Need a bit more help on Backup and Restore


  1. RJL24
    Posts : 31
    Main: WIN7 Pro, 64 bit; Notebook Windows 7 Home Premium
       New #1

    Need a bit more help on Backup and Restore


    Got a newish PC: HP Elite 8000 with Win 7 Pro 64 bit.

    Have a separate USB WD 80GB external HDD which is solely to be used for bootable backup and restore of OS and programs, the only information on my C drive. This in case my OS gets corrupted and I will then be able to restore everything from the USB via boot, without having to reinstall WIN7, updates and programs.



    All working files and documents and music etc., are on separate external USB hard drives.

    I read through the forums and created a WIN 7 System backup I guess of everything on my C drive, Windows and Programs. Hopefully is is something I can boot from.




    There is nothing else on my C drive. Image file that was created on the 80GB USB drive is about right: 46GB.


    I wish to untether the USB with my backup information from my PC (so I can store it away and redo weekly or monthly).

    Using Remove Hardware from task bar I get a message that the drive I wish to remove is
    "currently in use. Close any programs or windows that might be using the device, and then try again."


    Question One: Is the information on the USB drive, created by the WIN7 backup and recover method explained in this forum, bootable?

    Question One a: If not what must I do to make sure I can boot using the backup USB, assuming I wish to wipe the C drive clean and start anew with the information on the backup USB drive?

    Question Two: Please advise what I need to do to correctly remove the USB backup drive from my pc using the Remove Hardware function from Task Bar without endangering any information on the drive.

    Thanks in advance,
    Robert
      My Computer
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  3. Brink
    Posts : 72,046
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       New #2

    Hello Robert,

    If you are using Windows Backup on a schedule, then that could cause the issue with the removable drive being "in use" still.

    Instead, you should turn off the Windows Backup schedule, and use the separate System Image feature instead. You will be able to do a System Image Recovery at boot using either your system repair disc or Windows 7 installation media. Hope this helps, :)
    Shawn
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  4. RJL24
    Posts : 31
    Main: WIN7 Pro, 64 bit; Notebook Windows 7 Home Premium
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    Thank you. No backup has been set in Windows backup and restore.

    So I must find what program is using the "G" drive; the drive where the image is located. How can I identity that running program, if it is at all possible to isolate?

    I am still a bit unsure how to boot from the USB if, for example the WIN7 is corrupt.

    ButI do not to have to solve that now, since removing the G drive' USB connection is higher priority for now.

    Thanks again.
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  6. Brink
    Posts : 72,046
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       New #4

    Go ahead and restart your PC to see if that may clear whatever is using the G: drive to see if you area able to use safely remove hardware afterwards. Do you remember setting anything to save to that location?

    As for restoring the system image, you would connect the USB drive, boot from your either your system repair disc or Windows 7 installation media, then follow the rest of the steps in the tutorial below.

    System Image Recovery
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  7. RJL24
    Posts : 31
    Main: WIN7 Pro, 64 bit; Notebook Windows 7 Home Premium
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    Thanks again.

    Rebooting solved the ejection issue and after reading the system recovery instructions via the link, it all seems pretty easy to recover in case of a catastrophic failure due to WIN7 crash.

    I have a copy of WIN7 pro in disc form and the rest is easy as pie.

    Till next time,

    Cordially,

    RJL
      My Computer
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  8. Brink
    Posts : 72,046
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       New #6

    You're most welcome RJL. :)
      My Computer
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