Windows 7: Backup User and System Files

I've read most of the posts, but am confused about some things re Backup utility.
1. Is the system image created with the checkbox option in the scheduled backup screen the same as the full system image that you can select on the first screen? So that you are creating BOTH a full image and a user data backup?
2. If you select a scheduled backup, and select all the libraries (that contain, for example, all my photos on the c drive)... and I also select the c:\photos folder under the c: drive below the libraries, will I have 2 copies of that folder in the backup? or does backup know not to double backup? thanks..

Hello Rad, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Q1) Windows 7 includes two different backup features. One is a System Image Backup for a complete clone (copy) of your Windows 7 and selected hard drives and partitions to be able to restore them completely, and the other is to only backup your user and system files (this tutorial here) to only be able to restore these files and not the entire Windows 7. If you create both backups, then yes you will have a separate "full image" and "user/system files" backups to use.

Q2) The system image backup feature does not have a schedule for it run. You can only run a system image backup manually. Only the user/system files backup runs on a schedule if you wanted it to. These backups are incremental backups when saved to the same location, so when the next scheduled or manual backup is ran, only changes made to the selected fiiles to be backedup since the last incremental backup will be saved in the new backup.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Thanks Shawn,
That clears up #1.... they are different, the "backup your user and system files" does NOT include a full disk clone. Thanks
as to #2, I'm still unclear as to the check marks on the "what do you want to back up" dialog... are files/folders that are listed in both in the "data Files" part and in the "computer" part backed up twice or not (if both selected)... Thanks for the rapid response....

If you mean the option under step 9, then only one copy of each selected file or folder will be backed up incrementally.

thanks

You're welcome Rad.

If you check "Include a system image of drives" doesn't this allow you to have the system image backup feature run on a schedule?

Yes - Click Set up Backup. Click Let me Choose. Untick the folders. Leave include System Image ticked , Next.

That should create System image on a schedule.

Ah, yes. Thank you Patrick. I forgot that little option.

It seems you can use the scheduler to either backup files, OR system image, OR both together.

Sadly , there doesn't seem to be the option most would want - a separate scheduler for files and system image.