How often do you create a new Image for your PC?

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To allow my Images to continue to be up to date I create fresh Images regularly, at least once per month. This allows restoration to be quick without having to redo a lot of changes since these changes are in your latest Image.

I generally create a fresh Image right after patch Tuesday each month.

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Good reason to create a new Image regularly, in my case every month after patch Tuesday.

Ted,

Hello.. Just curious .. why do you Image “After Patch Tuesday” .Wouldn’t it be prudent ( unless I’m missing the point …as usual) It be best to Image “Before” Patch Tuesday… ? That would protect you in the event ( or should i say the likelihood of problems ) from applying patches in the first place .Hey just “askin”:cheers: Regards Fred

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Fred, good question.

Here is my reasoning:

My Image after the previous patch Tuesday is up to date until the next patch Tuesday, hence no need to create another Image until after the updates are applied.

If however I make other changes between patch Tuesday’s, I will likely create an intermediate Image.

By following this regime like clockwork, I can restore in the shortest possible time and have peace of mind if something bad happens, usually because of my playing with the OS!

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Another question, how many images do you keep? I image weekly, but then my image includes data as well (I suspect yours doesn’t). I also use file history to back up my data.

Eliminate spare time: start programming PowerShell

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Another question, how many images do you keep? I image weekly

access,

Hello… I like to “Image” every week ( OS type ) and before i try something , like testing some new software etc. I find it prudent to keep at least a months worth (4 or 5) for each OS…. Reason being is whatever happens you have the ability to recover , a month is usually far enough back to accomplish this .. Sometimes the problem (that i caused) won’t show up for a few days or weeks The most important “Image” is the one i make when installing an OS for the first time …This way no matter whatever dumb thing i do ,i can always recover to a brand new OS if necessary . After the months of Imaging, i then delete the oldest unless it’s some “Milestone” type. :cheers: Regards Fred

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I image weekly, well most times :). I also image before patch Tuesday, sometimes waiting for the weekly schedule to arrive before patching, just to be really safe (even though system restore is active, which has solved one or two previous issues with updates).

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Hey Y’all,

My regimen calls for an image every 2 weeks. If I’m testing a lot o new software I’ll do it more often and if testing software from a new source I’ll image BEFORE the install. I also keep at least 3 generations of images and I also use 5 different devices so all my eggs aren’t in one basket. This includes keeping one copy of my data partition image in a fire safe in a safe room. Yeah a bit paranoid but that’s just me. :cheers:

BTW: I have a spreadsheet that runs every Friday from a scheduled task to remind me of which of our 5 computers + NAS need to be done. It also has code to read the backup devices and maintain the list of what images are on what drive.

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

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From a retired non-Geek, who likes to try new things (and therefore has had to recover his OS multiple times): I have 1 computer system, a desktop running W7; and I use the paid version of Macrium Reflect.
I take images of my OS and my data partitions “religiously.”
When I migrated to W7, like Fred, I took an image of my “pristine” system. That’s saved on an external drive, that, like RG, is kept out of harm’s way.
After applying all my tweaks and enhancements, I took another image, and that too is kept safely off-site.
For my regular routine, because it’s no big deal and doesn’t take me a lot of time, I take an image of my OS and my data partitions while I have breakfast. I keep 3 versions of each. One day I do these to an internal drive that’s set aside for such images. The alternate day I do the same to an external drive.
Being able to restore my OS, and not having to worry about losing my data . . . priceless.
All this, and breakfast too . . . what could be easier?
Dick

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As I said, I create a new Image if I try something and decide to keep it. Generally though if I try something , then throw it away, I can easily revert to my latest post patch Tuesday Image. Since things do not change that much for me I find the regular monthly Image is sufficient, unless I change something, then an intermediate Image is created.

Yes my data is on a separate partition and is backed up independently to my C Drive (OS and apps).

I generally keep 5 or 6 Images for each PC along with a separate File History for each PC on our Ext. USB HD. I also back up the data from each PC to the other PC.

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BTW: I have a spreadsheet that runs every Friday from a scheduled task to remind me of which of our 5 computers + NAS need to be done. It also has code to read the backup devices and maintain the list of what images are on what drive.

