Windows 7 forum: How do I make and restore backups from Windows 7?

Their Reflect product is free and has a pretty good rep everywhere. Easeus backup also. So far I've never used an easier backup method.

I don't remember why I didn't select it - I like the fact that in 22 minutes I can have my 500Gb boot drive back to pristine condition with Macrium, and it is so easy a caveman can do it.

It seems we geeks just can't get out of the geek-a-nese mode and wise up and simplify our instructions.

First some definitions:

data = stuff that only the computer understands, but is turned into stuff that you understand by the PC.

image = magnetic data on the disk exactly the way it is 'printed' on it.(boot sector)

partition = any area on the disk that is separated by a "fence" to keep things in order

source = drive you want to backup

target = media you want to place the backup files or image on.

media = objects and hardware that can record data(external hard drives, CD, DVD, USB flash sticks

snapshot = literally a magnetic picture of the original drive data.

boot drive = the hard drive you computer 'reads' to load everything into the CPU.

CPU = Central processor, or the brain that actually provides everything you see going on the monitor

GUI = The graphical user interface or controls you see on your screen after the PC boots up.

console = the box you see pop up when the backup program starts, this is its own GUI.

operating system = the underlying program that you see as a desktop and runs all your hardware and applications.

applications = programs that are not part of the operating system and provide the working side of your computing experience; i.e. - browsers, text editors, photo editors, etc.

So when you run Macrium Reflect the easy way, you take a "snapshot" of the image just like it is, and Reflect can compress the data to put it in a folder on the other drive(or other media). You can also literally take an image of the drive exactly the way it looks to the computer, and put it on another drive, but it is advisable to make that target drive bigger than the source. Just use the settings marked(recommended) on the Reflect console in the GUI.

In other words if your going to take a picture in real life, make sure the paper you put it on is the same size as the subject, so it is exactly the same size as it looks in real life. You don't have to partition anything if you don't want to, because all that is necessary is to select on the graphical representation of the partition marked "C:\" - this is the drive area that you are booting up to when you start your computer, and loads the operating system, and all your applications that run in the background.

Using Macrium is like playing a game, the illustrations and text links a very intuitive as long as you already understand computer basics, and the definitions above. It is always advisable to get your image off the 'boot' drive, because that is the one likely to become corrupted, or damaged beyond operational use.

You can use many types of media to contain the folder or image - another hard drive, USB stick, CD, or DVD, or another external hard drive. Now if I need to explain some of the words I've used other that the ones I've defined, it may be necessary to google it. But then you could simply be a troll trying to get the monkey boy geek to jump for your entertainment. This doesn't bother me, because some folks are newbies to backup and maybe it will be valuable to them.

I feel third party utilities like the ones mentioned(Clonezilla) are easier than using the built in Windows backup solutions. Unless you have a Windows operating system above basic and home premium versions, you will probably not have the image capability on that operating system. I feel the Microsoft backups are very easy and intuitive even to the newbie. As long as you experiment with targets off the "C:\" or boot drive, you can't mess up your drive. The graphics of your drive data are usually in one line that describes all partitions on it, and some only have one. The boot or first drive is always drive 0, and any others follow in numerical sequence, below the first drive. Partitions read left to right with the boot partition usually being the first one on the left. Some manufactures like to put a little one left of the boot partition for other reasons, but the factory system recovery image is usually right of the "C:\" partition. They are usually clearly marked by drive number, and even drive letter from whatever Windows reports to the utility. So they are a lot like looking at "My Computer" or Computer in your start menu. Other respondents have the rest of the process explained already, so I won't go there.

Any novice can google the procedure anyway - I'm sure there are a lot of backup for dummies sites out there.

Right off: OS - Windows 7 Home Premium.
I don't know what you mean by backup data vs. no image. Image of what?
As far as the rest of your response, I am sorry to say it is total gibberish.
I would imagine that most people who are not in the least bit technically challenged would look at this and toss it. How could you possibly think this would be an acceptable, reasonable, rational solution which could be accomplished by a novice user?
As for me, I'm sorry but I would characterize it as totally non-responsive and meaningless.
But I am sure you meant well and, for that, thank you.

http://www.intowindows.com/using-windows-7-image-backup-tool/
The procedure is too long to post. But it is simple if you have pictures(worth a thousand words).

