Backing up HDD and restoring files after formating

[nisanthp]

Hi all,

I'm a new kid in the town.

I want some help from you all experts here regarding backing up and restoring the files.

I'm running Vista home premium in my HP pavilion laptop. HDD is 160 GB partitioned into 2 by default, C: 145 GB and D: for system restore. I want to format the C: drive and reinstall the Vista using rescue disc created earlier.
I will backup all my data before tht still I want to create a disc image of my HD before formatting it as an additional safety using disk imaging softwares such as Marcrium (Hope i can make full disk image with this). But is it possible to extract only selected files/folders from this backup image. or is there any freeware with which i can make the disk image and restore only selected files from this.

If i use windows in built backup tool, is it still possible for me restore the backup after reformating, since the OS has been reinstalled and also is it possible to restore the files/folders separately from backed up file.

Please help me giving an answer to the above..

thanx in advance...........

[Raymond]

If you are using Macrium, you can explore the image that you've created. It will mount the image into a drive letter so you can access or restore your files/folders separately.

[nisanthp]

Thanks Raymond for the reply but one doubt : can we explore the image created with macrium free version

[Raymond]

Yes you can "Access images with Windows Explorer".
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp