Q&A: What exactly is backed up when you make a System Image Backup?

Want to get my easy to follow Tech Tips in your email?

Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

Question from Olivene: I spent several minutes reading your posts that explain how to create System Image Backups on Windows computers, but I’m a little confused.

I had Carbonite backing up my files for a couple of years and they didn’t back up any of my Windows files.

I learned that the hard way after my hard drive crashed on me.

What exactly is backed up when you create a System Image Backup? Will it get my computer working again if I have to replace the hard drive?

Thanks in advance for clearing this up for me. I love your blog and I always learn something useful every time come here!

Rick’s answer: Thanks for the kind words about my blog, Olivene. That’s very kind of you!

To answer your question, when you create a System Image on a Windows PC you are effectively backing up everything on the entire drive.

Everything you have stored on the drive will be saved as a backup set on your backup drive. And yes, that includes your Windows installation.

When you create a System Image Backup you are basically taking a “snapshot” of the contents of the drive.

You can then use that backup at a later time to recreate that same exact configuration after a drive failure, a critical virus attack or some other system failure.

In short, if you have a recent System Image Backup on hand you’ll be able to get your PC back up and running with Windows along with all the programs, settings, data, photos and other files that you had on there at the time that backup was created.

I hope this helps, Olivene. Good luck!

Bonus tip: Did you know Windows has dozens of handy keyboard shortcuts that can make using your computer a lot faster and easier? Check out this handy cheat sheet!