Backup Complete Computer

How to Create a Complete Computer Backup and Restore Image in Vista​

   Information

Windows Complete PC Backup creates a backup image, which contains copies of your programs, system settings, and files. The backup image is then stored in a separate location from the original programs, settings, and files. You can use this backup image to restore the contents of your computer if your hard disk or entire computer ever stops working. For more information, see: Windows Help and How-to: Back up your programs, system settings, and files

   Note

BACKUP LOCATION:


A) If you want to delete or copy the entire WindowsImageBackup folder to save it to another location to keep a copy of it, you will need to open each subfolder in the WindowsImageBackup folder and grant access permission to them first by clicking Continue twice for eace folder. You will then be able to copy this folder like any other folder. You may want to do this because when a new Complete PC Backup is made it can overwrite the previous Complete PC Backup with the differences to create the new backup.

• Backups are saved in a folder with this format: (backup drive letter)\WindowsImageBackup\(your computer name)\Backup (year-month-day) (time)
• If the backup was done on Local Disk D: at 9/7/2007 1:00:50 PM (It uses 24 hour time), then the full backup file path would be:
• D:\WindowsImageBackup\Computer\Backup 2007-09-07 130050
• You would right click the folder Backup 2007-09-07 130050 and click Delete to delete that backup.

B) To delete all but the most recent Complete PC Backup, you can use Disk Cleanup. You will just need to select the drive that the complete PC backups are stored on and select the More Options tab.


C) To delete the Complete PC Backup completely, you just need to take ownership of the WindowsImageBackup folder and subfolders. Afterwards, you will be able to delete the folder.

   Warning

• Windows Complete PC Backup is only available in the Vista Enterprise, Ultimate, and Business editions.
• Vista cannot backup the partition or drive that you are saving the complete backup to.
• If you dual boot with Windows XP, then everytime you start in XP the System Restore Points and all except the most recent Complete PC Backup files in Vista get deleted. For how, see: How to Stop System Restore Points from being Deleted in Vista when Dual Booting with XP
• You cannot restore a 32 bit Vista version complete pc backup on a 64 bit Vista version, or the other way around.

Here's How:

1. Open Control Panel. (Classic View)​

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2. Click on the Backup and Restore Center icon.​

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3. Click on the Back up Computer button. (See screenshot below)​

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4. Click on Continue in the UAC prompt.​

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5. You will see this for a moment as Vista searches for backup devices. (See screenshot below)​

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6. Dot the location to save the backup image to. (See screenshot below)​

WARNING: Vista cannot backup the partition or drive that you are saving the complete backup to.​

A) On a Hard Disk: For saving to a different hard drive or partition.​

NOTE: You cannot save the backup image on the same partition as Vista is installed on. It can only be saved on another partition, a separate hard drive, USB device (external hard drive), or on multiple DVDs. If you wish to create a new partition for backups, then see: How to Shrink and Create a Partition with Disk Management in Vista​

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B) On One or More DVDs: For saving to multiple DVDs that are bigger than 1 GB in size each.​

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C) Click on Next.​

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7. Click Start backup to confirm the backup settings and start the backup process. (See screenshots below)​

NOTE: This will tell you how much space will be used on the other hard drive, or how many DVDs it will take. ​

WARNING: If you have a previous complete PC backup in this location, this complete backup will only backup the differences between now and when the previous backup was made. (See the right screenshot below)​

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8. You will now see this window. (See screenshot below)​

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9. If you selected On One or More DVDs (step 6), then this window will pop-up asking for the first DVD. (See screenshot below)​

A) Insert a blank DVD into the DVD drive and click on OK.​

NOTE: It will continue to ask for DVDs until it is finished. See step 7 to see how many DVDs will be required.​

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10. When the backup is completed it will let you know. Click on Close.​

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11. Close the Control Panel window.​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Extract Vista System Image Files Using Virtual PC 2007
• How to Restore the Complete Computer from a Complete Backup and Restore Image in Vista
• How to Create a System Restore Point in Vista
• How to Backup Files with Optional Automatic Backups in Vista
• How to Restore Previous Versions of a File and Folder in Vista
• How to Reset the Last Backup Listing for Vista Complete PC Backup
• How to Reset the Last Backup Listing for Vista Back Up Files
• How to Enable or Disable Backup Status and Configuration in Vista
• How to Backup Specific Files in Vista Like NT Backup in XP

 

[Brink]

Hi rwp123,

You can try Acronis True Image for a fully functional 15 day free trial period. It works great.

Complete hard disk drive copy, cloning and image backup software: computer files and disk copying

Shawn

P.S. I changed your username to not include your email address. You would get spammed to death if you left it.

 

[chrisbass]

hiya, wonder if you can help me? I've been successfully backing up to an external drive but have now started getting this error code "0x81000008" and a failed back up... any thoughts?
Thanks, Chris

 

[Brink]

Hello Chris, and welcome to Vista Forums.

