windows 7 backup

pson · 03 Nov 2014

I am trying to conserve space on my external harddrive.
when I do backups, using windows 7 backup functionality, I generally first delete the old files and then remake a new backup of personal files; and create a system image (set to overwrite the old image).
is this unnecessarily duplicative? does a system image cover the personal files twice?

would a better strategy have been to create one system image early-on (in order to preserve core windows installation, hardware, et.al.), and afterwards only backup personal files (that can be accessed individually)? I know this would then entail reinstalling all optional software after-the-fact, but it's a risk willing to take. obviously too late to do so now, but just wondering about my understanding, if it's correct.

thank you
-pson

Gary · 03 Nov 2014

I always delete the old backup and then just do a new image. I do this about every other day. Yes , the last time I had to re-install windows, after getting all of the updates and activating it, I then created an image. It is a great deal faster to restore an image than to re install. But it has been so long ago that now I just do an In Place Reinstall

Win7?s no-reformat, nondestructive reinstall

Tookeri · 03 Nov 2014

A system image is a copy of the hard drive, so it will also contain your personal files (if the personal files are stored on your hard drive)

I backup my personal files more often than I create a new system image. I usually create a system image only every other month or so. This way I know it'll contain most windows updates, new program versions etc. So the oldest system image I'll ever restore will be 2 months old, which means I'll quickly do a windows update, update new program versions etc. And then restore my personal files from the latest backup from last week (or when I did my last personal backup).
A pretty fast solution to get back on track quickly :)