WHEN NOT USING FULL HD ENCRYPTION
Same PC, same HD, same storage controller, no funky MBR (i.e. no full-disk HD encryption):
HIR: NO. No need for this (Unless you are changing the storage controller)
MBR restore*: Yes (No need for this if restored to same partition, but won't cause any harm (the original MBR will still be on the disk).)
Hidden tracks: Yes (No need for this, but won't cause any harm. Only needed by some boot managers etc.)
Disk signatures: Yes (Not essential, but won't cause any harm. MS OS uses this to identify volumes. It will help keep old disk letter assignment intact)
Same PC, different HD, same storage controller, no funky MBR (i.e. no full-disk HD encryption):
HIR: NO. No need for this (Unless you are changing the storage controller)
MBR restore: Yes (The HD probably won't have an MBR, so you need to copy the one over from the backup image)
Hidden tracks: NO (Make sure this is NOT set.)
Disk signatures: Yes (Not essential, but won't cause any harm. MS OS uses this to identify volumes. It will help keep old disk letter assignment intact)
Different PC, OR, different storage controller, same/different HD, no funky MBR:
HIR: Yes (You need to remember to load the new storage controller driver. Otherwise the restored OS will not boot)
MBR restore: Yes (The HD probably won't have an MBR, so you need to copy the one over from the backup image)
Hidden tracks: Yes (No need for this, but won't cause any harm. Only needed by some boot managers etc.)
Disk signatures: NO
WHEN USING FULL HD ENCRYPTION
Image created from within SP in booted OS:
Backup image will not be encrypted. However, the backup image will include a funky MBR that will not allow boot up of the restored image when the restored image is not encrypted. In this case you have to restore the default Windows XP MBR code and NOT the one on the backup image.
Image created from within SP Recovery CD:
Backup image will be fully encrypted and will include a funky MBR. You MUST restore the original MBR from the backup image. Using a "default" MBR will result in a PC that will not boot. You must also restore the Hidden Tracks, as there is often extra information stored there by the encryption software.
*Restore MBR option just restores the initial code-section of the MBR.