Personalized Image-Backup Strategy Advice please?

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  1. Posts : 20
    Windows 7 32 bit home premium
       #31

    Now, where are all my documents going?
    First, on your 2nd internal drive create a folder called "Documents". This is where all your documents are going to go!
    Now, open Windows Explorer (the second icon from the start button on the taskbar) and find the folder called Computer>Win7 OS (C:/)>Users>"yourname">My Documents.
    Right click on that folder and, in the dialog box that opens, choose the "Location" tab.
    In the box in the center, enter the folder you created in step one: D:/My Documents. Or, you can choose "Find Target" and navigate to where ever you put it.
    Now, click the "Move" button.
    This will move the folder "My Documents" and all the files in it to the D: drive. And, all your programs that are set up to save files to My Documents will save them to this new location on the D: Drive.

    You can then do the same with the My Pictures, My Music, My Videos and even the Downloads folder.

    This will put all your data onto the D: drive. Separate from the C: drive. The C: Drive is now your system drive ONLY! Use Acronis (or whatever image software you choose) to make an image of the C: Drive ONLY. And, make regular images thereafter.

    Then, make an separate image of the D: Drive. This is your backup of all your data. It is separate from your System files.

    That way, if your system gets corrupted for whatever reason, you won't loose your data. And, you can restore your C: drive without erasing all your data.

    I like Acronis. It's pretty user friendly. I make a full image on the first week of the month and then make incremental images for the rest of the month. Most of the other image software mentioned will do the same.

    With Acronis (and some of the others) you can "mount" the data image and navigate to individual files and restore them file by file. Sometimes that is nice.

    Good luck!
      My Computer


  2. mjf
    Posts : 5,969
    Windows 7x64 Home Premium SP1
       #32

    @nolakenoforest
    The recommendation to retain user profile on C: has been offered to the OP multiple times.
    The directions to move user folders off C: using an appropriate forum tutorial was given in post #2.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 99
    Windows 7 Ultimate
       #33

    karlsnooks said:
    mirinova,
    Listen to those who with decades of experience.

    You put your system on one partition.
    Everything else on other partitions.


    ISO is a format. What is on that iso depends upon the program that put it there. SOMETIMES an iso file with contain an image file, for example, the Win 7 DVD contains a wim which in tern contains several versions of Win 7 in it.


    If you correctly put your system on one and only partition, then any of the backup and restore softwares will have no problem "imaging" your system and restoring your system without interferring with any of the other partitions. You can use the backup features of any of several backup programs to backup your data partitions.

    Go to the WIKI encyclopedia site for more info on the ISO format.
    It's personal preference on how someone structures the way their file away their documents.

    On external hard drive - I keep my recorded tv shows that I delete once I watch, so no need to back those.

    When I did a complete back up of my operating system on Tuesday, I did everything on my hard drive, (including the documents and Photoshop files) along with the software and settings. To me that's just easier doing it that way. On a daily basis I do back up my my docs, pictures and downloads onto an other external source.
      My Computer


  4. mjf
    Posts : 5,969
    Windows 7x64 Home Premium SP1
       #34

    darkdisturbed said:

    It's personal preference on how someone structures the way their file away their documents.
    Couldn't agree more. We are talking about Personal Computers after all.
    I try to keep large amounts of static data off the partition I image the most so the imaging is smaller and faster.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 352
    Windows 7 Pro x64 SP1
    Thread Starter
       #35

    [QUOTE=darkdisturbed;1483972]
    karlsnooks said:
    It's personal preference on how someone structures the way their file away their documents.
    Thank you!
    I don't like libraries. They're great for controlling my mom & brother, but for my uses I'm too organized to add an unnecessary layer, worry if it's really going to the right places, and confusion. I inadvertently tried them when I first touched 7, and the OS made a terrible mess for me. There are many, many others who share my sentiments and we're doing just fine.

    I have said a few times, that I am going to keep User Profile on C:/. I agreed with the arguments of the C system SSD speeding up AppData, imaging all mods & profile customizations, and not being dependent on 2 drives not failing.

    I've decided to try to use symlinks. Hopefully it doesn't annoy me too much when I eventually alter my basic folder structure. Later I'll tackle getting rid of all the pre-packaged (or what have you) User Folders I don't use, but that keep reappearing. Another thread, another time.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 352
    Windows 7 Pro x64 SP1
    Thread Starter
       #36

    Personalized Image-Backup Strategy Advice please?-untitled.jpg

    This is what I meant. See? Symlinks to all my real folders. Seamless. The actual User Profile & AppData are still in C:\Users. I've done 3 image backups so far and all has gone relatively smoothly- even fast. Thank you all for the suggestions. :)
      My Computer


 
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