Backup and Restore Two External Drives

INFO FYI-
Using Windows 7 Pro on a PC
Local “C” Drive 151GB Free of 223GB (used 71GB)
Data #1 Ext Drive “F” 468GB Free of 930GB (465GB) (My Book External HD)
Photos Recipes #2 Ext Drive “H” 301GB free of 931GB (627GB) (My Book External HD)

I had to re-arrange my data and photos on my PC and now it is distributed as noted above.
When I go to Control Panel and BACKUP, I only see the Photos Recipes #2 Drive “H for backup
but not the Data #! Ext Drive “F”.
Q1: How do I add a BACKUP for both my Data#1 Drive “F” and also my Photos Recipes
#2 Drive “H” ?
Q:2- Do I need to add my local “C” drive for a backup ?
Q:3- Do I need to buy a third external drive (like 3TB) for the backup location?

Regarding ‘Restore My Files’- No dates shown on initial panel, but when I click on
other file dates to restore I see several.
Q:4- How do I include restore files for both my Data Ext Drive “F” and my PhotosRecipes Ext Drive “H”?
Q:5- Do I need to include restore files for Local “C” Drive?

Any help will be most appreciated,

Sy S

What are you using for backup as we need to know that or do you just want to copy files?

Hello Samuria,

I do not have any software program for backups. I am currently using the area on Windows 7 Pro and within Control Panel "Backup and Restore" section. I want to use their Backup procedure. And for the Restore to previous dates, want to use that as well (when needed). Again, I want to do this for both my two external hard drives... for backups and restore to previous dates.

Aside- A long time ago I had used Norton Ghost 15.0 for Windows XP (CD Disc also says can be used for Windows 7), however, it never worked at all even with tech support.... so do not want to go that route if possible.

Sy S.

There are plenty of free cloning tools out there Magnum reflect is one most used

>>There are plenty of free cloning tools out there Magnum reflect is one most used<<
Thanks for the above referral, Magnum Reflect. However, I still want to be able to use the
Windows 7 Pro features of "Backup and Restore". Perhaps, others might post.

Thank You,

Sy S

Hi All,
Greets, @Sy S : Sir,
1) The flexibility, reliability & speed of Macrium Reflect Free is unmatched:
3 Free Norton Ghost Alternatives to Create a Full Windows Image Backup • Raymond.CC
2) Can you take some snaps using built in snipping tool where ever you find odds ?
3) Normally back up is done/saved to a external harddisk but it seems you want to backup external harddisks , quite strange!
4) i suppose you know the difference between a system image backup and normal files backup ?


Thanks & Regards. ...

Vineet and others,

For me it is not so strange to have two External Hard Drives- I have been using an old Dell Computer for years and with Windows 7 Pro. My computer crashed and I had to refurbish the “C” drive and add some newer software (like MS Office…). After continuing to use the local “C” drive for more data and recipes… I decided to get a second external hard drive… and now have my Data on external Hard Drive “F” and my photos recipes on External Hard Drive “H”. Further, I am using an older version of Photoshop and it works great using Windows 7 Pro and I did not want to upgrade to a subscription based software… and also did not want to go to Windows 10. Basically, Windows 7 Pro has been good to use and now I can continue to use it. But I guess in the future no more latest patches/fixes from Microsoft.

A system Restore will restore files from previous restore dates on my computer. For example if my computer crashes (or a while ago Windows upgrade/patches created a problem on my computer and I used the restore feature)… so I did not lose my date from the above problem. A System Image Backup is a copy of my "C" drive and windows drives to run my computer as well as system setup info... a Backup copy on a DVD disc for example (Bootable Disk).

When I have the time (the real big problem)… I will look into using Macrium Reflect and perhaps a free Norton Ghost for a Media Backup. The Raymond URL WAS EXCELLENT, THANKS! Finding Odds? Not aware of using the snapping tool… I guess it is a photo image of a screen to show odd files?

I am not sure if I want to us constant backup software monitoring my computer for backing up my work/files (every hour or so etc) (I have an older system and can't have many programs running at the same time, slows down the computer) I just might get another External Hard Drive (#3) and make a copy of my Two External Hard Drives (3TB storage External Hard drive??) from time-to-time. And I do not want to go to a third party on the internet for storage/backing up. However, I really liked the Restore feature from a previous restore date… that worked great in the past, for this current refurbished Hard Drive.

I will have to look into all the above.. thanks again for everyone’s comments.

Sy S.

Sir,
Relax, I will take all in the count one by one!

Thanks & Regards. ...