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Windows 7 forum: Windows 7 Backup -- How/why does it work?

by: Kafountine November 25, 2012 10:07 AM PST

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Windows 7 Backup -- How/why does it work?

by Kafountine - 11/25/12 10:07 AM

I've backed up my files using the automatic backup function of Win 7. I (foolishly) assumed it would save things the way I have them on my machine: ie: libraries, etc.
Instead, I find a list of "Backup file 1, Backup file 2, etc." up to 700+ files.
To find out what they are I've got to click down through multiple layers, then click back again to get to the main list.
What a major PIA this is?
Is there some way to convert this to a "proper" format?


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Answer Best answer as chosen by user Kafountine

Windows backup is flakey, there're much better alternatives

by wpgwpg - 11/25/12 10:14 AM

In Reply to: Windows 7 Backup -- How/why does it work? by Kafountine

I suggest you get away from the Windows backup program and get yourself a good commercial backup program. This forum is fraught with problem reports for the Windows one. I know I was very unimpressed when I tried it. Three I'm familiar with and like are Norton Ghost (which I've been using for 8 years without the 1st problem), Easeus Todo Backup Free, which you can download from http://www.todo-backup.com/products/home/free-backup-software.htm and Memeo which has a 30 day free trial and you can buy it for $29.99 - you can download it from http://memeo.com . You can get Ghost for next to nothing (like I did) if you watch the sales.
The March 2012 issue of PC World was very high on the FREE program from Easeus and so is CNET. In my experience with a variety of configurations I have to say I'm very impressed. Like Ghost it will back up to a networked drive, and it will create a boot CD for when your PC won't boot. See CNET's review of it at
http://download.cnet.com/Easeus-Todo-Backup-Free/3000-2242_4-10964460.html?tag=mncol;1#editorsreview .
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CNET has a lot of backup program reviews at
http://download.cnet.com/windows/backup-software/?tag=contentBody;sideBar .

Some of these are free (last time I checked there were over 300), some have free trials (over 1000), and some are purchase only (over 200).
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External hard drives are best for backup. You can get a 500 GB one for around $60 and a 1 TB one for around $70. You can also buy a 32 GB flash drive for under $10. It's the best insurance you can ever buy!

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I hope this helps. Good luck


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Thanks!

by Kafountine - 12/1/12 10:33 AM

In Reply to: Windows backup is flakey, there're much better alternatives by wpgwpg

That helps! I'll check into the other programs.
NOW, what do I do with the backup I created in Windows? Would I transfer that to the new backup or simply start over and discard the old backup?
I'm worried that I might lose some valuable photos that may be in there somewhere.


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What I'd do w/old backups

by wpgwpg - 12/1/12 10:39 AM

In Reply to: Thanks! by Kafountine

I'd make a new full system backup to a good sized external hard drive, recover what I needed from the old backup, then delete the old backup.


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restore those backups first, then as CNET has proved in this

by DChrisL - 12/2/12 8:14 AM

In Reply to: Thanks! by Kafountine

link. You can have an external hard drive. http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-57404939-285/how-to-build-your-own-external-hard-drive/
Darrell


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Answer Best answer as chosen by user Kafountine

Can't answer why. But I'll share what I do.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 11/25/12 10:15 AM

In Reply to: Windows 7 Backup -- How/why does it work? by Kafountine

1. I don't use any MSFT backup apps. They burned me years ago and today, folk continue to get burned. It works most of the time but let's face it, that's not good enough,

2. What do I do?
a. Backup the entire machine. I use Clonezilla for this.
b. Backup simply with GoodSync or SyncBack.
c. Backup to more than one device and place. Local hard drives, dropbox.
d. A few select items go on a portable USB stick that I can grab and go in case of fire, flood, etc.

Forget MSFT backup and make your backups "Hard To Kill."
Bob


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