Incremental backups with Backup & Restore?

B

BradWaite

New member
Local time
8:43 AM
Messages
7
Location
Denver, CO, USA
Is there a canonical way to make incremental backups that permit a full restoration from a freshly-formatted disk?

I made a single system image, then set up B&R to backup all the files on all drives weekly. I can see the weekly backup directories, but they seem to be full backups, not incrementals.

I was able to restore from the system image, but I didn't see a way to restore the newer files. You can't do it from within Windows, since it complains as soon as you try to overwrite a system file.

Are you supposed to make weekly system images?
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7Intel Core2 6600 @ 2.4GHz8GBnVidia 7600GT
OS
Windows 7
CPU
Intel Core2 6600 @ 2.4GHz
Motherboard
Intel D975-XBX2
Memory
8GB
Graphics Card(s)
nVidia 7600GT
Sound Card
onboard
Monitor(s) Displays
2x Dell 21"
Hard Drives
2x Seagate 1TB 7200rpm (Marvell RAID-1)
PSU
Thermaltake
Case
some generic thing
Keyboard
Kinesis Ergo
Internet Speed
105Mbps
I don't use it, but I believe the file back up function is intended for your user data files.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    7 X64i5 84002x8gb 3200mhz
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7 X64
    CPU
    i5 8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Hard Drives
    various
    PSU
    pure power 11 400w cm
    Case
    Coolermaster
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i

  • At a glance

    7x64g54008gb ddr4 2400
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7x64
    CPU
    g5400
    Motherboard
    ga b365m ds3h
    Memory
    8gb ddr4 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450w
BradWaite said:
Is there a canonical way to make incremental backups that permit a full restoration from a freshly-formatted disk?

I made a single system image, then set up B&R to backup all the files on all drives weekly. I can see the weekly backup directories, but they seem to be full backups, not incrementals.

I was able to restore from the system image, but I didn't see a way to restore the newer files. You can't do it from within Windows, since it complains as soon as you try to overwrite a system file.

Are you supposed to make weekly system images?
Click to expand...

Windows backup will by default create incremental type images is shadow storage. It allocates up to 30% of your backup disk for this. When that space becomes full it will delete the oldest. How often you backup your system is a matter of choice and how rapidly your system changes.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Servi...Intel(R) Core(TM) i3 CPU M 330 @ 2.13GHz8 GB DDR3Intel(R) HD Graphics
Computer type
Laptop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Hewlett-Packard/G62-107SA Notebook
OS
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Service Pack 1
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i3 CPU M 330 @ 2.13GHz
Motherboard
Hewlett-Packard 1425
Memory
8 GB DDR3
Graphics Card(s)
Intel(R) HD Graphics
Sound Card
Realtek High Definition Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
Builtin
Screen Resolution
1366 x 768 x 32 bits (4294967296 colors) @ 60 Hz
Hard Drives
250 GB SATA Hard Disk Drive 7200 rpm
2TB Seagate GoFlex USB 2 Drive
1TB Iomega Prestige USB 2 Drive
1.5TB Iomega Prestige USB 2 Drive (Samsung)
2TB WD MyBook Live NAS.
Mouse
Logitech Anywhere MX
Internet Speed
152 Mbs download 10 Mbs upload
Antivirus
Norton 360
Browser
Chrome
My backups are stored on a network drive. I thought shadow storage was on the local disk.

I have a single system image from Jan., with all my files being backed up weekly. How can I restore everything up to and including the last backup? I selected both of my hard drives to be backed up.

It doesn't appear that a system image and file backup are designed to be used together. Or am I just missing something?

Either way, what are my options, given I have an unformatted disk a system image from 6 months ago and weekly backups up to this past Sunday?
 
Last edited:

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7Intel Core2 6600 @ 2.4GHz8GBnVidia 7600GT
OS
Windows 7
CPU
Intel Core2 6600 @ 2.4GHz
Motherboard
Intel D975-XBX2
Memory
8GB
Graphics Card(s)
nVidia 7600GT
Sound Card
onboard
Monitor(s) Displays
2x Dell 21"
Hard Drives
2x Seagate 1TB 7200rpm (Marvell RAID-1)
PSU
Thermaltake
Case
some generic thing
Keyboard
Kinesis Ergo
Internet Speed
105Mbps

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Servi...Intel(R) Core(TM) i3 CPU M 330 @ 2.13GHz8 GB DDR3Intel(R) HD Graphics
Computer type
Laptop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Hewlett-Packard/G62-107SA Notebook
OS
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Service Pack 1
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i3 CPU M 330 @ 2.13GHz
Motherboard
Hewlett-Packard 1425
Memory
8 GB DDR3
Graphics Card(s)
Intel(R) HD Graphics
Sound Card
Realtek High Definition Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
Builtin
Screen Resolution
1366 x 768 x 32 bits (4294967296 colors) @ 60 Hz
Hard Drives
250 GB SATA Hard Disk Drive 7200 rpm
2TB Seagate GoFlex USB 2 Drive
1TB Iomega Prestige USB 2 Drive
1.5TB Iomega Prestige USB 2 Drive (Samsung)
2TB WD MyBook Live NAS.
Mouse
Logitech Anywhere MX
Internet Speed
152 Mbs download 10 Mbs upload
Antivirus
Norton 360
Browser
Chrome
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Acronis discription of Incremental vs Differential backup???
Replies
11
Views
28K
Mike Lynch
Mike Lynch
Using Macrium for Image Backup/Restore/Migration
Replies
1
Views
2K
RolandJS
RolandJS
integrate same drive content versions for reverse incremental backup
Replies
7
Views
2K
SIW2
SIW2
Best incremental backup solution for Windows 7?
Replies
10
Views
7K
Bongo
Bongo
Looking for free win7/win10 backup with folder/file checkboxes
Replies
13
Views
3K
bowlesj3
B
Back
Top