I do the same.
I have a small Windows XP partition ( 5GB). Image files are about 1.5 GB big
so I burn them to a DVD-RW. Restore takes 15-20 mins. Creating the image 5
mins ( under windows : I use Acronis TrueImage).
That is very comfortable
I have
- 1 image of nude fresh install Windows XP that I keep
- 1 image of XP after updating form Windows Update center, making all my
user settings ( desktop, web access, profiles, ....) that I keep
That way never have to do a clean install :just at worse restore an "install
image"
Then I have 10 DVD-RW that I rotate with 2-3 images on each of them (
allways have an image less than 1 month old)
Easy to restore even if Windows totally dead, or hard disk dead and
replaced.
Also I keep my "personal" files on a separate partition so I never risk to
loose them if I restore an image ( favorites, desktop icons, quicklaunch
bar, start menu items, Outlook Express files, my documents folders and
alike, sendto folder, personal system-wide script files etc)
Backup can work of course, but what if your Windows is dead : can you
restore from a dead hard disk ? Or infected ? And which files save ?
I still do backups, but only of data files, with incremenatl backups to save
place.
These backups are partly saved to DVD-DL ( for security) and partly to an
external Hard Drive that is only connected to the PC for backup-restore
purposes ( to limitate the risk of infecting it, or erroneously delete
something), and otherwise is stored outside of the office.
Phil