My backup system is set to daily back up files each day to an external hard drive. However, I can't see which files it's backing up on my computer and I can't seem to change the files it saves anyhow. What do I do? I have, on my desktop, a large folder containing most of my saved files but it doesn't seem to be picking that one up. So I suspect that if it's working at all, it's only saving an insignificant folder.
Depends what you are using for the backup. If it is backking up to a VHD, you can attach it via Disk Management > Action tab. Then you can open the virtual volume and see what's in it.
What's a virtual volume and a VHD? Briefly, and without any technicalities, I go to the control panel, and look in it. One of the options says "Backup and Restore." I click on it and the destination is given as the H drive (external hard drive). Under "contents" it says "Files in libraries and personal folders for all users." That's all I can see.
Welcome ukthesis to the windows forums.
Something tells me that your backup is the internal windows 7 backup that comes with windows. By default what it does is backup your "my documents" folder and data files from some programs.
You can determine which files are backed up by going to the help selection in the main menu and type backup files.
this will allow you to either select the files to backup or let windows determine which files to backup
And where..
Help is pretty informative.
Rich
Hello ukthesis, and welcome to Seven Forums.
Step 2 in the tutorial below can help show you how to make changes to your scheduled backup using the Windows 7 Backup feature.
Backup User and System Files
I find that the easiest way to view the files in a backup is to go through the same process you would to restore them as in the tutorial below to be able to view them without finishing the process of actually restoring them.
Restore Backup User and System Files
Hope this helps,
Shawn
I "think" I may have done something by following this. I got to the point where it says Computer and I ticked Acer (C) then carried on. This "might" save that folder on my C drive that contains the important folder on my desktop. Not so sure though. Anyhow, I'll be back if it doesn't save updates in this file (that I will place there for the purpose) tomorrow. It didn't ask which specific folders I want to save, which makes me wonder if this is correct and would have made me more comfortable, since I'm now not sure which files on my C drive it's going to copy to the H drive..
And "the help selection in the main menu" - where do I find this one?
Last edited by Brink; 13 Jun 2011 at 14:39. Reason: merged
OK, understand. You did not use the Win7 imaging facility (that is where you would get a VHD "virtual hard disk") but you used the file backup.
In order to see what was actually backed up, go to your external disk and find a folder named "Yourname-PC" - like mine would be WHS-PC. Right click on it and click "Open". Then double click on "Backup set" twice until you see "Backup files 1.zip, Backup files 2.zip, etc". Those contain the files that were backed up from your system. Since those are .zip files, you have to extract the folders and then you will see exactly what is inside.
PS: For your other question see the picture.
The problem is that I manually saved the contents of the C drive folder to the external hard drive a while ago. So just seeing those up there doesn't say anything. However, what I can say is that I inserted, earlier today, two new files in the folder in C drive and they should have been saved on the external drive which they weren't. So it's clearly not saving that folder so far, except where I manually save it by going from C drive (ie where I copy and paste it to H drive).
You probably shouldn't be selecting all items capable of file/folder backup which maybe what you are doing.
This description may help
Backup & Restore Options
When you select "let me choose" windows should have default folders ticked. Select any additional folders with care. You may have a folder under c: outside of the libraries called say C:\Other_Data which you may want to include.
Brink has also given further tutorial links.
Honestly, though, don't you think it's better if I manually save the contents of the folder each day? This process you describe seems to be getting more complicated as it goes along and there seem to be different versions of what to do with no end in sight. Not helpful. And I'm still baffled by what it's apparently saving on H drive ...
Last edited by ukthesis; 13 Jun 2011 at 18:59.
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