Windows 7 - Partition or Disk Imaging?

Windows 7 installs a hidden partition for part of its inner workings. Would it be better (safer) to make disk images that include the hidden partition than make partition images of the OS partition without the hidden partition?

Thinking too hard gives me and my family a headache!

Thanks for any replies.

SourMilk out

 

Include it

also see
https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=271505

 

It is possible to move the boot files to the OS drive, then you can image only the primary active partition. I don't have the name of the application that does it, but can look later tonight if needed.

I usually unattach all drives but the target drive when installing windows, keeps things like this from happening usually.

Sul.

 

If you prefer a bootable system, I would include it.

 

Well, could be done completely manually (the copy-over part is easy, messing w/ bcedit totally and utterly sucks though - better use EasyBCD or similar for that).

 

SourMilk,

I believe you can safely image and restore your C partition (OS partition) only, as the small hidden partition only contains boot files and some bitlocker files, and although these files are important, they only contain pointers for your active partition.

Just do not format or delete this small hidden partition!

 

Thanks to all who replied. It seems odd that the D: (formerly C: ) partition is not an active one with Windows 7's hidden boot partition being active. The main reason for my first post was to find if this hidden partition was necessary for the Home Premium edition of Windows 7. There is no BitLocker or AppLocker to mess with and, as it was pointed out, the boot files could easily be part of the "main" partition for simplicity of imaging. I have decided to go with what I am both familiar and comfortable with and include the boot files with the "main" partition. Thanks again for the replies.

SourMilk out

 

Well, it's not active because you can only have one partition active to boot from (which contains the initial bootloader) and Windows requires an active partition to boot from. (After that, you can chain as many bootloaders as you wish but that's besides the point here.) Also there's nothing hidden about the partition, it just doesn't have a letter assigned in W7. You can assign it manually perfectly fine via disk management console.

 

Oh, okay. I get it. It's not hidden if you use the disk management console. Sort of like using the "Organize/folder and search options/view/show hidden files, folders, and drives". It's not really hidden if you can find it .
Thanks for clarifying that.

SourMilk out