Is Windows 7 backup any good? Are there better free alternatives?

s0me0ne said:

I have backup setup in windows 7, but was curious if I should be using something else as well? I've yet to have to restore with it, so I'm not too trusting on it yet

Backup can mean your personal file/folder type backup or a system image which takes a snapshot of everything important for full system operation - even to a new HDD.
Let's assume you mean image then my view, particularly when you haven't done a system image restore, is to use two programs. I have done many restores and still use two: Inbuilt Windows and the free version of Macrium Reflect. I've used both without any problems. Be aware that some people do have issues with Windows inbuilt so I would not rely solely on it. If you want only one I would choose Macrium which also happens to be more flexible.

When you can afford the $ buy another sata drive (=or> than your existing HDD) and restore to it and then you will gain some confidence in your imaging software.

I belong to those who have a successful and satisfied relationship with Windows Backup & Restore. I have used it as my only imaging and backup tool since Vista (not counting my tests with Macrium and other third party apps just to see how they work). I am really happy with Windows Backup & Restore. However, this is of course only my personal opinion. You could call me a Microsoft fan in the sense that I try to organize my computing, maintain my rigs with native Windows tools as much as possible. I do not know if this is at least a partial reason for my well working computers; I have crashes quite seldom, can't remember when I last time saw a blue screen, my rigs boot fast and work reliably.

I have never failed (really!) to restore an image or files from a backup, nor have I ever failed to create an image. This statement does of course not include the test PCs, only used to recreate different problematic scenarios for problem solving.

But as so often in these "Which is better"-threads, just wait some time and you will see here responses telling you not to trust Windows Backup & Restore, that only the third party tool the poster recommends is good . For me Windows Backup & Restore is an ideal, well functioning tool I use almost daily.

Kari

I have had a lot of trouble with Windows backup and so have others. The worst is if you make a backup and the day you need to restore it does not work. Since there were a few of those cases, I wrote this tutorial on how to recover from the situation. And I think it was useful for a few people.

I since use free Macrium and that has never disppointed me in about 50 recoveries. It is rock solid and unlike with the Windows tool, you know at each step of the way what you are doing.

I respect the experience that my friend Kari and others had with the Windows tool, but I was not as fortunate.

The personal preferences and what hass been found the most reliable are 1)CP>Bacup & Restore: create system image option and start restoration of image while still booted in Windows from same section when image is chosen.

2)Western Digital and Seagate both provide a free version of Acronis True Image Disk Director suite while I still run with the 2010 paid for full retail version of Acronis T.I. The main advantage of the 3rd party option since both have been 100% reliable to date is Acronis offers more compression with images which end up taking up less drive space. The full retail version also provides other utilities including a secure drive erase tool as well as the option to create a live repair cd.

With the free version of Macruim's Reflect when looked at it failed to restore a Vista image due to simply having changed the drive letter on the drive the image was saved on. Reflect considered it "invalid" at the time. With Acronis or the buiilt in image create and restore option both can still use any image when simply browsing to it even after a drive has been unplugged, Windows reinstalled even, drive letters changed, etc.

Grade A report for both 7 option and Acronis!

I have not used Acronis or anything like that but I too would like to find a good back up method that doesn't take 2 whole days to back up a system

I use free Macrium and it is fast. Images my whole system between 4 and 10 minutes depending on the output device. Example:

When trying Macrium here as I was saying any slight change in location from where the image is first created and stored like a simple drive letter change saw the image made invalid?! With the Win 7 option as well as Acronis you can unplug drives and replug them back in, change drive letters all day long and still browse to the same image and see it restored in 20min.

Paragon is another lower priced softwares if you are looking for the full paid for version of something that gets favorable feedback as well. The Acronis True Image 2013 runs at $50 while Paragon fetches only $30. Many opt for the lower price tag.

Here I still have the 2010 Acronis T.I. in use which compresses image sizes down a bit over what is seen with the 7 option. With some 498-507gb taken up on occasion on the main drive with the 7 option seeing 465-498gb images and Acronis seeing less at 430-455gb depending on how much is on C at the time I give the 3rd party ware the edge on less storage drive space taken up.

Both have repeatedly restored all images successfully however. When comparing the 7 backup option on the RC with Macrium 7 won out at that time as well as being a good alternate to Acronis once the retail 7 was out. With the 7 made images however you don't have to be booted live from disk to start the restoration process however.

You simply go into the Control Panel>Backup & Restore section and select the image to be restored. The system will automatically restart into the live mode while the image is unpacked following C being wipe while live not while booted in Windows. With other 3 party options when not booted in a dual boot to restore another drive's OS there you end up booting live from disk to start that program's restoration while live.

The actual time involved to restore any image besides which option is used mainly depends on how large the image is. If you only have the basic Windows on without much else the pace is fast and done in only several minutes. For a good 100gb or larger primary will all your goods the time can average 20min. or longer. Here with half of a 1tb drive filled the average time was 35min. for the full restoration which includes the initial restart to boot live from disk.