Intermediate Lesson # 1:



Windows 7 Operating System Lesson # 3:

Backing Up and Restoring Your Computer

General Considerations

If you wish to safeguard the information and settings of your computer you need to: (a) Regularly back up your documents and personal data files.

(b) Use System Restore to save a backup of the current configuration recorded in the System Registry. You can then restore the system settings to the earlier state when necessary. (c) Make regular backups of the entire system. This includes the system configuration, all system and software files, and documents which can then be restored.

In this lesson we will suggest backing up documents by simply copying them to another drive. We covered creating System Restore points in the previous lesson. Here we will learn how to create a System Recovery (Repair, Rescue) disk and use it to recover the previous system settings.

We will also use the Windows 7 backup utility to create an image of the entire partition on which the operating system is installed. Commercial programs are available that back up data and image disk partitions. Some of them are easier to use than the Windows facility. Image backups include any system settings, documents or user files on the backed up partition and these will be included with the operating system when the image is restored.

Except when you image the entire system, do not back up system files, programs or other files that require installation. For these, the original installation creates system settings that might conflict with the restored back up. If the original installation files are on a CD or DVD be sure to save these installation media. If you download installation files from the Internet, save them to the hard drive first and then back them up off line (see below). If you are reinstalling programs, and the original installation is still present, uninstall them before reinstalling.

Backing up Documents and Other User Files

The Windows 7 backup utility can be used to backup and restore individual files, but it is confusing and awkward to use. Individual files cannot be selected from system images created by this utility. The simplest way to back up files you created, such as text documents, spreadsheets, pictures, video, music files, etc., is simply to copy (drag and drop) them elsewhere, preferably off-line to a CD, flash drive, external USB drive, tape drive, etc. You can extend the capacity of the backup medium by using file compression software, for example WinZip. A free early version of WinZip can be downloaded from . Create appropriately named folders for backed up files to keep track of when they were backed up and their contents.

Create a repair/recovery disk directly from the system

When your system fails to boot, you need a means of starting it to activate recovery software. Make a bootable CD before you create a system image. You can use the Windows 7 Backup Utility to create a bootable CD from the Windows 7 computer that you are using or from another Windows 7 computer of the same system type (32 or 64 bits). You can then use this CD to restore the system settings saved by System Restore or any backup system images.

• Click on Start, click on Control Panel.

• If not already in Small icon view, set it that way.

• Then click Backup and Restore.

• In the left pane, click Create a system repair/recovery disk.

• Insert a blank CD in the DVD. Click on Create Disk.

• Follow directions on the screen.

The disk is created is about 1 minute. If an Autoplay message appears, close the window.

• Close all open objects. To check the disk, follow the directions in the next section.

Boot from the disk:

• Restart the computer and right away keep tapping F12 as it boots.

• When the boot menu appears, insert the System Repair/Recovery disk in the DVD drive.

• Use the down arrow to select the DVD/CD boot option.

• Press the Enter key and as soon as the message Press any key to boot from a CD or DVD appears, press the space bar or any other key on the keyboard.

You will see a message that "Windows is loading files" and a progress bar at bottom of screen.

• Click on Next to select U.S. keyboard input.

The installed Operating System(s) will be listed. You have the options of Use Recovery tools (the default) or Restore your computer using a system image.

• With Use Recovery tools selected, click on Next.

An options menu should show (see below), which indicates the disk is OK.

Recover a saved system Restore Point

To enable System Recovery follow the directions on p. 2 in Lesson2.

• In the System Recovery Options screen click on System Restore.

• When finished, click on Restart.

• Remove the system repair/recovery disk from the CD/DVD drive.

Image Backups of the Operating System

(a) Choose a location for the image backup.

You can save a system image to a separate partition on the hard disk, use an external hard drive connected through a USB cable or use another internal hard drive (a second drive installed in the computer).

