Windows 7: Backup Question ?

Hi,



Son has a new desktop HP PC about a month old now with a 750 GB HD
His wife has a new Laptop (brand uncertain) with a 300 GB HD.

Thought I would get them an external HD for backups.

Question: Is the Windows 7 backup program smart enough to do its thing for two different PC's, and keep the backups "separate" ?

Any caveats or things to know about this ?

BTW: For a new PC with a 750 GB HD, doing a backup for the first time where I guess an "Image" is also created, how much space might be used, in full ?

Was wondering if it makes any sense to have them do it now on DVD's prior to my getting them the HD ?

Thanks,
Bob

Hi Robert11

I'm not positive about your first question, but i would think if you partitioned the external drive and named each partition, John E: and Sally F: it would work cause the drive itself just knows usb.

For your second question the image will be as big as your os plus the programs you have installed, like mine with a full backup is 19 gigs. Hope this helps

Hi,

Not all that sharp with this "stuff".

Exactly how would one partition this drive ?

Is there a program to use to do it that one has to obtain, or is there a partitioning application internal to Windows 7, or... ?

Thanks for help; appreciate it.

BTW: what would happen if I don't partition the HD, and just do a backup from each PC ? Would the second backup likely just overwrite the first backup, or might they be saved under two names ?

Regards,
Bob

The answer to your question is YES one drive will do images for multiple PCs.

I create images for 3 PCs on one 250GB hard drive. It keeps them separate.

Also, it DOES compress them i can't remember the ratio, but it compresses them quite a bit. It all depends on how much data they have. It seems to me it compresses the data by about 1/2 but I can't say for sure. If you want to read through the "create an image" tutorial. I put a post in there one time that stated I backed up a 90GB drive and it came to only about 60GB....so that gives you an idea.

You should be fine with one 500GB to 1TB back up drive. (to be safe) Good luck!

Here is that post 130GB to 59.5GB compression

Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

You may want to read this for yourself. These were on beta builds, the compression has been improved so it's better than 1/2....it depends on the type of files, but mine were mostly music and video.

Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

Robert:

You have to decide what you mean by "backup".

You may mean personal data of each person--Word documents, Excel files, pictures, music files, video clips, etc.

Or you may mean all of that plus each person's individual Windows installation.

If you mean the former, the standard method would NOT involve an image.

If you mean the latter, the standard method WOULD involve an image.

Some people choose to backup only data because a Windows installation can always be done manually and because images are not foolproof. Data, on the other hand, may be irreplaceable and so a backup would be very important.

If you do in fact make an image containing EVERYTHING, including data, I would also advise you to make a separate non-image backup of the data alone, because you might find yourself unable to get at the image for whatever reason if you have a major failure.

One other option to consider is if the technical level of the proposed user is at a level where words such as "image", "partitioning" and such are a kind of black art, or they just want things to be totally simple so that the actual backup is actually done.

There are available, complete one touch backup solutions where all the user needs to do is press a button on the drive and the software on the drive then performs and manages the backups. (I see people all the time that have all the hardware and software for backup, but do not do anything because it's too complicated ).

There is normally a premium in initial cost to be paid for this simplicity but if it stops you losing something irreplaceable then it's a price worth paying

Thanks you all.
Good info.

Bob

+1 Barman58
I think as he seems to be a novice you really got it right as usual. Very good advice.