WHAT is Win7 Builtin Backup program really Good for?

zapp22 · Sep 19, 2011

I fielded a question about this today and didn't really like my own answer.
If one wanted to use the builtin/embedded Windows 7 Backup package, for what reason would one use it? It can't really restore a running/activated hard drive image... and its overkill for mere stashing of copies of important data, so .... why?

And, to show my bias a bit.. IF one were just INSISTENT on using the package, and subsequently one had a real hard drive crash/burn, how would one go about restoring a running/valid/active volume with all parts intact, all programs working normally using the archive created by Win7 Backup??? I'm guessing one of you smart guys has done a tutorial on such

pparks1 · Sep 19, 2011

You use the "system image" component of backup. I used it to image my 1TB seagate, when I moved instead to a 1TB Western Digital. Worked just fine.

JDobbsy1987 · Sep 19, 2011

I use the built in Windows 7 Backup Utility...

I have a 1TB External USB hard drive plugged in simply for this. I have set it up to take a daily backup of all my Important and Sentimental media and i have also created 1 single full image of all the machines in the house (i took this just after a fresh install of windows + standard software i would normally use).

Nice thing is, if you delete a file and then realise you need it, you just just use the previous versions (http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/85679-previous-versions-restore-files-folders.html) on that folder to recover it.

How to an recover image - http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/675-system-image-recovery.html

zapp22 said:
and its overkill for mere stashing of copies of important data, so .... why?

About this... in my opinion, the cost of storage doesn't compare to the distress i would face if i was to lose all videos/pictures of my kids/family...

zapp22 · Sep 19, 2011

this is different info from what I have understood since the earliest days of win7.... are you saying that:
1. pop a fresh, new, formatted drive into 0 position
2. pickup the Win7 system image from an attached drive
3. press the restore or whatever button...
4. Reboot and the drive will come up and activate immediately? just like the one that crashed [minus iterative changes of course] ???
if so, why does everyone use other packages to do this?? it would seem the aftermarket would die

pparks1 said:
You use the "system image" component of backup. I used it to image my 1TB seagate, when I moved instead to a 1TB Western Digital. Worked just fine.

zapp22 · Sep 19, 2011

is it just my understanding of English, or is this really illogical:
"2. If you are "Not Able to Boot" into Windows 7
A) If you have the system image backup save to an external device, be sure that it is connected now.

B) Open a command prompt at boot."

JDobbsy1987 · Sep 19, 2011

Not that i would ever question Brink

... That looks correct to me...

Line B.) states "Open a command prompt at boot"....

The part "command prompt at boot" happens to be a link to - http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/682-command-prompt-startup.html which shows you how to boot in safe mode.

If you can't boot at all then there is more than likely a bigger underlining problem.

Regards,
JDobbsy1987

theog · Sep 19, 2011

Have looked at the tutorial posted

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/675-system-image-recovery.html?ltr=S
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/648-restore-backup-user-system-files.html

ignatzatsonic · Sep 19, 2011

zapp22 said:
if so, why does everyone use other packages to do this?? it would seem the aftermarket would die

The aftermarket programs are alive and well because of certain issues with the built-in product.

It isn't particularly intuitive to a new user. The interface is way too busy.

It is cranky about re-naming or re-locating saved images.

Microsoft didn't implement it correctly in my opinion. The package contains both"imaging" and "file by file backup" capabilities. I think they should have made a clear-cut distinction between those 2 capabilities and separated them into different and uncluttered interfaces.

I guess they wanted to dumb it down for those inexperienced with imaging and backup, but they only made it more complex than it needs to be.

zapp22 · Sep 19, 2011

it looks like we're in violent agreement.
"not able to boot" means the system is "not able to boot", because the drive is "not able to boot", and has no idea what "open a command line prompt" might be.
unless win7 is living in the ether and able to communicate without media:sarc:

JDobbsy1987 said:
Not that i would ever question Brink ... That looks correct to me...

Line B.) states "Open a command prompt at boot"....

The part "command prompt at boot" happens to be a link to - http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/682-command-prompt-startup.html which shows you how to boot in safe mode.

If you can't boot at all then there is more than likely a bigger underlining problem.

Regards,
JDobbsy1987

Caramelo · Sep 20, 2011

My impression is that you can boot with the repair cd and restore the image that you saved with the win 7 backup to a hd or partition. That image is a clone of the hd, with all your programs and data, and is bootable. The win 7 backup gives you the opportunity to create a repair cd.

pparks1 · Sep 20, 2011

Carmelo is correct. You boot from the install DVD, pick repair and tell the system you are going to use a "system image". Point to the image location and choose to restore it.

mjf · Sep 20, 2011

Provided your PC system configuration does not cause problems with Windows imaging then restoring a system image to a new HDD is very simple. Exactly the way you describe.
The only constraint is that you must restore to a HDD the same size or larger than the HDD your image was made from.
Why: Because Windows imaging automatically replaces the MBR from the original HDD. The MBR contains the partition structure of the "old" HDD and Windows reimaging will require this partition structure on the new HDD.

It is best to make Windows images individually using the "Create a system image" button.

zapp22 · Sep 20, 2011

makes sense.
I sure hope it works, because I hate to tell someone 'this is the way' and then the only time they actually need the 'insurance policy', it fails on the restore. :cry:

for myself, every migration I can see for the future is from bigger to smaller, as the world moves to offline storage of multi-types. for that, Paragon freebie is supposed to work, but last attempt I tried, it did not do well with a Crucial SSD.

it will be interesting to see if win8 includes a migration tool that contemplates the obvious downsizing implication

thanks for your input folks
z

mjf said:
Provided your PC system configuration does not cause problems with Windows imaging then restoring a system image to a new HDD is very simple. Exactly the way you describe.
The only constraint is that you must restore to a HDD the same size or larger than the HDD your image was made from.
Why: Because Windows imaging automatically replaces the MBR from the original HDD. The MBR contains the partition structure of the "old" HDD and Windows reimaging will require this partition structure on the new HDD.

It is best to make Windows images individually using the "Create a system image" button.

SIW2 · Sep 20, 2011

I don't think restoring an image to a smaller drive is likely with win sys img GUI in the near future.

It is just there to provide the basic job.

mjf · Sep 20, 2011

zapp22 said:
makes sense.
I sure hope it works, because I hate to tell someone 'this is the way' and then the only time they actually need the 'insurance policy', it fails on the restore.

mjf said:

Provided your PC system configuration does not cause problems with Windows imaging then restoring a system image to a new HDD is very simple. Exactly the way you describe.
The only constraint is that you must restore to a HDD the same size or larger than the HDD your image was made from.
Why: Because Windows imaging automatically replaces the MBR from the original HDD. The MBR contains the partition structure of the "old" HDD and Windows reimaging will require this partition structure on the new HDD.

It is best to make Windows images individually using the "Create a system image" button.

Click to expand...

The fact that it is simple for me and many others doesn't guarantee success in your specific situation. You will only know it works for you when you try it.
As I've said on numerous occassions the way to be sure is buy a relatively cheap internal HDD and try it.

Downsizing involves a little bit of extra work and Windows imaging isn't the tool I'd use for the job.

WHAT is Win7 Builtin Backup program really Good for?

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