I have a hard disk with two partitions, one for my Windows 7 installation and one for my Media files. I want to make a system image of my Windows partition only using the Backup and Restore feature in Windows 7 (a backup of the files on the Media partition would require more space than I currently have). If I only create a system image of the Windows partition and later need to restore to the the same hard disk that Windows is currently installed on (which also contains a partition with my Media files), will the restoration erase the Media partition?

Hi,Of course, your Media files may be erased when you restore your computer from a system image, because it's a complete restoration—you can't choose individual items to restore, and all of your current programs, system settings, and files are replaced with the contents of the system image. Although the system image includes your personal files, I recommend that you back up your files regularly using Windows Backup so that you can restore individual files and folders as needed. When you set up Windows Backup, you can let Windows choose what to back up, which will include a system image, or you can select the items that you want to back up and whether you want to include a system image. As your don't have enough space for the backup, you can try to make backup on the external hard disks, DVDs, or CDs. Form more detail, you can refer to the following link:http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Back-up-your-files.I hope this can help you.John

"your Media files may be erased" Yes or no , If I create a system image of the Windows partition only and later restore to the the same hard disk that Windows is currently installed on (which also contains a partition with my Media files), will the restoration erase the Media partition?

According my experience, I would tell you they are not be erased. Because I don't have data lost trouble while restoring my machine from the System image, my system image just contains the Win7 partition too, but there are four partitions in my hard drive.So, if you only make a system image including the partition C, the partition C will be replaced with the contents of the system image. If the partition D is included in the image too, your entire hard drive would be replaced with the contents of the system image. If you still have confusion about the System image, you can refer to this link:http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/What-is-a-system-imageI hope this can help you. John

Can anyone verify this? I don't want to restore my system from an image only to find that all my media files have been erased.

Hi there, I agree with John since the Windows 7 build-in Image Backup will not overwrite or erase partition which is not in your image file (the vhd file).

Can anyone verify this? I don't want to restore my system from an image only to find that all my media files have been erased. From my previous experience with creating a system image and next restoring from win 7, as far as i could recall, everything is intact, just like what you have prior before you create a imageIf you are concern, to be on the safe side, use windows easy transfer to copy your files and setting, and once the image is restore next transfer it back. Fyi system image work similar as cloning utilty as in sort of capturing a exact image of the drive

Thanks everyone for the info and advice!