Backing Up Questions

Hello,

Have a few Backing-Up question, please:

I did a "full" backup yesterday to an external HD, which I guess is termed creating-an-Image.
Went well, but took many, many hours.

If I decide to do a backup,e.g., every week, I sure don't want to create another new image with all the hours it takes.

The option of "Let Windows Decide" seems to be what I want.

But I just cannot find, anywhere, the criteria that Windows uses.

If I do select this option, is it that W7 will backup Only what has changed since the last backup ? Or,...?

If no, what do I do to only backup the changes over the week ?

And,
a. I tried to see the Folders and what was done be looking at the backed up Image, but it doesn't seem to show them; only an option for Restoring.
How can I see the Folders, etc. that it has backed up and made the Image for ?

b. And, do Image these backups also backup all my Thunderbird e-mail Folders and msgs ?

Thanks,
Bob

Robert11 said:

Hello,

Have a few Backing-Up question, please:

I did a "full" backup yesterday to an external HD, which I guess is termed creating-an-Image.
Went well, but took many, many hours.

If I decide to do a backup,e.g., every week, I sure don't want to create another new image with all the hours it takes.

The option of "Let Windows Decide" seems to be what I want.

But I just cannot find, anywhere, the criteria that Windows uses.

If I do select this option, is it that W7 will backup Only what has changed since the last backup ? Or,...?

If no, what do I do to only backup the changes over the week ?

And,
a. I tried to see the Folders and what was done be looking at the backed up Image, but it doesn't seem to show them; only an option for Restoring.
How can I see the Folders, etc. that it has backed up and made the Image for ?

b. And, do Image these backups also backup all my Thunderbird e-mail Folders and msgs ?

Thanks,
Bob

Um Bob might I make a suggestion? There is an easier, more flexible, more reliable way to backup called Acronis true image home.

Nice eay GUI, feature rich, bulletproof.

1.) Mount the vhd in disk managmenet - you can then use it like a regular drive - see or copy back any files/folders.

2.) Yes an image will include everything that was originally on the partition you backed up - that includes tbird stuff.


You will find a 3rd party app. more flexible - and easier to manage.


The new Paragon freebie is the only 3rd party app. to align correctly and automatically for you.

Free Backup Software: Paragon Backup & Recovery (Advanced) Free Edition - Overview

There are 2 types of "backups".
(1) Backup of personal file/folders which are stored away in zip files.
(2) Images are snapshots of a whole disk partition enabling complete recovery of windows, programs and data when things go bad. (stored away as a vhd file)

When you "Let Windows Decide" it does both.
I think it's best to "choose yourself" using the default folders windows suggests and untick the create an image box. This way you do just a file /folder backup.

Images are important and I think best done by themselves when you decide. In the "Backup & Restore" screen simply select "Create a system Image" over on the left and choose a partition where you want it located (gen. an ext HDD!)