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Digissential

Data Backup (Full System Image)

Serving Stellenbosch & surrounds • Transparent pricing • POPIA-aligned

data-backup-full-system-image — Digissential

What’s included

  • Full-disk image (OS, apps, data, boot info)
  • Integrity check after imaging
  • Clear labels and simple restore notes
  • Best before risky changes or big upgrades

Details

TL;DR: We make a full, bit-for-bit copy of your Windows drive and check it works. If the worst happens, you can roll back fast.
Local: Great for SU students before exams, homes in Welgevonden/Die Boord, and Technopark teams before major updates.

Problems we solve

  • You need a safety net before a risky change
  • A work PC can’t be down if an update breaks things
  • You want an exact “known-good” snapshot
  • You’re moving to a bigger drive and want a clean fallback
  • You worry about ransomware and want a safe image offline

What’s included

  • Sector-level image of your Windows system drive (OS, apps, settings, data, boot and recovery)
  • Integrity verification so we know the image is good
  • Clear labels on the storage with the date and machine name
  • Simple restore guide (plain English, step by step)

How we do it (at a glance)

  1. Quick check: drive health, space needed, and power setup
  2. Image: bit-for-bit copy to your USB SSD/HDD (we can supply one)
  3. Verify: run an integrity check and spot-open files from a mount
  4. Label: name, date, and short paper/ PDF notes for restore
  5. Store smart: we suggest where to keep it so it stays safe

No jargon. We show you the exact steps to get back on your feet.

Time & cost in Stellenbosch

  • Labour: R650 for one system drive image
  • Storage: Bring a USB SSD/HDD with free space ≥ your used space. We can supply storage on request.
  • Turnaround: Often same day (size-dependent). Very large drives take longer to copy.

When this service is ideal

  • Before a Windows reinstall or big feature update
  • Mission-critical machines (POS, accounting, thesis PCs)
  • Drive upgrade to a larger SSD where you want a fallback
  • Travel or loaner periods where loss/theft risk is higher

Do-nots (to protect your image)

  • Don’t save the image on the same PC only — keep a copy off the machine
  • Don’t keep the only image plugged in all the time — unplug when done
  • Don’t delete your BitLocker key — store it in your account or print it
  • Don’t keep using a drive that clicks or throws read errors — call us first

When to stop DIY & call us

  • Imaging stalls or throws read errors
  • The source drive makes new noises (click/beep/whine)
  • You’re not sure how to make a boot USB for restore
  • Windows won’t start and you need files now

Real stories around town

  • SU student (Huis Marais): Took a system image before a driver update. The update broke audio; we rolled back in one go and sound returned.
  • Die Boord small office: We imaged the bookkeeper’s PC before year-end updates. When an app patch failed, we restored and they kept working.
  • Technopark CAD team: Moved to larger NVMe drives. We made images first, then cloned to the new drives with zero project loss.

Simple care tips

  • Keep two copies: one near you, one off-site or in cloud storage
  • Refresh the image after big milestones (major updates or app installs)
  • Label by date and PC name so you can grab the right one fast
  • Pair with /services/cloud-backup-setup/ for daily file-level safety

Storage

Bring a USB SSD/HDD with free space at least as large as the used space on your system drive. Not sure how big that is? We’ll check and advise. We can also supply storage if you need it.

POPIA-aware handling • CPA-aligned warranties • Lawful e-waste routing on request (with data-wipe certificate)