Backing up windows 7

[arncap]

I got a new Acer laptop with Windows 7 pre-installed. It didn't come with a recovery / backup disk. A friend told me that I should create my own backup, although he wasn't sure how exactly it could be done. Any suggestions? I assume it is legal to do this.

 

[tremmor]

control panel
system & security
backup & restore

 

[TFT]

Windows 7 comes with an imaging tool that will allow to restore a saved image back to the state it was in the very beginning.
Control Panel/Backup and Restore/Create a System Image

Windows will look for what places an image can be saved to, ie second partition, second HD or DVD. Just follow the prompts to create an image and a rescue disk.

Hopefully your laptop will have a DVD or USB port for an external HD.

 

[arncap]

I don't seem to have a system and security function. However, there is a "Backup and Restore" function that allows me to set up a windows backup. Still unsure of what to do exactly!

 

[TFT]

Has your Acer got a DVD drive?

 

[tremmor]

or an external hd. need somewhere to save too.

heres a link from support.microsoft
How too backup.... http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/features/backup-and-restore

 

[arncap]

No DVD drive but I could use a memory stick in a USB port.

 

[TFT]

Never tried it but I believe it won't be accepted by Windows as a backup imaging device. If your system and data is important to you then purchase a cheap/small USB driven Hard disk and image on to that.