How reliable is W7 backup?

I normally copy and paste my files to an external disk but it does mean that I'm using up an awful lot of space on that disc because they aren't incremental backups, just copies and I don't delet previous versions.

I was thinking about using W7 backup and after one main backup was going to use incremental backups. However I'm concerned that my files will then be in one encrypted backup file plus the incremental backups as against additional copies which I can get at easily.

Has anyone had any experience of W7 backup and have any ideas as to how reliable it is? I would be in a mess if I need the backup copy of a file and the W7 backup file was corrupted!

Thanks
Tony

TonyWilliams said:

I normally copy and paste my files to an external disk but it does mean that I'm using up an awful lot of space on that disc because they aren't incremental backups, just copies and I don't delet previous versions.

I was thinking about using W7 backup and after one main backup was going to use incremental backups. However I'm concerned that my files will then be in one encrypted backup file plus the incremental backups as against additional copies which I can get at easily.

Has anyone had any experience of W7 backup and have any ideas as to how reliable it is? I would be in a mess if I need the backup copy of a file and the W7 backup file was corrupted!

Thanks
Tony

Hi tony and welcome


Windows backup does a fine job for what it can do. It is more reliable than a copy and paste and is compressed (i believe) to save space. On the other h and there are 3rd party apps that are just as reliable and tons more flexible. I do a lot of different kinds of back ups of files and folder and win 7's backup just doesnt cut it for that.

I use Acronis. It is relatively inexpensive and does all sorts of neat things


Let us know if you need help with any of this


Ken J

Thanks guys I think I have a copy of Acronis TRue Image v8 I'll have a look at that and see if it includes backups
Thanks again
Tony

Hm? Acronis True Image v8 appears to only create an mage of the whole disc and doesn't just backup individual files and folders. Have to look at alternatives.
Tony

Thanks guys. I may be wrong but Acronis and Macrrium are all about taking images of the hard drive. I just want to backup my Documents folder and be able to recover individual files from the backup. They don't appear to do this? I would also just like the backup to do an incremental backup as well, ie only files that have changed, rather than a complete backup each time. What would you guys suggest for that? I thought W7 backup does that?
Thanks
Tony

Thanks Rich I think I'll give it a go!
Tony