How do you take an image of your system, software and files?

Question

How can you preserve your settings, wallpapers, software installed, files that I have.
In case I sell my computer. I will need the same environment that was already customized for me. If I want exactly the same what should I do?

Answer 1

Use Norton Ghost to make an image of your hard disk or simply take the hard disk an put that in your new computer.

Answer 2

The question does not match the description.

An "Image" is a save of everything on your C: drive, compressed into a file, that can be loaded onto another hard drive into a system with the SAME hardware [processor, support chips, etc]. Mainly useful in companies with spare PC's.

What you are looking for are the SETTINGS - you can transfer them if you get another windows PC with XP or higher software with a utility that COMES with it called FAST [files and settings transfer] wizard.

To save them as they are, you could copy the "Documents and Settings" folder to a CD - gets all the stuff for every user.

Answer 3

Norton Ghost or Acronis True Image Workstation will take an image. But the previous post is correct, new hardware won't match up and you will carry old baggage to the new machine.

If you are using Windows XP, use the Files and settings transfer wizard to save as much info as possible.

There is a very advanced method of transferring an operating system call sysprep; info available at www.microsoft.com or google it.

Answer 4

You can't really do this. I mean you can take an exact image of your hard drive using something like Norton Ghost as someone already mentioned, but the hardware inside your new machine will never be exactly the same as the old one so when you try to apply the disc image it won't work as you'll need different drivers etc.

Answer 5

۞ you can make a full system back up of the computer using Nero Back It Up this makes a copy of you whole system over several cd/dvds the first disk is bootable from dos this set is then used to restore your whole system back to its original state including all software ect that was on the original hard drive using this method to restore does not require you to use your serial number as it will only reinstall on the computer it was created on
rewritable cd/dvd are best to use for this as you can update the disk if you add or remove anything from your system and is a much quciker way than the normal XP system restore from the istallation cd ۞
or
Û© Buy a cd/dvd rewriteable cd/dvd format it with nero in cd then drag and drop or copy and paste to it like you would a floppy when it is full copy the disk in nero then burn it onto a write once cd/dvd then delete the files from the re writable cd/dvd and use again thats the most economical way to do it Û©