Will time machine backup my partition table?

[macsrcool1234]

Hey, I have a Macbook Air (2010) and this summer, I have a job that will require me to use Windows software. While I have considered virtualuzation, I would ultimately prefer to just run native Windows. (I also find that I just can't work as far in OSX as I can in Windows, having used Windows for 20 years).

I would, however like to backup my OSX installation. My plan is to remove OSX entirely and just run Windows on my MBA for the summer. If I make time machine and wipe the hard hard drive with a Windows only installation, will time machine restore everything back to the way it is today? Or should I get third party drive imaging software for that? Thanks.

 

[Quad5Ny]

Yes, if you have a full Time Machine backup you can do a full recovery from it. It will NOT backup your Windows partition though (at least not by default).

See Here, Here and Here:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.5/en/15638.html
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.6/en/15638.html
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/1771551?start=0&tstart=0

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I'd like to also point out that there are better options such as Carbon Copy Cloner and SuperDuper. Which will give you Bootable copy's of your backup.