Windows Backup Issues...

elmo2006 · 05 Aug 2010

Hello...

I have a question that I'm unable to find a resolution to hence my presence in this forum and thread.

I have Win7x64 Ultimate and have been using the Windows backup functionality. I have it set up to perform a backup on a weekly basis to an external drive. The backup consists of data files only, no backup images are performed.
So I started with a clean complete backup of my data drive = 575GB, and every week it performs what seems to be an incremental or differential backup - either case is fine with me as long as my data get's backed up.
Herein lies the problem, for some strange reason the backup would generate a complete backup after the 3rd or 10th incremental/differential backup.
I now end up with 2 complete backups and my drive space has now been exceeded and I'm forced to delete a backup.

I guess my question is:

1. Why would Windows Backup perform an initial backup followed by scheduled differential/incremental backups then arbitrarily perform a complete backup once again.

BTW, these complete backups take almost 14 hours to complete - each.

Any responses would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

karlsnooks · 05 Aug 2010

post a snippet/snapshot of the output of disk management.

WIN key |type DISKMGMT.MSC | Enter key
Maximize the display

WIN key | type snipping | Enter

After all that post the snippet:
How to Post a Screenshot

A Guy · 05 Aug 2010

I make full images each time, so I can't confirm it should make only incremental backups after the first time. I did find this in windows help:

"After you create your first backup, Windows Backup will add new or changed information to your subsequent backups. If you're saving your backups on a hard drive or network location, Windows Backup will create a new, full backup for you automatically when needed. If you're saving your backups on CDs or DVDs and can't find an existing backup disc, or if you want to create a new backup of all of the files on your computer, you can create a full backup."

"Windows Backup keeps track of the files that have been added or modified since your last backup and then updates the existing backup, which saves disk space."

"Backups are created in sets known as backup periods. To help maximize your disk space, Windows Backup backs up all selected folders the first time it's run and then it only backs up files that are new or have been modified since the last backup was made. Periodically, Windows creates a new, full backup. Each full backup is known as a backup period. When you view your file backups, you see all of the backup periods labeled with date ranges. If you decide to delete file backups, you should always keep the most recent file backup."

A Guy

Ztruker · 05 Aug 2010

Buy a good backup program like Acronis True Image Home 2010 which will do incremental backups and if you set it up that way, will continue to do so indefinitely, by merging the oldest into the full backup then creating a new incremental.

Macrium Reflect Free version is good but does not do incremental backups. For that you need to purchase the Pro version.

mjf · 06 Aug 2010

BTW, these complete backups take almost 14 hours to complete - each.

How much and what sort of data are you backing up? If it takes 14 hours there must be something wrong?
You're backing up to an external USB(2) connected HDD correct?
I use MS imaging and backup (+ Macrium as secondary safeguard imaging utility).
Full image of my 456 GB partition takes around 20 minutes and about the same time when I've restored.
I have multiple user accounts on my computer and a full MS backup takes about the same time (maybe a little less).

whs · 06 Aug 2010

have been using the Windows backup functionality

This is a safe way to get yourself into trouble. I have yet to see the various windows backup facilities to work as expected. I am with Zturker - take an OEM product. I use free Macrium - after using a half dozen other products, I find Macrium to do the best job. But I do not like incrementals (you loose one you loose all). I always make full images. Takes just a few minutes (best time was 3.5 minutes for a full Win7 system). And disk space is so cheap these days, that this is my least worry.

karlsnooks · 06 Aug 2010

Window Backup and Restore is a very safe, sound, reliable program.

Please use a product before you start to make judgments.

I've requested a disk management output snapshot.

There are many possible causes for an extremely slow full backup.

Any backup software will be slow if there is insufficient disk space.

Let us wait for the snapshot of his disk management output before jumping to conclusions.

whs · 06 Aug 2010

Karl, I hear you. I have used all Windows flavors in Vista and Win7 backup/restore and imaging and had problems all the time. Plus, I also saw a lot of members reporting their own troubles. That does not really inspire me. The least I can say - besides the "relative" reliability of the functions, they are unnecessarily complicated.

elmo2006 · 06 Aug 2010

karlsnooks said:

post a snippet/snapshot of the output of disk management.

WIN key |type DISKMGMT.MSC | Enter key
Maximize the display

WIN key | type snipping | Enter

After all that post the snippet:
How to Post a Screenshot

Hi karlsnooks...

Here is the capture as requested...

elmo2006 · 06 Aug 2010

A Guy said:

I make full images each time, so I can't confirm it should make only incremental backups after the first time. I did find this in windows help:

"After you create your first backup, Windows Backup will add new or changed information to your subsequent backups. If you're saving your backups on a hard drive or network location, Windows Backup will create a new, full backup for you automatically when needed. If you're saving your backups on CDs or DVDs and can't find an existing backup disc, or if you want to create a new backup of all of the files on your computer, you can create a full backup."

"Windows Backup keeps track of the files that have been added or modified since your last backup and then updates the existing backup, which saves disk space."

"Backups are created in sets known as backup periods. To help maximize your disk space, Windows Backup backs up all selected folders the first time it's run and then it only backs up files that are new or have been modified since the last backup was made. Periodically, Windows creates a new, full backup. Each full backup is known as a backup period. When you view your file backups, you see all of the backup periods labeled with date ranges. If you decide to delete file backups, you should always keep the most recent file backup."

A Guy

Awesome, this explains everything inregards to the backups.