Excellent, not enough information is provided for management when the complexity of multiple systems imaged gets to 5 or more. Strategies must change quite a bit or it will just become a logistics nightmare…imagine the drawer full of image repository drives alone.

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F.U.N.

Here are a couple of screen shots.

Summary Tab:
34792-ImageSummary
Individual Computer Tab:
34793-IndividualMachine

This arrangement works just fine for me and I don’t have any problem finding the drive I want since they are all labeled externally and with a Text file that my VBA code reads. :cheers:

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

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How often do you create a new Image for your PC?

Never. File History and Refresh/Reset is good enough.

Bruce

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Bruce, to each there own. I just feel safer with my Images because the Image contains all my installed apps, which are quite numerous, plus all the customizations I have added. For me, this works better than a Refresh/Reset. YMMV.

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Thanks for all your comments. It’s obvious that the answer is ‘it depends’. I don’t experiment with my OS – it’s just a tool to do my work (or play), so I perhaps don’t need to do images so often and I certainly don’t need to keep so many (11 going back to February). I am thinking of separating the data from the OS, but when I tried to create a new partition some time back, it wouldn’t let me shrink the C drive to less then 500Gb (I’ve a 1 Tb disk). I shall have to investigate why not and if I don’t find out why, I’ll be back with a new thread!

Eliminate spare time: start programming PowerShell

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Did you use the built in partitioning app or a 3rd party app? I have found the 3rd party apps can do much more than the built in app. For example I use Partition Wizardfor my partitioning needs. The free version works just fine.

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Thanks Ted, one of my actions was going to be looking at other partitioning software. I shall download it and give it a whirl (of course straight after I’ve done a Macrium Reflect image!).

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Yes, do not make any of these type changes without first having a complete HD Image. Good insurance. The first time I used a partitioning app, I screwed up and had to restore before trying again.

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Just to update, did a MR image then shrank my C drive to 200Gb. I’ve now created a new data partition (700+Gb) and am now copying my data files across. Actually, I’m using file history to restore two directories – having just found that right clicking on the restore button gives another option ‘restore to’. I’m copying the rest of the files from the old C drive user directories as it’s quicker. Once I’ve done the ‘My Documents’, ‘My Music’ etc. folders, the next question is: where should the skydrive/dropbox et al folders go, stay on the C drive or my new F drive? And what about the other folders like downloads, appdata and such like?

p.s. it was all very easy….

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Access, Don’t just copy the data. Use theapproved methodto move the data. In this way the pointers in the C Drive will point to the proper location on the data drive.

Any data folders that are eligible to be moved will have a Move Tab. All these folders can be easily moved.

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Thanks again. I restored to original folder structure (including Picasa and similar) and used the suggested method. Again very easy. I ignored and folders without the location tab, and all is now working again. Well other than File History. When clicking on History in file explorer it says it hasn’t been backed up, even though the library folders (documents et al) point to the new partition (in my case the F drive|). I will investigate further, but I can always start again (having an up to date image from just before i started this as a full backup anyway).

Do you think 200Gb for the C drive is small enough or can I reduce it further? It says that 63.5Gb are in use.

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I have my C Drives set to approx. 75 Gb and have lots of free space. I guess it depends on how many apps you intend to install. I keep the OS and all apps on the C Drive.

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I’ll reduce mine a bit then. File History is now up to date (patience is a virtue!).

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Just so you know, when you reduce the C Drive some more (and I assume add it to the data drive), the data presently located on the data drive will be moved to the front of the now larger data drive. This has to be done outside Windows when you reboot. This is one of those operations the Windows built in partitioning app cannot handle, but a 3rd party partitioning app handles quite nicely. I have used Partition Wizard several times to do just this operation and it worked flawlessly for me.

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I haven’t chimed in on this one yet, but I’ve been doing lots of imaging and restoring.

A couple of weeks ago I ran sfc /scannow (I try to run it about once a month, routine maintenance) and it found errors it couldn’t fix. The CBS log showed a number of “file missing” errors having to do with Windows Updates. I restored a previous image, and ran sfc /scannow again, and got a similar result.

So I went back a month and restored that image, and it checked clean. I installed a couple of updates, ran sfc and it checked clean. I installed a couple more, same good result. After half a dozen and still a good report from sfc, I created a new image.

