Win7 Update Failed - Restore Points Gone [ Edited ]

[dvon]

Jim,

Creating a disk image is probably one of the best and cheapest ways to backup your hard drive. It basically uses a disc imaging file to copy everything. You have that ability in control panel to do that, the specifics are here:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_install/if-my-hard-disk-fails-how...

PS: Backing up your hardrive to the same HDD is like using a cardboard box to store paper documents intended to be stored in a fireproof box. You said you turn off your portable HDD to save on its life cycle, I have a 750 gig portable I backup my system to that has been running nonstop for almost 6 years except for when I take it with me for something.

If you are backing up your system to the same HDD, you DEFINITELY should make a disk image right now!

The other thing you can do is to add a HDD to your system. Very simple to do assuming you have a desktop computer. Just assign the backups to go to the 2nd HDD that you install.

I know what  am telling you sounds like a lot of work, but trust me it will save you time if your main HDD ever crashes.

[jarhtmd]

dvon

No, I'm not backing up to the same HDD.  I've created word documents (as I always do) of the important instructions in the link (& links that it included) that you sent.

When I finish my usual "Friday night workload", I guess it's time to create an system disk image.  I haven't yet read all the documentation, but based on 20 minutes for 15GB it'll take 5 hours for my approx 400GB of used disk space & need to run overnight.  That'll mean that I change my usual sleep settings to "never" so that it will run to completion.

Should I postpone the scheduled 2AM task to create a Restore Point?  What about Windows updates?  I installed only the C++ update, as suggested by David.  (Don't think I've yet replied back to him on that.)  Should I disable Norton & reply the remaining updates?  And then turn Norton back on?  Leave Norton alone? What happens if "automatic" tasks start while creating a disk image, do they wait until it is finished?

[jarhtmd]

Hi David

C++ 2005 update ran OK.

[DavidPK]

Hi Jim,

I think you'll find find everything will work OK from here - a good tip if you have Windows updates that fail to install is to run them one at a time, manually as you just did - this usually resolves the problem.  Keep a check over the next few days that your Restore Points are being created and retained, but I believe they will be - Windows 7 SP1 has been known to delete existing restore points when installed.  Please post back if you have any questions.

Best regards as always,

DP-K

[dvon]

Jim,

I would leave Norton on unless you have to shut it off. As I said, I don't use it anymore but I doubt you would need to do that to create an image file. Make sure you turn it back on before browsing or emailing the next morning if you have to shut it down.