I've never set up a backup partition before, I've read that you set aside 3-4GB for the partition, copy the entire Win 7 DVD to the partition, then set the partition to boot as necessary. I'm not sure if I want to do that, so let's say I create a restore point (or maybe create a backup image, maybe they're the same thing, I'm not familiar with the terminology) and save that to an external disk and then one day my hd fails me: can I use that restore point/image on a different hard disk with a new install of Win7 Pro or would I have to have the original hard drive with the original install in order to restore to that point?
Setting up a backup partition for the first time (Win 7 Pro)
- Thread starter JRW79
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- Mar 16, 2013
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I don't know where you read this, but no.
What you want to do is:
Take that Windows install DVD and save in a cool dark place.
Maybe make another copy of it, stored in a different cool dark place.
Once you have those:
You want to create an 'image' of your hard drive, after the OS and whatever else is installed.
There are multiple applications that can do this, either free or paid. On whichever drive you want.
A Windows Restore Point is a snapshot of your system, as it was when that Restore Point was created.
But it lives on the same drive...so if/when that drive dies...poof. All is gone.
Yep, my thoughts exactly to the T. That's why I didn't want to do it that way, but it's not a subject I have a lot of knowledge on, so that's when I came over to Tom's Hardware to ask the experts. If I wanted to sell the computer but not the OEM, could I set up a partition like that so that the buyer could reload Windows if they wanted or is that piracy? I assume so since I have to copy the entire DVD over...and I can't think of a scenario outside of the HD crashing where someone would need to reinstall Windows....
- Mar 16, 2013
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If you sell the system with the OS, you cannot also use that same OS license on another PC.
1 license, 1 PC.
As far as reinstalling the OS? I've come across people in here who reinstall monthly. Apparently, a touch of OCD kicking in.
Ok, I read up on licensing on Microsoft website, it says that the license and the device need to stay together. I bought my computer used from someone who put out a classified ad with a Win 7 COA on the chassis and windows preinstalled, but I never got the recovery DVD. I eventually bought an original Windows 7 Pro disk, also locally, but never used it. I never found a product key on the case it came in or in the included booklet, I assumed it never had a product key, but I'm just now realizing I'm probably wrong about that. So is the COA considered the license that needs to stay with the device, or is the license a combination of the COA and the recovery DVD that I never got? It sounds like I couldn't legally give the disk I bought away with the system even if I wanted to, it's sounding more and more like the disk I bought should have come with a product key...
I admit back when Windows XP was a thing I would format my hard drive and re-install every few months for no reason. I guess a recovery partition would have saved me the effort of pulling my disk out of my desk drawer, but that's an effort I'm willing to make.
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