I have a five month old computer, a Dell Inspiron 660s. It came with Windows 7. When I began using it, I had to download a great many KB files and install my choice of anti-virus programs, Firefox, and some utility programs. That did take time, but I did not have to sit in front of the monitor for most of it.
I backup my data files every week on a 8GB flash drive with the Windows 7 backup software, but I do not do a system backup.
My last computer was 8 years old when it quit. The problem was not the HDD, which still works fine. I can use it as an auxiliary drive if I wish. What point is there in making a system image on a drive that sells for about $80. ? Judging by my previous computer (RIP), I can expect many years of service from the HDD in my almost new Dell. Are the large capacity SATA HDDs less durable than the one that now sits in my computer parts box - but is still good after 8 years of almost daily use? And if my almost new HDD should fail when out of warranty, I could replace it and reload in a few hours of infrequent attention.
Why pay to have a system image?
I backup my data files every week on a 8GB flash drive with the Windows 7 backup software, but I do not do a system backup.
My last computer was 8 years old when it quit. The problem was not the HDD, which still works fine. I can use it as an auxiliary drive if I wish. What point is there in making a system image on a drive that sells for about $80. ? Judging by my previous computer (RIP), I can expect many years of service from the HDD in my almost new Dell. Are the large capacity SATA HDDs less durable than the one that now sits in my computer parts box - but is still good after 8 years of almost daily use? And if my almost new HDD should fail when out of warranty, I could replace it and reload in a few hours of infrequent attention.
Why pay to have a system image?