So on my Windows 7 notebook, I image it weekly with True Image 2011. If the hard drive dies, I still have to load the OS so it can be formatted and partitioned, then restore the image I took.
Is there a quicker way if you are dealing with a dead drive you want to replace with a new drive and a recent image?
One hour disaster recovery 2001:
Years ago when I did this with Windows 98SE, my hard drive died on boot, so I bot a new drive (computer store 3 minute drive from my house), installed it, put the floppy disc it came with in the floppy drive, formatted and partitioned the drive, then restored an image (taken with PowerQuest Drive Image). I did not have to install Windows, cause the new drive came with a utility to format the new drive. I restored an image and I was back in business in one hour from the time I went to the store and picked up a new drive and till the image was fully restored.
With Windows XP and 7 I see no option just to format, you have to do a complete install. |