On your home computer we recommend saving to an external hard drive. If you are experienced, you may want follow the instructions in the Appendix, at the end of this lesson, to save to a partition on the installed drive. If you do so, be careful. The advantage of doing so is that the operation is faster and you can then copy the image to an external drive in a separate operation while using the computer for other work.

Do not use or disturb partitions created by the computer manufacturer that contain the original system settings.

Do not back up an operating system image to the same partition (drive letter) as holds the operating system itself.

In the Lab, we have already created a backup partition on Computer I and you will use that in this lesson.

(b) Create system image backup

Make sure you have enough space on the backup drive (see Lesson #2).

• Click on Start.

• Click on Control Panel.

• Click on Backup and Restore.

• On the upper left side bar click on Create a system image.

The Create a system image box will appear with a search of available backup devices.

• If there is not a dot next to On a hard disk, place one there.

• Click on Next.

• Select a location for the backup from the list of the partitions or drives.

• Review and confirm the details of the backup, check the available space.

• Click on Next at lower right.

The Backup utility will select the system drive, and usually the drives needed to boot the computer being backed up.

If other drives appear consider the need for backup and available space carefully.

• Confirm your backup settings and click on Start Backup.

Do not create a System Repair/Recovery Disk, if prompted.

When the operation ends you will get the message The backup completed securely.

• Close all windows.

(c) Restore a system image backup

You can restore the computer's system using the Recovery item of the Control Panel, using pre-installed recovery options (to access, press F8 as the computer boots), using a Windows installation disk or a System Repair disk.

In this exercise we will use the System Repair disk. Refer to the instructions on P. 3 for booting from a CD to access the System Recovery Options.

• Click on System Image Recovery (see screenshot below).

• Select a recovery option, and then click Next. 

• Browse to the desired image backup and select it.

• Follow direction on the screen.

When the restoration is complete verify that the restoration was successful and shut down the computer as previously instructed.

APPENDIX

Create a Backup Partition on the Installed Hard Drive

Do not use or disturb partitions created by the computer manufacturer that contain the original system settings.

Do not back up an operating system image to the same partition (drive letter) as holds the operating system itself (see below for details).

Before you set up a location, decide how much space will be required. Until you gain experience, make sure you have at least as much space for the backup as is taken up by the original. Consider that the size of the image will increase as you use the computer. If space is available allow for saving several images.

Creating a new partition on the internal hard drive is not difficult, but you should be an experienced user and have a clear idea of what you need to do.

To set up a separate partition for image backups on the installed internal drive, you can use the Windows 7 Disk Management utility. You can use the utility to then assign a new drive letter to it. You need a separate partition because you should not save the system image to the system partition itself (usually C:) or to drives set up by the manufacturer.

If the Disk Management utility shows that you do not have enough free space for a backup partition, review the amount of free space on each of the usable partitions and select one that you can shrink.

To create more free, unallocated space in the physical drive:

• Click on Start.

• In the Search programs and files box type Disk management.

• Click on Create and format disk partitions.

• Review the amount of Free Space on the disk, if any (see below).

If you need to shrink one or more of the partitions:

• Click on a partition to shrink; it will become shaded.

• Click on the Action tab at top.

• Point to All Tasks, click on Shrink Volume (see screenshot below).

Allow time for the system to evaluate the available space.

• Click in the Enter the amount of space to shrink box and type the desired size. You cannot assign more than the available free space.

• Click on Shrink.

When you have sufficient Free Space:

• In the Disk Management screen, click on Free Space to select it. It will become shaded.

• Click on the Action tab at top.

• Point to All Tasks, click on New Simple Volume.

[pic]

The New Simple Volume Wizard will guide you through setting up the partition.

• Click Next.

• Allocate as much Free Space as you can spare. If none of your applications need free space, you can use all of it.

• Click Next.

• Assign the Drive Letter to the partition, usually you can accept the one suggested.

• Click Next.

• Format the volume as NTFS and accept the Default allocation size.

• Chose formatting method (recommended: remove the checkmark from Perform a Quick Format).

• Do not check Enable File and Folder Compression.

• Click Next.

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