When I get a new Windows computer, I back up the OS so that I can revert to it should OS updates or other software make it fail in ways that are too complex for me to untangle. I generally don't trust bundled backup programs because they often don't back up system files in a predictable way or the restore process takes too long. After backing up, I run the latest OS updates and back up again.
- Disable hibernation:
Running cmd as administrator, enter,
powercfg /h off
- Disable swap:
Control Panel > System > Advanced System Settings > Advanced tab > Performance > Settings > Advanced tab > Virtual Memory > Change... >
- Uncheck "Automatically manage".
- Select "No paging file" for partitions to be backed up.
- Click "Set".
- Re-partition drive:
- Note: For the initial backup, do not execute this step and instead back up the entire disk to capture the factory restore partition if it exists.
- Run GPartEd live CD and re-partition the drive to create a partition for user documents and data if one doesn't exist already
- Move user docs:
- In Windows Explorer, open C:\Users and Documents\[Your User].
- Move user folders (Documents, Downloads, Favorites, Music, Pictures, Videos, etc.) to the newly created user partition using Properties > Location tab.
- Clone partitions:
Run Clonezilla with image mode (as opposed to partition mode).
To restore:
- Clone partitions back to drive.
- Re-enable swap:
Virtual Memory > Select "System manage size".
- Re-enable hibernation:
powercfg /h on