When I get some more free time (been busy lately) I’ll repeat that process until I get all the applicable updates installed again.

Bear in mind that my first run of sfc /scannow was just routine maintenance; I had no symptoms of anything wrong, Windows 8 Pro just buzzing along as normal.

And that’s why I run routine maintenance. It provides the opportunity to keep everything nice and tidy, and keep little problems little.

I can’t overemphasize the importance of creating drive images on a regular basis. I try to maintain a weekly schedule, and an extra when I make a change. I have Windows (just the OS) on a 60GB partition, and a restore only takes about 6 minutes. Create a new image and verify byte-for-byte takes about 12.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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I have Windows (just the OS) on a 60GB partition, and a restore only takes about 6 minutes.

When you say only the OS on your 60Gb drive, does that mean your applications are on the other partition?

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So I went back a month and restored that image, and it checked clean. I installed a couple of updates, ran sfc and it checked clean. I installed a couple more, same good result. After half a dozen and still a good report from sfc, I created a new image.

When I get some more free time (been busy lately) I’ll repeat that process until I get all the applicable updates installed again.

I’m down to the Office 2010 Service Pack Update. I ran the Windows Updates two-at-a-time, then ran sfc /scannow. Then two more, and recheck. After 10 and no errors from sfc, I created a new image. Then back to more updates and imaging. If the Office Service Pack checks OK, I’ll be completely back up-to-date, and I’ll do a disk cleanup, defrag, and create a new image.

— edit — All updates installed including Office 2010 Service Pack, sfc /scannow found no problems, System Level Disk Cleanup and defrag completed on all three partitions of my Windows 8 installation. Booted into Windows 7 and running Image for Windows on all three partitions as I’m typing this.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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If you check the link in bbearren’s signature you will see he definitely does have his apps, and many other parts of Windows, on separate partitions. His method works well for him, but is not for the faint of heart or novice users IMO.

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Ted is correct. Check my signature link to my web site for a full description of my setup. I’ve been running Windows this way since XP.

The impetus is primarily for drive/partition imaging, but there are side benefits of enhanced performance and stability.

— edit — The OS only takes up 18.1GB, which makes creating/restoring a partition image run rather quickly.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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Oh, that does look a bit complicated. As I’m only a home user I think I’ll leave my PC with just the two partitions. Thanks anyway – and I’ll bookmark your website Mr B and see if here’s anything I can use from it.

Do you have a site Ted?

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Access-mdb,

Ted gets a new site every time he cranks up that diesel! :cheers:

If you don’t get it click.His house is on wheels.

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

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I do not have a web site.

As RG states I see new sights quite often. My wife and I are Full Time RVers.

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I image every two weeks; in addition, I run a “continuous backup” of my data while my PC is booted up. (Using Acronis TI 2013).

My Rig: AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 12-Core CPU; ASUS Cross Hair VIII Formula Mobo; Win 11 Pro (64 bit)-(UEFI-booted); 32GB RAM; 2TB Corsair Force Series MP600 Pro 2TB PCIe Gen 4.0 M.2 NVMe SSD. 1TB SAMSUNG 960 EVO M.2 NVME SSD; MSI GeForce RTX 3090 VENTUS 3X 24G OC; Microsoft 365 Home; Condusiv SSDKeeper Professional; Acronis Cyberprotect, VMWare Workstation Pro V17.5. HP 1TB USB SSD External Backup Drive). Dell G-Sync G3223Q 144Hz Monitor.

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I image every two weeks; in addition, I run a “continuous backup” of my data while my PC is booted up. (Using Acronis TI 2013).

I use images only; I don’t do incrementals. I use Office for most of what I do, and Office does auto backups of work in progress, so I don’t lose what I’m actually working on. I also copy my documents folder to another internal drive periodically. In addition, my ISP and my web host provide unlimited email, so I leave a copy of everything on the server, deleting only what I delete with Outlook, which means backing up my email is not an issue.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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I update my Acronis True Image files every Sunday at 3 AM on all the networked computers. Then I drag my 2 TB e-SATA drive around to capture all that goodness for extra security (and off-site rotation each month).

I tend to install software on Monday or Tuesday. If all hell breaks loose, then I can drop back to a recent image file.

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