How to backup programs without risking to restore into a corrupt system

-1

Possible Duplicate:
Backup an installed software

I have a newly installed SSD in my system (with OS etc installed on it), but I'm not too happy with the boot up time (1 min 15 s). So I am planning to look over the BIOS settings (mainly thinking of setting AHCI-mode for my SSD) and then make a clean install to see if that helps things out.

I do however have a whole lot of programs, custom settings (registry changes etc) and custom drivers installed, and the thought of reinstalling all these is not very tempting. There for I want to make a backup that I can use after the clean install to get all these back. (All my files, media and such, are on a secondary drive - no need to back them up).

However I am a little bit worried that restoring my system from a complete system image will result in a corrupt system. Like if I change something in BIOS that is critical for example. A clean install of Windows 7 would be fully working, since it adapts into the current configuration. But if I then restore to a complete system image of my earlier system I am afraid that it would behave like if I did these changes to BIOS without any reinstall.

So: is there a way to backup and restore all my programs (and preferably drivers too) without risking of restoring into a corrupt system?

If it is possible with the built in windows backup/restore I am glad, but of course third party programs works as well.

Thanks!

lindhe

Posted 2013-01-10T22:03:56.983

Reputation: 193

Question was closed 2013-01-11T12:29:50.423

@Karan IMO it should not be a dupe of that as its about backup from corrupt drive while the other post is asking for only backup. – avirk – 2013-01-11T04:40:46.150

@avirk: He doesn't want to restore a full system image since that will simply bring his system back to the way it is now (i.e. corrupted). His actual question is about how he can backup and restore all his programs and drivers to a fresh Windows install (that will no longer be corrupted). Thus this question does seem to be a duplicate of the one I linked to. – Karan – 2013-01-11T04:58:30.700

1@Karan, Avirk Actually, is the question not "can BIOS settings prevent my back up succeeding?". I think the use of "corrupt" in OP title is wrong, it should be non-compatible. I have closed being off topic, this is a mistake as should be "not a real question" as it's not clear as to what is being asked! – Dave – 2013-01-11T09:13:29.057

Answers

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You can backup the whole drive to a file (and restore it from one) using programs such as Norton ghost, CloneZilla, Acronis True Image etc. etc.

However just changing a BIOS setting should not change anything in the OS. Worst case it will not boot anymore and you will have to revert the BIOS change.

As for AHCI:

  1. Yes, do enabled it. Esp. with an SSD.
  2. Do it in the right sequence: 1) enable AHCI drivers. 2) Shutdown. 3) Change BIOS setting to AHCI. 4) Boot succesfully.

For more details, search this site for posts such as these: should-ahci-be-enabled-for-an-ssd

Hennes

Posted 2013-01-10T22:03:56.983

Reputation: 60 739

Looks like he wants to backup and restore only programs without completely imaging the system, which is obviously not possible. – Karan – 2013-01-11T03:49:02.480

Asked: 2013-01-10T22:03:56.983

Viewed: 228 times

Active: 2013-01-10T22:14:13.183