Microsoft Backup is crap...according to The Register
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I back up all my photos, music and movies to external drives. I also backup the exe.s and various programs plus contacts list externally.
I've made a repair disk using Windows backup and I have a retail copy of both my OSs.
I don't see much point in doing a backup.
Am I wrong in this regard?
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Well, tbh, I'd wager that in the 9-10 minutes that it takes me to restore an image, you might be half way through re-installing your OS... However, if it works for you, great!
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I back up all my photos, music and movies to external drives. I also backup the exe.s and various programs plus contacts list externally.
I've made a repair disk using Windows backup and I have a retail copy of both my OSs.
I don't see much point in doing a backup.
Am I wrong in this regard?
I would maybe add a system image to that, just so you don't have to manually reconfigure everything if you lose your system.
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I would tend to agree with The Register. I recently discovered that the only way you can create a complete system image is to purchase an external hard drive, which to me is an unnecessary additional expense. My D: drive contains the OEM factory backup copy and is off limits. I did not receive a copy of my OS on disc, as it had already been installed prior to when I purchased my Compaq Presario desktop. Of course, Microsft is very willing to sell me OS discs for $21.00 + S&H.
I tried creating a system image of just my C: folder, as a test run to observe how long it would take. On my dual core system, it took over an hour and 12 mins, so MS backup is very slow in my opinion.
Windows 7 OS should come with a warning label - "Warning: This OS is bloated. If you do not buy an external hard drive along with your desktop or laptop, you will never be able to create a complete system image and will have to resort to OEM discs only, in the event of system failure. Microsoft appreciates your willingness to fuel its greed."
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I would tend to agree with The Register. I recently discovered that the only way you can create a complete system image is to purchase an external hard drive, which to me is an unnecessary additional expense. My D: drive contains the OEM factory backup copy and is off limits. I did not receive a copy of my OS on disc, as it had already been installed prior to when I purchased my Compaq Presario desktop. Of course, Microsft is very willing to sell me OS discs for $21.00 + S&H.
Well, I disagree with not wanting this on an external drive or considering one an unneeded expense. What good would your backup do in the event that 1). Your physical hard drive actually failed 2). Your machine was burned to a crisp in a fire 3). Your computer was actually stolen?
I think having an using at least 1 (if not 2) external hard drives is very advantageous. You should consider keeping one offsite at all times.
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Hello pparks1,
While I do see your point about the need for an external hard drive as a safety net for extreme situations, I was mainly referring to being able to make a basic backup as more of a system restore function, similar to what you could easily do in Win98SE. In the event one would encounter spyware or malware, you could easily revert back to a copy of your system that was conveniently stored on your D: drive. That is no longer the case, as MS has decided to store the OEM factory image there.
I am going to invest in an external hard drive and have been looking at one from Western Digital that has 500 GB storage.
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as MS has decided to store the OEM factory image there.
Microsoft decided to do nothing of the sort. The comapny you bought the computer from put the OEM factory image there. Not Windows, not Microsoft.
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as MS has decided to store the OEM factory image there.
Microsoft decided to do nothing of the sort. The company you bought the computer from put the OEM factory image there. Not Windows, not Microsoft.
OK..fine. HP decided to store the factory image there. That notwithstanding, there are plenty of other reasons to give Microsoft grief for not offering the ability to create a simple system image, without having to invest in an external hard drive.
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as MS has decided to store the OEM factory image there.
Microsoft decided to do nothing of the sort. The company you bought the computer from put the OEM factory image there. Not Windows, not Microsoft.
OK..fine. HP decided to store the factory image there. That notwithstanding, there are plenty of other reasons to give Microsoft grief for not offering the ability to create a simple system image, without having to invest in an external hard drive.
That's because that is the only place most people would want to put a system image. Obviously, some people disagree.
Last edited by BCXtreme; 23 Jun 2010 at 16:29.
Reason: additional diplomacy added
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The main reason I don't use the Microsoft image backup is the restore function. On my system disk I have multiple partitions. If I want to restore just the system partition, MS will erase the other partitions on the disk. I now use Macrium and it will not affect the other partitions on the disk during restore.
Jim 
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