Back up your programs, system settings, and

files
(http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/back-up-programs-system-settings-files#1TC=windows-7)
Windows 7

You can create a system image, which contains a copy of Windows and copies of your
programs, system settings, and files. The system image is then stored in a separate location
from the original programs, settings, and files. You can use this image to restore the contents
of your computer if your hard disk or entire computer ever stops working.
If you're using Windows Backup to back up your files, you can have a system image
created each time your files are backed up. The files can be saved on a USB flash drive, CDs,
DVDs, or a hard drive. The system image must be saved on a hard drive. By default, the
system image only includes the drives required for Windows to run.
If you want to include additional drives in the system image, you can manually create a
system image. If you manually create a system image, it can be saved on a USB flash drive,
CDs, DVDs, or a hard drive. Follow the steps below to manually create a system image. For
information about system images, see What is a system image?
Note

 To create a system image of a drive, it must be formatted to use the NTFS file system.
If you save the system image on a hard drive or USB flash drive, it must be formatted to
use the NTFS file system. For more information about NTFS, see Convert a hard disk or
partition to NTFS format.
To back up your programs, system settings, and files

1. Open Backup and Restore by clicking the Start button  , clicking Control Panel,

clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Backup and Restore.

2. In the left pane, click Create a system image, and then follow the steps in the
wizard.   If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the
password or provide confirmation.

Keeping different versions of system images

If you're saving your system images on an internal or external drive, or on CDs or DVDs,
you can keep several versions of system images. On internal and external hard drives, older
system images will be deleted when the drive runs out of space. To help conserve disk space,
you can manually delete older system images. For more information, see What backup
settings should I use to maximize my disk space?
If you're saving your system images in a network location, you can only keep the most
current system image for each computer. System images are saved in the format
of drive\WindowsImageBackup\computer name\. If you have an existing system image for a
computer and are creating a new one for the same computer, the new system image will
overwrite the existing one. If you want to keep the existing system image, you can copy it to a
different location before creating the new system image by following these steps:
1. Navigate to the location of the system image.
2. Copy the WindowsImageBackup folder to a new location.
What happened to Backup and Restore?
Applies to Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1
In previous versions of Windows, you could use Backup and Restore to back up your files
or create and use a system image backup or repair disc. Windows 8.1 gives you choices about
how you can recover your PC and back up your personal files.

Reset or refresh your PC

If you’re having a problem with your PC, you can refresh Windows without losing your
photos, music, videos, and other personal files. You can also start over by resetting it to
factory settings. For more info, see How to refresh, reset, or restore your PC.

Back up or restore personal files

You can use File History to back up the files on your PC in the Documents, Music,
Pictures, Videos, and Desktop folders and theOneDrive files available offline on your PC. Over
time, File History builds a history of your files. You'll first need to set up a File History drive
and turn File History on. For more info, see Set up a drive for File History. If your original
files are lost, damaged, or deleted, you can restore them. You can also browse and restore
different versions of your files. For more info, see Restore files or folders using File
History.

Use System Image Backup

You can use System Image Backup like you did in previous verison of Windows.
To open System Image Backup
1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse
pointer up, and then click Search.)
2. Enter File History in the search box, tap or click File History, and then click System
Image Backup.