What is System Image feature in Windows 7

[Odalis]

I am new to Windows 7. recently upgraded to same from Windows Vista. While searching for some backup tips in this new operating system, i found the following post How to Create a System Image in Windows 7 . Its really interesting and i must thank you guys for the same.

Now i just wanted to know, is System Image feature similar to System restore ? Its really very confusing for me. Could you guys please make me know what actually is Windows 7 System Image feature ?

[Devasis]

As we all know, Windows 7 is embedded with lots of new feature, System Image is one of them. It is an exact copy of a drive. Now you can create an image backup of the machine without the need for a third party utility like Ghost or True Image. By default, a system image includes the drives required for Windows to run. It also includes Windows and your system settings, programs, and files.

You can use a system image to restore the contents of your computer if your hard disk or computer ever stops working. When you restore your computer from a system image, it's a complete restoration—you can't choose individual items to restore, and all of your current programs, system settings, and files are replaced with the contents of the system image.

[Maq.H]

By default, Windows automatically saves as many system images as it has space for without taking up more than 30 percent of space on the backup disk. Once the disk starts running out of room, Windows deletes older system images. You can set Windows to retain as many system images as it has space for on the backup disk or to only keep the most recent system image. You should always keep the most recent system image. If you are saving your system image on a network location, you can only keep the most recent system image.To back up your programs, system settings, and files using System image:-

• Open Backup and Restore by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Backup and Restore.
  
  
• In the left pane, click Create a system image, and then follow the steps in the wizard. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

[Fullorton]

If you're saving your system images on an internal or external drive, or on CDs or DVDs, you can keep several versions of system images. On internal and external hard drives, older system images will be deleted when the drive runs out of space. To help conserve disk space, you can manually delete older system images.

To help maximize your disk space, Windows Backup backs up all selected folders the first time it's run and then it only backs up files that are new or have been modified since the last backup was made. Periodically, Windows creates a new, full backup. Each full backup is known as a backup period. When you view your file backups, you see all of the backup periods labeled with date ranges. If you decide to delete file backups, you should always keep the most recent file backup.