Looking for a good Backup utility

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  1. Posts : 9
    Kansas
       #11

    MS Backup worthless?


    The posters so far have not recommended the Windows-included backup utility. Why? Is there something wrong with the Windows backup? Why are the after-market apps preferable?
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  2. Posts : 450
    Windows 7
       #12

    I am one of the few who has no issues with the standard, built-in Windows Image (and Backup).
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  3. Posts : 10,455
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Service Pack 1
       #13

    You are right of course. There is little wrong with the Windows Backup utility if used correctly. I assumed the OP had tried it and didn't like it.
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  4. Posts : 47
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #14

    ignatzatsonic said:
    I'd recommend you avoid "incremental" backups if possible. They just add another layer of complexity.
    Really? My backups seem to run at about 250Gb in size, even with compression set to a higher level than the default. If I do one of those a week I'm going to very quickly run up large costs in storage, so it seemed to me that the incremental backup idea was something I didn't have much choice about.

    Thanks for the recs - on the basis of earlier comments I'd already installed EaseUS Todo Backup Free 4.0 and it does seem to be a bit easier to use than Nero. I need to do some testing by trying some selective restores and I'll keep yours in mind just in case.
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  5. Posts : 47
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #15

    Nehmo said:
    The posters so far have not recommended the Windows-included backup utility. Why? Is there something wrong with the Windows backup? Why are the after-market apps preferable?
    Hmmm... To be honest I can't say. I'd just received the impression from various sources that the Windows backup utility was not as good but I have to admit that I'd not tried it.

    Something to bear in mind if my current experiment with EaseUS Todo doesn't pan out. Thanks.
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  6. Posts : 7,730
    Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-Bit
       #16

    I've used Windows 7's backup utility and got on fine with it.

    I think a lot of the reluctance to use it is that legacy Windows utility programs are sometimes not all that good, so people are reluctant to use any that Windows have to offer, but I do feel Windows 7 is a lot better in that respect.
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  7. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #17

    AussieColin said:
    ignatzatsonic said:
    I'd recommend you avoid "incremental" backups if possible. They just add another layer of complexity.
    Really? My backups seem to run at about 250Gb in size, even with compression set to a higher level than the default. If I do one of those a week I'm going to very quickly run up large costs in storage, so it seemed to me that the incremental backup idea was something I didn't have much choice about.
    Do you have your data on the same partition as the OS?? If so, you might consider splitting them up into separate partitions. And then backup the OS partition using an image and backup the data partition using a folder-by-folder backup application--probably on different schedules.

    Here is my method:

    C partition for Windows and programs only; about 30 GB occupied; D partition for data only; 415 GB occupied.

    C partition backed up once a month, using an image program with standard compression; full backups, not incrementals; each image takes up about 13 GB. Takes about 6 minutes.

    D partition backed up daily, folder by folder, not an image; the backup occupies 415 GB; when the backup is run, only new files or files that have been modified since the last backup are backed up; takes about 1 minute.

    All backups are to an E drive with a single partition.

    If you use weekly full image backups of C and C contains 250 GB of Windows and data, then the space required would grow quickly as you say. However, if you put data on a second partition and back it up ONLY folder by folder, your full images of what is left (C without data) would be much smaller--maybe only 15 GB or so. Then you have to decide how many historical images of Windows/apps you have to keep.

    I keep three full images: an early original, this month, and last month. Total occupied space for all 3 is now 37 GB.

    I agree with you that full images of large partitions take up a lot of space--but you can avoid that by not imaging your data. If you use folder by folder for a separate data partition, you have only a one-time large backup. Each subsequent data backup adds very little.

    Imaging can be problematic under the best of circumstances. There are posts on this forum of issues with incrementals and I prefer to keep it simple when possible. That's why I don't entrust my data backups to imaging at all.
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  8. Posts : 47
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #18

    ignatzatsonic said:
    AussieColin said:
    ignatzatsonic said:
    I'd recommend you avoid "incremental" backups if possible. They just add another layer of complexity.
    Really? My backups seem to run at about 250Gb in size, even with compression set to a higher level than the default. If I do one of those a week I'm going to very quickly run up large costs in storage, so it seemed to me that the incremental backup idea was something I didn't have much choice about.
    Imaging can be problematic under the best of circumstances. There are posts on this forum of issues with incrementals and I prefer to keep it simple when possible. That's why I don't entrust my data backups to imaging at all.
    I think you're right that I need to look more carefully at the way that I'm doing it. I am maintaining separation of data to a large extent but not completely. Something else to work on I think: I've been caught enough times to want to get it right.
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  9. Posts : 47
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #19

    seavixen32 said:
    I've used Windows 7's backup utility and got on fine with it.

    I think a lot of the reluctance to use it is that legacy Windows utility programs are sometimes not all that good, so people are reluctant to use any that Windows have to offer, but I do feel Windows 7 is a lot better in that respect.
    You're quite right - despite the fact that I'm very much more impressed with Win 7 than with previous versions I still tend to automatically dismiss things like the built in backup, firewall and so on and go for the commercial alternatives. Too many years of working with the problems of earlier versions I guess. So, I guess I'll check out the Windows one too.
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  10. Posts : 9
    Kansas
       #20

    kado897 said:
    You are right of course. There is little wrong with the Windows Backup utility if used correctly. I assumed the OP had tried it and didn't like it.
    The correct inflection of the word is "trying", not "tired". I've been trying to backup a Windows 7 Home Premium system for months. I have a thread about it going nowhere, and I'm about to give up on the Windows utility by trying Macrium Reflect, which I just installed.

    The problem I'm having with Windows Utility backup is that it fails and gives error code
    0x80070003
    Looking it up gives this Windows backup or restore errors 0x80070001... Support page
    "...In the Command Prompt window, type DIR /AL /S and then press Enter. The list of JUNCTION (one type of reparse point) list is displayed...

    "...Locate the reparse point you found, right click the reparse point icon and click Properties.
    In the General tab, confirm the folder Type is Mounted Volume and then delete this folder..."

    But when I look in the Properties of these Junctions, they are not identified as Mounted Volume. Also, I don't want to delete these folders.

    And this leads me to learn about Junction Points. I'm currently reading
    Application Compatibility: Junction Points and Backup Applications
    and
    Junction Points in Vista

    While I'm learning, I'll try the 3rd party thing. Eventually, I'll get it, but the trouble is I have so many other things to research and do. I had thought backing up would be simple. It's just copying files, isn't it?
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