First try with windows backup

hekdic said:

How do I know my backup is correct? My External HD has about the right amount of free space but all the Files say that they have 0 data.

You don't.

You'll find out if and when you actually get in a jam and have to recover something from your backup. Or at least when you pretend you are in a jam, as an experiment.

Windows Backup is a world unto itself. It's fussy and not the easiest thing to understand, as you are finding out. Which is why many don't use it.

If you are trying to "back up" your data files as opposed to your Windows installation, you're probably better off using an application dedicated to that specific task.

Are we talking about a backup or a Disk Image ?

A Disk Image is much more reliable, done with Windows Imaging and Macrium Reflect.

Check your files on the external manually, no way should they each say the have 0 data, check their sizes, what are they ?

An example of my software drive says it has 162 GB of Data, and I have confirmed that.

Hi,
Yea I'm not sure why anyone would use anything but Reflect
You can mount reflect images and copy 1 or more files out of it with ease.
Imaging with free Macrium

ThrashZone said:

Hi, Yea I'm not sure why anyone would use anything but Reflect. You can mount reflect images and copy 1 or more files out of it with ease.
Imaging with free Macrium

Although not free, Acronis True Image can do "u-pick" folder/file restore [actually a copy/paste operation].

Windows has 2 "backup" processes. System imaging [WindowsImageBackup] (OS and basically everything) and file/folder backups (basically your documents etc). These folder properties will show 0 bytes but they are not empty. Other software will show the true properties and I don't know why MS did this.

I have used Windows imaging successfully in the past but now use Macrium Reflect exclusively and recommend it.

mjf said:

Windows...backup processes...These folder properties will show 0 bytes but they are not empty...I don't know why MS did this...

My first wild educated guess is that the same technology that hides System Reserved material from explorer.exe also hides the folders' material. Your question is my question - why does MS do that?