I am thinking of testing out Windows 8 Release Preview on my laptop, and had a question I am hoping someone can help me with. If I back up the full content of my Windows 7 laptops hard drive to an external drive before installing Windows 8, could I revert to Windows 7 by simply reformatting the drive in the laptop with Windows 8, and then transferring over the original files from my backup. Sorry if this is confusing, and any help would be great. Thanks
@zmaster: no, you'll need to look into drive imaging software. Take a look at this video I did for an example of what to do. In the video I used Paragon Backup & Recovery 2012.
Some other good options are DriveImage XML, EaseUS, Clonezilla, and if you have a Seagate or Western digital drive you can use their free versions of Acronis True Image (you'll have to look on Seagate or WD's site and not on the Acronis website).
@WolfOfOne: After watching the video, I think Ill go with Paragon. Have you had a chance to test the restore process? If you have, it would be great to know how that works.
Successfully made an image with Paragon! I After much trouble, I was able to also get Windows 8 to run well on my netbook. Thanks everyone for the help!
@WolfOfOne: The trouble I had was that Windows 8 requires a 1024 by 768 resolution, where my netbook's screen is 1024 by 600. I had to install some different video drivers to trick Windows into thinking it is 1024 by 768. I* am loving Windows 8 so far, but can't see myself using it on my desktop machine.
I am thinking of testing out Windows 8 Release Preview on my laptop, and had a question I am hoping someone can help me with. If I back up the full content of my Windows 7 laptops hard drive to an external drive before installing Windows 8, could I revert to Windows 7 by simply reformatting the drive in the laptop with Windows 8, and then transferring over the original files from my backup. Sorry if this is confusing, and any help would be great. Thanks
@zmaster: no, you'll need to look into drive imaging software. Take a look at this video I did for an example of what to do. In the video I used Paragon Backup & Recovery 2012.
Some other good options are DriveImage XML, EaseUS, Clonezilla, and if you have a Seagate or Western digital drive you can use their free versions of Acronis True Image (you'll have to look on Seagate or WD's site and not on the Acronis website).
@WolfOfOne: After watching the video, I think Ill go with Paragon. Have you had a chance to test the restore process? If you have, it would be great to know how that works.
@zmaster: I just got done moving but yeah I'll see about testing that this weekend.
We use Acronis here at work and have never ran into any issues. keep us post with how things go for imaging with with WIndows 8!
Successfully made an image with Paragon! I After much trouble, I was able to also get Windows 8 to run well on my netbook. Thanks everyone for the help!
@zmaster: Thanks for the update. What sort of trouble did you have? How are you liking Win 8?
Why not just make a partition?
@WolfOfOne: The trouble I had was that Windows 8 requires a 1024 by 768 resolution, where my netbook's screen is 1024 by 600. I had to install some different video drivers to trick Windows into thinking it is 1024 by 768. I* am loving Windows 8 so far, but can't see myself using it on my desktop machine.