I have never backed up a computer the whole time I've had one which was when they first came out. I got Windows 7 and I have this little flag in the right hand corner that says I have to back up.
Anyway - should I do this and how? How do you know what to backup? Surely it wouldn't be all the programs and can you back it up right on your computer somewhere.
I know nothing about this, so you might have to talk kids language for me.
I guess you mean a complete back up
Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup
I was not aware of a notice that it had to be done.
if you never do an initial backup when you first use win 7 the the action center has a flagged message as a reminder ,you can turn the reminder off by clicking the flag, then open Action center then on the window for the backup alert click the turn off message about backups link
There is an annoying notice but it can be turned off. My step father started the process of setting up a regular incremental backup but did not complete the process and it took us a bit to get the message to go away. This was not the complete PC image backup I am referring to.
You can set up an incremental backup of certain files if you are in need of that type of function...I myself am not since I manually backup the one folder from time to time. I do have a complete PC image which is a great feature once you get your PC set the way you like it with everything installed. It is also a good idea to create a new one from time to time as you install new things since it will save you oodles of time if you need to re-install your OS for any reason. The complete PC image is only useful if you have a second hard drive or other large capacity storage device...my image is well over 100 gigs and needs to be updated so it will be even bigger so as you see it takes a fair amount of space for this backup method but it is worth it.
Someone with better knowledge of the other back up types should be able to give some insight on how they work. Basically they allow you to keep backups of important files like a server machine does where it backs up files every little bit to prevent data loss....some home PC users might need this but I think most won't. There is an option in the action center to turn the message off for that particular notification.
A System Image Backup will include all of the programs on your computer as well as system settings, the 100 MB Win 7 System partition and your factory restore partition as it will show in Backup and Restore. Its fairly quick though I did one earlier this evening with 16.2 GB on the Windows 7 partition to back up and it only took 5 minutes and 22 seconds to complete.
~Maxx~
.
The simplest solution is to perform a system image backup.
WIN | type Backup | Enter |
in the left-hand side click on Create a System Image |
you wil be presented with dialogs asking where do you want the image to be saved and which partitions you want to backup.
The selection dialogs are shown in the tutorial which was specified in a previous reply.
There are only two types of people: Those who make backups and those who wish they had.
If you ever have to restore your computer using a system image that was created, then you can use a System Repair Disc.
A system repair disc has many uses which if all goes well, then you will never need. The chances are you will need it at sometime.
Here is how to create a system repair disc:
START | type System Repair | Enter key | Create Disc buttonDISC - CREATE A SYSTEM REPAIR DISC
Patti,
I notice that your System Specs are extremely sparse.
If you could fill those out for us, then we will have a better idea of backup specifics such as where to place the backup.
HOW TO FILL OUT YOUR SYSTEM SPECS
In the line at the top of www.SevenForums.com you will see UserCP.
That is an abbreviation for User Control Panel.
Click on UserCP.
In the left-hand column, under Your Profile you will see Edit System Spec.
Click on Edit System Spec
You can copy and paste from the output of Speccy, Speccy - System Information - Free Download to fill out much of the info. Be sure to use the Other Info section of your System Specs for such info as your optical drive, your wireless adapter, your speakers, etc.
Now there are a couple of other approaches to gathering the info for your system specs.
1) run MSINFO32.EXE
2) download and run SIW SIW | Download
These two alternatives are great but are sometimes overwhelming for a neophyte.
I thought that was quick - then I looked at your specs. Pretty fast machine you have.
Windows system image is actually slow in comparative terms - it's the slowest backup app. I have come across.
Not that backup speed matters all that much ( unless you have an enormous amount of data ) . Reliability and flexibilty are more important imo.
A System Image Backup will include all of the programs on your computer as well as system settings, the 100 MB Win 7 System partition and your factory restore partition as it will show in Backup and Restore. Its fairly quick though I did one earlier this evening with 16.2 GB on the Windows 7 partition to back up and it only took 5 minutes and 22 seconds to complete.
~Maxx~
.
I honestly did not know that! Just after I got my Win 7 computer I added a LaCie Hard Disk MAX 2TB eSATA Raid 0 Drive and the 24 GB Windows System Images have always taken around 5 minutes. Other operations proceed at an accelerated rate also when using the LaCie Raid 0 eSata drive which I have benchmarked using HD Tune at 160/90 write and read times...
~Maxx~
.
Patti,
I'm not trying to talk down to you I'm assuming backup is new to you.
Coming from no backups I suggest sticking to the Microsoft inbuilt backup capabilities. Only if they cause problems or later would I look at some of the other good software around.
"Backup" has 2 main parts to it.
(1) Backing up your files and folders. Like your documents, photos and so on.
The "BACK UP NOW" button will start this.
The first one you make will take a little longer but then say you run it every couple of days it will pick up the new stuff you've made and add it to the backup - pretty quick.
(2) System Image. Snapshots of your whole disk (partitions to be precise). The snaps shots contains everything: Windows itself, application programs, your personal stuff -- The works.
These are VERY important to have because you can put the image/snapshot back to when everything was running fine.
These couldn't be easier to make. You press a button "CREATE A SYSTEM IMAGE NOW". Make say one every couple of weeks (or a month) - takes 10-20 minutes).
(3) Just one more thing you will need to hit the "Change Settings" button once to set a few things up. There is a little box there that say create a system image along with the backup. I would UNTICK this one or else it will do the the image/snapshot thing along with your more regular personal file backups. I'd use the button on the left of the "backup" page - called "Create a System Image" with the little shield in front of it. You don't need to make these that often.
You can setup a automatic backup schedule but the program may want to backup when it's inconvenient...up to you.
Make your backups to an external USB Hard Disk Drive (HDD). If you don't have one, I suggest you buy one 500GB is enough (Bigger's ok of course). Cost less than $100.
Finally!!!!!! There are tutorials here that take you through the step by step procedures.
Quote