I have some questions about backup and restore for ten Dell OptiPlex 740 computers running Windows 7 Pro. in a public library. No user data is involved (these are public-access computers) so the backing up is an effort to quickly recover from a crashed HDD. I am creating a system image disk of drive C: (80 gigabyte HDD) on drive E:(same type of 80 gb HDD) and creating a CD-ROM system repair disk at the same time. I have read the FAQ: "Restore your computer from a system image backup" but still have these questions. 1. In creating the system image disk does it matter if the original is a dynamic or a basic disk? (I was trying mirroring but gave up on that idea but the C: drive was left as dynamic.) (Others are still basic.) 2. Say the C: drive crashes and I take it out. I move the E: drive into the C: drive's slot. I use the repair disk to restore the system. Will it now boot and work like the original or do I have to worry about boot managers, etc.? 3. Will this repair disk work on the other nine systems if they have been formatted and the C: drives in each used to create system images on the E: drive in each. Or must I create ten repair disks? Thanks, Ken Rogers

1. In creating the system image disk does it matter if the original is a dynamic or a basic disk? (I was trying mirroring but gave up on that idea but the C: drive was left as dynamic.) (Others are still basic.) 2. Say the C: drive crashes and I take it out. I move the E: drive into the C: drive's slot. I use the repair disk to restore the system. Will it now boot and work like the original or do I have to worry about boot managers, etc.? 3. Will this repair disk work on the other nine systems if they have been formatted and the C: drives in each used to create system images on the E: drive in each. Or must I create ten repair disks? Thanks, Ken Rogers 1. You can create a image no matter the C drive is dynamic or basic. 2. When the system got corrupted, you should use the repair disk to restore the system, it could help you repair the system boot issue. 3. You can use the system image created usisng Windows 7 backup to restore to a different hard drive. You should follow the steps here (Sneha's reply): http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7itprogeneral/thread/947e2c06-211a-4518-bbd7-7b9e3aee099c In addition, I'd like to share this blog with you. Learn more about system image backup http://blogs.technet.com/b/filecab/archive/2009/10/31/learn-more-about-system-image-backup.aspx Miya This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights. | Please remember to click "Mark as Answer" on the post that helps you, and to click "Unmark as Answer" if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

Hi Ms. Yao: Thanks very much for your thoughtful reply to my questions and for the two references! I had read the Sneha reply to the first reference and the subsequent comments on that thread. This is why I asked about the "boot managers." I plan to try out some of the things suggested but can only do them at night or on weekends when the library is not open. In the second reference, chfok refers to a previous post. I guess it is in archives also but I can't find it. If it is available, would you give me the URL for it, please. I would really like to automate the process of creating a system image. I.e., write a batch program that would activate weekly or monthly and create new disk images (complete system images of, say, the C: drive on the backup, E:, drive. Then when the primary drive fails I would be able to recover a working system very quickly. There is never any data backup because of the nature of the systems: public use in a library so the system image (of C:) is all that is involved. Presumably the rescue disk is generic enough to do this recovery for any system failure....or is it? Thanks again, Ken Rogers

Hi Ken, The total five blogs about backup and recovery offerings in Windows 7 should be the following: 1. Protect your files and PC with Windows 7 Backup http://blogs.technet.com/b/filecab/archive/2009/10/23/protect-your-files-and-pc-with-windows-7-backup.aspx 2. Learn more about system image backup http://blogs.technet.com/b/filecab/archive/2009/10/31/learn-more-about-system-image-backup.aspx 3. Recovering your files in Windows 7 http://blogs.technet.com/b/filecab/archive/2009/11/12/recovering-your-files-in-windows-7.aspx 4. Managing backup disk space http://blogs.technet.com/b/filecab/archive/2009/11/23/managing-backup-disk-space.aspx 5. What to do when your system misbehave http://blogs.technet.com/b/filecab/archive/2009/12/09/what-to-do-when-your-system-misbehave.aspx Hope it can help you. Regards, MiyaThis posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights. | Please remember to click "Mark as Answer" on the post that helps you, and to click "Unmark as Answer" if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.