Windows Backup disk image question

[aab1]

In the Windows 7 backup, what are the benefits of including the system image? It rapidly fills up my backup disks in no time at all so if it's not required I'd prefer to disable the image backup option.

If my system crashes, can I do a full operating system restore from my backup if it does not include the drive image (I do have everything on drive C: included in the backup).

If I can restore from a crashed system without the drive image then I'll disable this option.

Thanks

[Tomken15]

You can disable the scheduled file backup but the system image is something else and if your system crashes, you would need to recover from the Win 7 installation disk (if you have one) or the recovery disk which you should have created when you first got the pc.

Creating regular system images (I do one once a month after the Windows updates or if I've installed new progs) is beneficial because if the system malfunctions and a sfc /scannow doesn't do the job, then you can restore via the system image, having first backed up your files.

The advantage of a current system image means that you wouldn't have to sit through too many Windows updates re-updating or the same with your AV definitions but that is your choice.

[aab1]

But if I already have a backup of the entire c: drive through Windows Backup wouldn't that allow a complete restore without requiring the disk image?

Thanks