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Windows Backup - reduce its disk space usage?
Windows Backup Program - how can I cope with its high Disk Space usage (because it creates too frequently new Backu-up sets)?
On my new Windows 7 Ultimate PC (64 bit). I need to backup my C Partition (approximately 23 GB in the system Image created by Windows Backup) , most of the data files of my H partition (approximately 14 GB) and most of the photo files on my F Disk (approximately 120 GB).
I bought with my PC an additional 2TB internal disk, that I intend to use nearly exclusively for Backups.
I was looking forward to use Windows Backup and its excellent incremental Backup capabilities. I was intending to run the Backup program weekly and to backup with it the C partition, my data files(on H) and my photo files (on F). In addition, I was intending to create less frequently backups on large external USB disks, that I store in a Safe of my bank.
I was quite happy with my first tests of the Windows-Backup. But after running the Backup Program approximately 5 times (I do not remember exactly the number of times), I was surprised to see that the Backup program had already created a new Backup Set with a new Full Backup of approximately 123 GB. After the creation of approximately 15 Backup sets, my Backup Disk will be more or less full.
Creating a new Backup Set as frequently as the Back-Up Program did, represents an important problem for me. Because, I was intending to keep my backups for quite long time.
I will therefore appreciate very much to get some help, in order to allow me to understand how I shall reduce the amount of disk storage used by Windows Backup on my PC. Can you please tell me if one of the following solution is possible and reasonable?
1. Can I somehow reduce the frequency at which the Backup Program creates a new Backup Set? E.g. after every 10 or 15 Backups instead of after every 5 backups as was my case (note: I do not know at all, if it is typical for the Backup Program to create approximately every 5th time a Full-Backup)
2. If I can not reduce the frequency at which the Backup Program creates new Backup sets: would it make sense, that I include in the system Image (in addition to the C partition) my two other partitions/disks (in such a scenario, I will not need anymore to perform for the files/folders on these disks a File/Folder-Level backup)?
I ask this question because I assume (without being 100% sure), that for System Image backups, the Windows Backup Program will stick to "incremental backups" without reverting intermittently to full Backups. This will probably result in a huge reduction in the amount of Disk space required for the Backups.
I understand that with this method, : in order to restore individual files or Folders, I will need to mount the .vhd file containing the backup. Then I will need to use Windows Explorer to copy the files/folders from the mounted .vhd file to my H and F Disks. This seems to be an acceptable disadvantage.
But because I have not yet any real experience with Windows Backup and with .vhd Files, I will appreciate very much, if you could tell me, whether this method has substantial disadvantages and whether you need to disrecommend this method..
3. If the two above solutions are not feasible or not recommendable: would you recommend me a particular reliable File/folder Backup Software that offers a good support of incremental backups and that does not use a propriatary format for the backups?
I also have following additional questions about the .vhd Files created by Windows-Backup
4. Is my assumption correct, that EFS encrypted files/folders are stored within the .vhd Backup Files in encrypted format?
5. I have read that after a Disk defragmentation the size of Acronis True Image incremental Backup files increase substantially (because a lot of Disk sectors get changed by Defragmentation). Is this also the case with the System Images created by Windows Backup?