How to Prepare for Disk Imaging

Create a useful disk image by cleaning up the drive beforehand.

To prepare for disk imaging, make sure the computer to be imaged is clean by removing temporary files using the Disk Cleanup utility and running a virus scan. Streamline the system by eliminating unwanted software, performing system patches and security updates, updating software and checking the status of hardware drivers prior to performing a disk image. Check the hard drive for file system errors and fragmentation. Copy any critical or personal files to an external backup location prior to performing the disk image or move the files if the disk image is going to be sold with the computer.

Things You'll Need

• Backup storage location or USB flash drive
• Blank optical discs to store the disk image

Instructions

1. Open "My Computer" by clicking on the "Start" menu (Windows orb) and clicking on "Computer." Right-click on the main system drive (typically drive C) and choose "Properties." Click on the "Disk Cleanup" button and select all of the available options to remove temporary files from the hard drive.

2. Update the anti-virus software if necessary and perform a full system scan to check for and eliminate any virus infections on the computer.

3. Remove any unwanted software by clicking on the "Start" menu (Windows orb) and clicking on "Control Panel." Click on "Programs and Features" and then select the unwanted software by clicking on it. Click on the "Uninstall / Change" button to remove the software from the system, then restart the system if prompted.

4. Update the operating system by clicking on the "Start" menu (Windows orb) and then clicking on "All Programs." Click on "Windows Update" and then on "Check for Updates." Check the boxes next to any available updates, including critical updates, optional updates and driver updates.

5. Install the updates and restart the computer if prompted, then repeat the process by checking for updates again after the system has restarted or after the updates have installed. It may be necessary to repeat the process several times in order to get all available updates, as some updates do not appear until others have been installed. Continue to check for updates until no more are available.

6. Launch any major software that is used regularly and use the built-in utility to check for software updates, typically located under the "Help" or "Tools" menu. Consult the website of the software manufacturer for the current version and any updates or patches that are available. Check for the currently installed version by clicking on "Help" and then on "About."

7. Check for hardware driver issues by clicking on the "Start" menu (Windows orb) and then clicking on "Control Panel." Click on "Device Manager" and inspect it for any devices that are marked with an exclamation point or question mark. Double-click on marked devices and choose to update the driver. Consult the website of the hardware manufacturer for instructions and updated driver files.

8. Perform a file system disk check by clicking on the "Start" menu (Windows orb) and clicking on "Computer." Right-click on the system drive (typically drive C) and choose "Properties." Click on the "Tools" tab and then click "Check Now" under "Error Checking." Select both check boxes to perform a full system scan and allow the system to restart and complete the scan during boot if prompted.

9. Perform a fragmentation check by clicking on the "Start" menu (Windows orb) and clicking on "Computer." Right-click on the system drive (typically drive C) and choose "Properties." Click on the "Tools" tab and then click "Defragment Now" under "Defragmentation." Click once on the system drive (typically drive C) and choose "Defragment Disk" at the bottom of the window.

10. Back up important files by clicking on the "Start" menu (Windows orb) and clicking on "Computer." Right-click on the system drive (typically drive C) and choose "Properties." Click on the "Tools" tab and then click "Back Up Now" under "Backup." Choose "Set Up Backup" to back up important files. Choose "Create a System Image" to begin the disk image creation process.

Tips & Warnings

• Data files should be backed up daily onto a removable media such as a USB flash drive or kept up to date by using an automatic backup routine and a separate hard drive. A recent copy of important files should be kept in a secure location away from the computer and in a separate building when possible in case of theft or disaster that renders the entire computer inaccessible.

• Files from a disk image cannot be accessed individually and, if the disk image needs to be used, it will overwrite the entire drive with the exact information that was on it when the image was created. Any data files that have changed since then will revert back to the version on the image and the changes will be lost.

• Older versions of Windows have an option to compress old files in the disk cleanup utility and this option should not be selected in most cases.

References

• Microsoft: Check Your Hard Disk for Errors
• Microsoft: Update a Driver for Hardware that Isn't Working Properly
• Microsoft: Delete Files Using Disk Cleanup

Resources

• Microsoft: Back Up Your Programs, System Settings, and Files
• Microsoft TechNet: Building a Standard Image of Windows 7: Step by Step Guide