last year). I made an image of my fully updated fresh install of Windows 7 with a few basic programs last Feb and I've reinstalled twice from that image in this space of time, can reinstall in 12mins

Capt'n Midnight

you can install ntbackup in xp home

if you do a full backup including system state you can do a clean xp install and restore the backup



clonezilla bootable CD will image the drive for you handy


best advice is to have a small system partition C: and keep data and programs on , you need ot image C: whilie can just be copied / pasted

Capt'n Midnight

Odaise Gaelach wrote: »

All versions of Windows 7 and Vista Business, Enterprise and Ultimate come with a system image feature as part of backup and restore. (Windows XP doesn't).

ASR handles this in XP

it isn't included in XP home , because like Vista home and 7 home users will find that the only fix for some corrupt registry problems is a clean install

ejmaztec

I use Terabyte Image For Windows\DOS\Linux, and have used it on XP, Vista and Windows 7, without any trouble at all during the past few years.

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/products.htm