Hard drive image

[Technovice_krf]

I'm wondering whether taking an image of a hard drive will restore programs like Microsoft Office, which requires activation codes and things. I can't find my activation codes for Office or Windows 7 so I thought taking an image of my hard drive would protect me in the event my hard drive crashes, I'll be able to continue using my Office 2010 without having to purchase a new Office programs. I've also heard that there are activation key issues with the OS itself. Does taking an image of your hard drive remove the need to re-activate these programs if in fact you re-install the hard drive on the same computer should a crash occur? Will the image still work with respect to the activation codes if installed on a different machine? If so, what constitutes "dfifferent"? I have a laptop and a desktop (can I install on the desktop if the laptop crashes, and vice versa)? If it will not on another machine, is there a different way to do it?

Can anyone recommend a solid external hard drive to store the image? Since my laptop has a 460 GB hard drive, would I need to get a hard drive that is at least as big as this? I've also heard about virtual drives (located on the hard drive itself, assuming it has been partitioned). Is this a useful alternative to the external drive?

Technovice_krf

 

[Pyree]

No, your Window and MS Office activation will stay. However, it wouldn't work if you restore the image on different computer. Just make a system image with the backup function of Window 7 on your laptop for your laptop.

Do not put backup on another partition of the same HDD. It is not an alternative. It does not protect you against HDD failure. Always have the two copy (or even multiple copy) in separate HDD and in separate locations if the data is very important.

The HDD does not have to be the same size unless your choice of backup software is cloning sector by sector (the backup feature comes with Window 7 is not). I recommend a WD Caviar Black and Vantec HDD enclosure.

 

[Technovice_krf]

Thanks Pyree.
I was planning on using Macrium software to make the image, so I guess I would need the same size driver or bigger since it does clone the disk image.
One additional question - I just remembered that my MS Office activation I bought a while back was able to be put on two computers, so I put one on the laptop and other on desktop. If it is the same activation, then taking an image of one computer and later restoring it back to another computer should work, no? I guess there might be problems since it would be on a different OS (XP vs 7). Thanks





No, your Window and MS Office activation will stay. However, it wouldn't work if you restore the image on different computer. Just make a system image with the backup function of Window 7 on your laptop for your laptop.

Do not put backup on another partition of the same HDD. It is not an alternative. It does not protect you against HDD failure. Always have the two copy (or even multiple copy) in separate HDD and in separate locations if the data is very important.

The HDD does not have to be the same size unless your choice of backup software is cloning sector by sector (the backup feature comes with Window 7 is not). I recommend a WD Caviar Black and Vantec HDD enclosure.[/quotemsg]

 

[Hawkeye22]

I've used Activation Backup and Resore successfully with win 7.

http://directedge.us/content/abr-activation-backup-and-restore

Some of their links appear as they are currently messed up, but you can google for activation backup software.

 

[Technovice_krf]

What do I need to check to make sure that the external hard drive I purchase is compatible with my laptop? I have Acer Aspire 5253.

No, your Window and MS Office activation will stay. However, it wouldn't work if you restore the image on different computer. Just make a system image with the backup function of Window 7 on your laptop for your laptop.

Do not put backup on another partition of the same HDD. It is not an alternative. It does not protect you against HDD failure. Always have the two copy (or even multiple copy) in separate HDD and in separate locations if the data is very important.

The HDD does not have to be the same size unless your choice of backup software is cloning sector by sector (the backup feature comes with Window 7 is not). I recommend a WD Caviar Black and Vantec HDD enclosure.

 

[Pyree]

Any USB external HDD (equal or larger size than the one you have in your laptop) will work on your laptop for sector by sector image.