This usually means that there is corruption on the HDD. You can run chkdsk on the external drive to see if it can fix the corruption for you. If not, then reformatting the external drive with a NTFS file system should clear the problem, then just create a new backup.

This tutorial will show you how to run chkdsk if needed. Be sure to substitute with the drive letter for your external drive.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67612-check-disk-chkdsk.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[paulmcmahon0906]

yes but what if u dont get the backup computer option does not appear in the backup center

 

[Brink]

Hi Paul, and welcome to Vista Forums.

For a complete PC backup, you will have to a 3rd party program like Acronis True Image since you have the Vista Home Premium edition.

Complete hard disk drive copy, cloning and image backup software: computer files and disk copying


You can still manually backup files, or use the Backup Files option instead.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/100133-backup-files.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[bennys]

Hello...Brink!
I downloaded the Acronis True Image. Do I follow the tutorial above to set it up?
Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Hi Bennys,

Sorry, but No. Acronis True Image is a separate program and not a part of Vista. You can download and read the User Guide (right side of webpage) PDF file for how to use the program at this link.

Complete hard disk recovery solution, backup, drive copy, clone and image computer software


You will need to have the free program Adobe Reader installed to read it though. You can get from here if you do not already have it.

Adobe - Adobe Reader Download - All versions

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[saterob]

Hi Shawn,

Just completly my PC backlup for the first time right now. Just wondering, like File Backup, is there a way to schedule a complete PC backup weekly? Or from your experience, would this not be necessary? How often should I PC backup? Will it take ages each time, or quicker eachtime as the first time always starts from scratch?

Cheers,
Joronamo.

 

[Brink]

Hi Joronamo,

If you use the same location (ex: second hard drive) for your Complete PC Backup, then it will do the backup in increments. In other words, instead of a completely new back up, it only backups what has been changed since the last Complete PC Backup. This way you can choose between these Complete PC Backup dates to restore from.

I normally do a Complete PC Backup after any changes that are made to my computer from say Windows Updates, installed programs, or any other change that I wish to have restored if needed. It should not take as long as the first time you have created a Complete PC Backup, but it depends on how many changes were made.

There is no option for automatic Complete PC Backups, but I prefer to run this manually though since the computer doesn't know if I want the changes backed up or not.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[angelo621]

hi Brink!:D thanks always for your tutorial!
it takes how many mins or hour to complete the backup using separate HDD?

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Angelo. It really depends on much is being backed up, but it takes my 18 GB about 15 minutes to be abcked up on another partition on the same drive. Hope this gives you enough information to make a rough estimate with.

Shawn

 

[smokin thumz]

hi shawn, i have 2 pc's- mine with vista ultimate, and my sons with vista basic, im assuming that u cant back up computer in basic??
smokin thumz

 

[Brink]

Hi Smokin Thumz,

The Vista Home Basic edition can only do manual Back up Files type instead of a Complete PC Backup.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/100133-backup-files.html


You would need to use a 3rd party program to be able to do a complete backup in Vista Home Basic. A good program to use is Acronis True Image. You can try a 15 day trial version from here to see of you like it.

Complete hard disk recovery solution, backup, drive copy, clone and image computer software

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Submarine]

Sorry for bringis this up again, I find various responses to this questions a bit everywhere over the internet. Gt a bit cofused,I guess. I had my external harddisk compromised by a virus and decided to format it. Now I like to start all over again with complete PC backups and file backups. Do I need to reset the last backup location and date in Vista (x86) Ultimate? Is there a way to do this without doing direct registry editing? Would prefer not to do this at at time I have no backup.

 

[Brink]

Hello Submarine, and welcome to Vista Forums.

There is no need for you to do this. When you create the next Complete PC Backup it will automatically reset the last backup listing.

You would only reset the last backup listing if you had deleted the backup and was not going to do a backup again for a while and just did not want to see the backup listing. It's mostly for appearance sakes to keep things tidy, but it would not hurt anything by just leaving it there either.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Submarine]

Thanks, makes things much easier.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Submarine.

Shawn

 

[mika7367]

I tried Full system Backup to a USB HDD but after in the restore it said no copies of backups found on this disk/computer.So wtf is going on.I eventually gave up and paid for Acronis True Image.Worked first time.

Win Vista x64 Ultimate
AMD Phenom x64 9850 Black Edition X4 (Quad Core)
AMD/ATI Sapphire HD 4850 1Gb ddr3 Graphics (oc'd to just over 1022Mhz)
4 Gb Corsair 1066 Mhz Mem,4 Gb Corsair USB Flash Drive for Readyboost
Anyway it seems strange to me if vistas own system backup can't do it but a third party program can ?????.Any ideas?

 

[Brink]

Hi Mika,

That is strange. Did the USB HDD have a WindowsImageBackup folder on it after you did the Complete PC Backup?

Did you enable the Legacy USB option in the BIOS so that the USB HDD could be recognized at boot to select it while testing the restore Complete PC backup option?

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Nelly]

Is it necessary/wise to scan for adware ,virus etc first ?