Confirm Windows Backup

jcaswell · 12 Aug 2011

I am using Windows Backup (Windows 7) to backup user data to an external drive every week, but I am rather nervous about whether it is working as the backup folder being created on the external drive does not get an updated 'last modified' date, in spite of the fact that the system states that the backup has been created.

There seems no obvious way that I can confirm that the backup has happened, and I would like to be able to do so as I would not like to find out that it is failing when I need to restore.

Can anyone tell me how to confirm that the backup is working?

xxxdannyxxx · 12 Aug 2011

Hello jcaswell

If you right click on the backup file on your external drive and click open (agree to the uac prompt)you will be able to browse the backup sets and weekly backups in your case all with dates attached to their folders.

While this shows you how to manually extract files from the backup, you could use it to help guide you to only view them as well.

Backup - Manually Extract Files from in Vista & Windows 7

Danny

mjf · 13 Aug 2011

For your personal file/folder backups go to the Backup & Restore screen:
Select
Manage Space > View Backups
will show your backup sets and dates for your current backup location
Select
"Select another backup to restore files from"
will show ALL backup sets on all partitions attached to your PC including the current backup set.

You can select a set and browse folders or files for further checking if you desire. At this stage you are just looking and just cancel out when you've seen enough. You have to actively agree to a restore for a restore to actually happen.