I am doing system image; it has taken over 6 hours.
Is that normal?
I am on disc 8?
Should I be expecting to be finished soon?
It's imaging C, D, and E Drives?

1. Assume that the total size of the backup is half of the total size of the files to be backed up (due to compression). Then, knowing how much data you have and how much fits on one of your discs, you can calculate how many discs you need. It can be at most twice that number.

2. Why not backup to an external hard disk?

3. Why not make separate backups for each drive? Combining doesn't make much sense.

Kees

You didn't tell what program you use to make the image. So I had to guess it was one that could do a single partition, like Acronis True Image.Seems it was the wrong guess.
External disks (hard drive indeed) can be bought.

Kees

With a single partition I meant one partition. As opposed to two or more at the same time.

Kees

Which one of those contains your original issue?

Kees

OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
Have no idea how large drives/partitions are? Where would I find this information?
System Image: Took 9 discs; Drives C, D, E
As far as the remainder of your reply, sorry but I don't understand any of it.

When you divide a single hard drive into sections they are called Partitions and will show in windows as drives.
your computer probably has only one drive divided into three partitions. C, D and E.

Thank you.

I used EaseUs Partition Master Home Free Edition to 1. Show my hidden partitions (C Drive, HDD Recovery, and System [Windows only]). 2. I bought a 500 GB SATA Hard Drive for $40 online (Western Digital). 3. I partitioned the external USB/eSATA connection as my backup and partitioned it into 2 unequal halves. One partition is 150 GB and I keep a differential/incremental backup of my files (documents, music, photos, videos, etc.) 4. The other partition (350 GB) is for full backups done weekly. I use EaseUs, Macrium Reflect, FBackup, and Paragon Free backups.

Every week, I use FBackup just to back up my personal files (music, movies, documents, pictures, etc.) in an uncompressed differential backup (only new or changed files get newly backed up). I also do a compressed differential\incremental backup (yes there is a difference between incremental v. differential backup but it is not that important except to know that incremental is newer and better). Every 4 weeks (monthly) I wipe the compressed backup of my files and start a fresh one {this helps protect from any degradation that can occur from incrementally backing up week after week}.

For a full back up of my hard drive, I backup using FBackup (be careful, even though it says you can use your computer while making backups, I suggest doing this overnight while asleep because errors can creep into the backup ). I also do the backups of my personal files in two tasks carried out consecutively on the next night. FBackups is free and very flexible, but all backup software and how well it works is only relevant in the restoring of data. Hence, the reason I use multiple programs for full backup. I have never had trouble with FBackup and my personal files because it can be easily tested. The full backup is hard to test unless you have another (3rd) hard drive to test backups because all backup software can do integrity tests and tell you it's good. You only know for sure when you restore a backup.

I also do all Fresh and New backups weekly with FBackup, Paragon Free, Macrium Reflect Free, and EaseUs To Do Free until I have no more room that week to do backups. Sometimes I alternate the program for Full backup. Many free disk image backups will not allow you do incremental or differential backups except in the paid version, so I do full backups only, and because only doing incremental/differential backups, well files can become corrupted, so it is best to start fresh with a new full back up every month at least. Of course, I let FBackup handle my personal files backups (easy to check, just transfer and uncompress to a new folder on your current C Drive).

I hope this helps :

I have an external hard drive that I use for backups. Mine is connected to my network but a USB drive will do. Robocopy in Windows 7 replaced the xcopy function of previous Windows versions. A tech writer, Greg Schultz, created a document that describes how to use Robocopy and describes all the switches that can be used and what they do. Some switched mirror xcopy commands but adds a lot more for functionality. Here's a listing my mine:

Robocopy C:\DataFiles\ E:\Datafiles\ /A /MIR /XJD /R:5 /W:15 /V /NP /LOG:c:\Robocopy\DatafilesE.log

This backs up my DataFiles (where Is store all my files) directory to my backup drive. But you can put as many command lines in the text file as you want.

You just create a text file with the command string(s) and save it as a .CMD file. I put a shortcut on my desktop and run it every time I leave the computer. Doesn't take long. The one function I like is the /MIR switch. If I delete a file from the computer and run Robocopy, it mirrors the backup directory to my computer directory.