Windows 7: Questions about Libraries, ect

I just installed win 7 ult 64 and have questions about Libraries...

I have an external hard drive connected to my router and store a lot of my files and back ups on it...



Q1) If I include a folder in a library from the network drive, when I back up or image my laptops local D Data partition, will it duplicated these HUGE folders I have on my network drive? Or will it take up space on my local d data partition to add include those folders in library??

Libraries are like a folder that links to all other folders and displays the contents of many folders in the library. Think of it as a virtual folder. Its merely a link and doesn't take up any space. If you make an image, the contents of a library are not included, merely the links to the folder (your router).

Slasher

It' is actually quite difficult to include a network location in a library. It actually requires some out of the box thinking or third party software. This tutorial and the thread following it is worth a read.
Libraries - Include a Network Folder

As for the backups the image won't be affected as it images only the physical disk. You may have to specifically exclude the network locations from the file and folder backup.

If you use Windows7 imaging, you never know what happens because you have absolutely no control - matter of trying. But if you use a decent imaging program like Macrium or Paragon, you determin yourself what partitions are being imaged. Data that is on an external drive/partition will not automatically be imaged even if it is linked to a library. That link is nothing but a pointer.

@whs - Do you hate Windows 7 imaging? During the option of imaging with Windows 7 you have the option to select what drive's you want... So just select your drive and that's it. In the image will be the links that you have set (for Libraries) but none of the contents of the links will be included in the image.

Slasher

I don't particularly like windows imaging myself, particularly the incremental part of it using shadow storage. It's ok if you do single image backups but even Macrium Free is more flexible.

No I don't. And what you say is not true. If e.g. the bootmgr is on another partition and you image C, that partition is also imaged.

And some people have not disconnected other drives when installing Windows 7 and found that some data partition that happened to be on Disk0 was now the active partition. That partition would be imaged with C - even if it is 700GB large.

I do however have a lot of respect for people that know how to deal with Windows 7 imaging. I had nothing but trouble with it and now use only Macrium and Paragon.