Create a full VSS or bare metal back up of Windows 7

First let’s discuss the VSS back up or bare metal back up. (VSS) Volume Shadow Copy Service is a Windows service for capturing and creating snapshots called shadow copies. VSS, which operates at the root level of the file system, provides a backup of data hierarchy for Microsoft operating systems.

Simply put, an exact duplicate of your system from the hard drive perspective that can be accessed to restore files or in this case reinstall to a known state.

When I image a PC, (install OS and applications) I will generally install the core applications and run updates before I create a “system image”. There is noting more obnoxious than having to install 100+ updates right off the bat, this saves me time and bandwidth, streamlining the process. Once I have my OS updated and all my drivers current, I will install base programs that I use on a regular basis. You can install all the programs you want, but this gives me the ability to go back to a stable platform for troubleshooting purposes.

Creating the back up is relatively simple and is just a matter of knowing what and where to look for it in Windows. First we will need to have a few things ready;

• An external disk or thumb drive large enough to hold the contents of your C:\ drive
• A blank CD to make a recovery disk
• (Optional) Multiple blank DVD’s ***if you do not have an external drive*** this method works but is slower than the method I will be demonstrating.
• (Optional) A Shared network drive. In lieu of an external device.

Now we are ready to make a “system image”. Navigate to “Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Backup and Restore”. Once there you will see a link on the left panel titled “Create System Image” clicking on this link will bring up a dialogue box in which windows will guess the best location for your back up. Now, select your device, in this instance we will be choosing the external drive we plugged in, from the drop-down menu in the “On a hard disk” option and selecting “next”.

From here we can select which drives to back up, Select (C:) (system) and click “start backup”, it’s that easy. Windows will now create the back up and depending on the amount of space can take 20+ minutes.

When complete, Windows will prompt you to make a system repair disc, this is essential and should be created right away. You will need this for repairing your PC as well as starting the “system image restore” we will be talking about in my next installment.

Until then happy computing!! and as always if you have trouble and are in the Wooster, Ohio area check out my website for more information on Home PC assistance or IT Consulting