Windows 7 - recoverable system image

viboy

Hello, my apologies if this has been covered previously. I am wondering if there is a way to create a system image of a windows installation that can be reapplied in the event of a hard disk failure or significant windows error.

Hopefully, this would include all settings, including windows licence activation that could be reapplied to a replaced / repaired disk.

Reason being I had previously purchased a PC from adverts.ie that appears to have a legitimate licence, but neither product key or installation media was supplied.

As a second question, is it possible to recover the product key from a running windows installation. Either by contacting Microsoft or using a software utility.

Forgive me, I'm much more familiar with OSX and Linux

Thanks,
Sean

Fysh

Regarding question one:

You can do so using a variety of software packages, both free and commercially-available. Acronis True Image is a quite decent commercial package, whereas DriveImage XML is available free for personal use.

Another thing worth checking is the hardware manufacturer of the hard drive/s in your computer. Some storage hardware vendors - eg Maxtor/Seagate - have made arrangements to provide Acronis software for disk imaging in computers with their drives installed. If you have a Maxtor drive, look into Maxtor MaxBlast. If you have a Seagate drive, look for Seagate DiscWizard.

Regarding question two:

Yes it can be done, but the tools that can be used to do so are of questionable legitimacy and sometimes flagged as being malicious by antivirus software. A few minutes in Google should be enough to point you in the right direction. Microsoft will most probably not provide you with the licence keys or installation media.

viboy

Thanks, am giving DriveImage XML a whirl.

Fysh wrote: »

Regarding question one:

You can do so using a variety of software packages, both free and commercially-available. Acronis True Image is a quite decent commercial package, whereas DriveImage XML is available free for personal use.

Another thing worth checking is the hardware manufacturer of the hard drive/s in your computer. Some storage hardware vendors - eg Maxtor/Seagate - have made arrangements to provide Acronis software for disk imaging in computers with their drives installed. If you have a Maxtor drive, look into Maxtor MaxBlast. If you have a Seagate drive, look for Seagate DiscWizard.

Regarding question two:

Yes it can be done, but the tools that can be used to do so are of questionable legitimacy and sometimes flagged as being malicious by antivirus software. A few minutes in Google should be enough to point you in the right direction. Microsoft will most probably not provide you with the licence keys or installation media.