system image - Best options for creating
I use TI 11. I just bought a new computer and I have most of my software installed. I want to make a system image such that if my hard drive crashes, I can buy a new one and restore my image and all of my software such as microsoft office will run OK. Microsoft told me that my licence is for one computer only and that if I buy a new hard drive, I cannot re-install office using the same licence key. Which parameters should I choose when setting up the backup so that I can achieve this?
1. True Image version 11? That is many years old. Do you really mean version 2011?
2. If your new PC has Windows 8, you will need ATI 2013.
Yes TI 11. My new computer is windows 7 pro 64 bit.
True Image version 11 is six years old. That's a long time in the software world. If it were me, I would buy a newer version which would more thoroughly support newer hardware and Windows 7.
Regarding a system backup:
Create a full disk backup, selecting the checkbox for the entire disk (not just individual partitions). That ensures that you have everything you need, and you won't need to understand how the disk is laid out with possible hidden partitions. A full disk backup captures everything, and is the simplest, safest backup method.
When restoring to a new drive (such as after a drive disaster) you would select to restore the full disk, including all partitions and MBR, and select the option to restore disk signature.
OK, I think that is what I did on my old computer. Are you pretty sure that company's like Microsoft or Adobe will not be able to tell that it is a different hard disk and therefore try to make me pay for the software again?
They likely identify the disk by its disk signature, which is why you would restore the original disk's disk signature from the backup.