taking an image

xirokx

xirokx

xirokx

Soldato
Joined
2 Oct 2004
Posts
4,362
Location
N.W London
hi there,

just fixed a friends computer, this guys kids ruin his PC every month so I do a fresh install for the poor bloke and hand it back right as rain, for the same to happen 1 - 3 months later

I recently heard the term "take an image" after you reinstall windows once all software and programs have been installed.

How do I do this?
What program(s) can I use to do this? is there a good "freeware" prog that will let me do it or should I buy one? which one?
How big will the final size of the image be?

Is it true reloading the image will instantly put it back to how I leave it? clean and virus free?

Your help and support would be appreciated

thanks in advance for your help
 
Macrium Reflect Free usually gets a mention or two here and is marked as highly recommended in the freeware utilities thread pinned at the top of the subforum. :)

Re-install windows and get it to the point where you would give it back to the owner, then use Reflect to create an image of the setup, the size of the image is entirely dependant on your install.
Then when it comes back broke again all you have to do is use the reflected image to reload the working install back onto the machine.
 
xirokx said:
this guys kids ruin his PC every month
Click to expand...

Just the kids? Sure. :p

I'd go a step further and educate him on proactive countermeasures so that the PC can last even longer in between imaging.

e.g. The kids should only have access to a Standard User account.
 
Make a standard user account for the kids with UAC on full
Install Spybot S&D, Immunize the system

Macrium Reflect is awesome
 
thanks guys I will check out Macrium Reflect

do you guys know what the size of the image would be?

thanks
 
As said although imaging tools are useful an even better option would be to educate him about user privileges so his 'kids' cant do anything too substantial.
 
If it's Windows 7 there is an option to backup the system to an external HDD, then when you want to restore it put the Windows 7 disk in (and portable HDD) and select Repair during the setup.
 
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