Hello and Backup Advice


  1. Posts : 13
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit
       #1

    Hello and Backup Advice


    Hi everyone,
    I've been viewing these forums for a long time and have just joined to start participating.

    I have a fairly new PC as my old one was really slow and had no hard drive space left. I've already got a lot of stuff on it - programs / documents / photos / work stuff and so on and was wondering what the best way to backup would be?

    When I transfered from my old computer I backed all of my documents up on DVDs and an external HD which I borrowed. This was fine but it took a long time to re-install all of my programs.

    What would you suggest the best way of backing up would be? I've been wondering about getting a 2nd HD and simply doing a scheduled backup to put my main document folder onto it at certain times but I've also been looking at RAID (which I'm not too clear on) which seems to be a more robust solution.

    Just interested in hearing what everyone else does to get some ideas really.
    Simon
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 394
    Desk Top with Win 7 Home Premium 64 bit and Lap Top with Windows 8.1 Pro 64 bit
       #2

    I think getting another hard drive would be a good idea. I have an external hard drive and it doesn't take too long to back my important files. Here's what I do: I have all of my important files and folders in one folder. Periodically, I just back up that folder to my external drive. If you have windows 7, it's really simple to make a system image. I do that about every other day. All you need to do is open Control Panel, then on the left hand side, click on "Back up computer" then select, "Create system image". In a short time you will have the image created.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 13
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Ah I didn't know about the System Image. Does that completely copy the entire hard drive? I've only been using Windows 7 for a few weeks.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 19,383
    Windows 10 Pro x64 ; Xubuntu x64
       #4

    Hi Simon,

    Welcome to the 7 Forums. As far as backups go, you have a few options:

    1. Full system image (using Franks method or Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download)

    2. 3rd party backup with something like Free backup software for Windows - GFI Backup Home Edition

    3. Using a RAID5 array

    For data backups, I use GFI. For my entire system (OS + installed apps + data) I use Macrium Reflect. I wouldn't bother going down the RAID5 route : in the first instance, you need a minimum of 4 disks (3 active and 1 to swap if one of the active disks dies). I also haven't seen much success trying to install Windows 7 to a RAID yet (I also had huge trouble with this).

    So, I would say either option 1 or 2 should be what you might consider.

    Regards,
    Golden
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 394
    Desk Top with Win 7 Home Premium 64 bit and Lap Top with Windows 8.1 Pro 64 bit
       #5

    Sime83 said:
    Ah I didn't know about the System Image. Does that completely copy the entire hard drive? I've only been using Windows 7 for a few weeks.
    Yes, it would be an identical image. All of your customized settings and everything will be exactly the way it was when you made the image.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 21
    Windows 7
       #6

    Question re: System Image


    I have a question somewhat related to that posed by the OP. Can a system image backup be used in the event of a hard drive failure in order to avoid the necessity of re-installing Windows and all application software? The hard drive on my wife's computer recently failed. Fortunately, she does a regular backup her documents daily to an external USB drive. I replaced the hard drive on her computer, re-installed all her applications and then restored the backup of her documents. If I could have used a system image to recreate everything on the failed hard drive on the new hard drive in a single step, things would have been a lot easier.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 19,383
    Windows 10 Pro x64 ; Xubuntu x64
       #7

    Hi Tomel.

    The answer is ... YES. I use Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download to do exactly that. It consists of 2 steps:

    1. Create a bootable LINUX disk
    2. Create the system image (or images)

    To restore the image, you boot from the Linux disk, and then point to the image you want to restore. It's as simple as that. Its faster than the traditional install and copy of user data back to the PC.

    There are many users here that use Macrium exactly for what you ask, so if you have more questions, by all means fire away.

    Regards,
    Golden
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 1,114
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
       #8

    Without going third party Windows 7 built in backup works just fine, just make a repair disk put it in follow the few steps and 15 minutes your back up and running back to the day you made the image
      My Computer


 

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