DRIVE IMAGING BACKUP METHOD

The imaging method of data backup copies the complete contents of your hard drive, including critical personal data such as MP3 files, photos, movie files, saved "local" emails (Thunderbird, Outlook, Outlook Express, etc), browser data such as bookmarks (Firefox, Internet Explorer), document files (Microsoft Word, spread sheets, TurboTax documents), etc etc.

Having a backup copy (such as a drive image) is a must in case your hard drive fails AND you have critical personal data that you don't want to lose.

If it becomes necessary to reinstall Windows, your hard drive must be completely erased. Therefore if you have critical personal data that you don't want to lose, it must first be backed up to a secondary drive. Another BETTER option is to buy a new hard drive, install Windows onto that drive, and then migrate your critical personal data to that new drive. In this manner you can keep your old drive as a "safety backup".

Beware that software programs cannot be "backed up" and migrated. Why? This is because software programs are tied to the Windows registry, which is completely rebuilt during a Windows reinstall. Programs include Adobe PhotoShop, Turbo Tax, Quicken, etc. Programs must be reinstalled, so hopefully you still have your original installation disks related to any programs that you installed AFTER you bought your computer. Note that Windows Media Player, Internet Explorer and Outlook Express, notepad and a few other unmentionable programs come STANDARD on Windows discs, so you don't need installation discs for these basic programs.

Beware that "secure data" will be lost if a cryptographic key was not previously backed up by the user that had access to the secure data. Secure data includes encrypted files and folders, and Internet Explorer passwords. In other words, secure data cannot be opened without it's corresponding cryptographic key when migrated to a new installation of windows.

Note that PCR does not migrate settings (such as mouse speed, desktop background) onto new Windows installations.

Note that "local" email data (inbox, sent, trash, drafts) must be "imported" so that the respective program (Thunderbird, Outlook, Outlook Express) knows where to "look" for that data. In other words, while PCR can migrate the data files that contain your saved email data to a new installation of Windows, there is an additional process of "importing" the data back into the program at an additional cost described on the previous page.

Note that browser data (bookmarks, etc) must be "imported" so that the respective program (Firefox, Internet Explorer) knows where to "look" for that data. In other words, while PCR can migrate the data files that contain your saved browser data to a new installation of Windows, there is an additional process of "importing" the data back into the program at an additional cost described on the previous page. As previously described, Internet Explorer passwords cannot be imported without its corresponding cryptographic key.

Beware that you must have a valid Windows product key in order to reinstall Windows. This is usually displayed on a sticker on the side of your computer case. PCR can usually recover your product key number if you have lost or removed the sticker. If you have been using a "cracked" or illegal Windows product key then PCR cannot help you. You will need to buy a new product key.