Software for Backup to External Hard Drive

[abredt]

New desktop with Windows 7 (64 bit) Home Premium.

I want to use a system backup to a 1 or 2 TB external hard drive. Should I use the software within Windows 7 or the software that comes with the external hard drive or other?

Is there a brand of hard drive whose software you can recommend?

Thanks, cb

 

[linnemeyerhere]

abredt,
Welcome to SF. I would suggest Acronis software personally. What make is the hard drive and included software? I've also used the W7 back up and found if very capable.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Here's a link to Acronis,
Backup and restore system software and PC system utilities for Windows and Linux OSs

 

[essenbe]

Most here probably use more than one and the choices will depend on who you ask. Personally, I use windows backup, Macrium Free, and Acronis. By using more than one program you are pretty assured one will work. I back up to an internal drive as well as 2 external drives. If you have a Western Digital or Seagate hard drive, they both offer a condenced version of Acronis which can be downloaded from their web site. I use microsoft synctoy to back up my user files seprately.

 

[mjf]

I would recommend
1) Inbuilt Windows imaging (used manually via the "create a system image" button not setup automatically (ticked) in the backup settings).
2) Macrium Reflect free.

Both are free. Some don't like 1) for various reasons but has served me well in over 20+ images and 10+ full system restores.
You will find tutorials on both in the Tutorial section. Link to Macrium in free programs listing.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello abredt, welcome to Seven Forums!



Quite a few have serious issues with Windows backup; have a look at this tutorial at the link below and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.


Imaging with free Macrium

 

[theog]

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/675-system-image-recovery.html?ltr=S
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/648-restore-backup-user-system-files.html

 

[Todd Sauve]

Windows 7's built in Backup and Restore has proven to be a hit or miss proposition for me. Twice it has worked properly and three times it simply refused to work when restore time came around!

Thus the idea of running two or three different imaging programs has the most merit of any suggestions you will find anywhere.

Since there are several really competent completely FREE imaging programs to be found, you have an embarrassment of riches to choose from.

1. If you have a Seagate hard drive anywhere in your machine (not just as the boot drive) you can download their free DiscWizard program from their website. When you use it to image your drive, it will offer you the very latest Acronis Drive Image program for $30 US. That is a fair price, and 40% off retail, for probably the best imaging program around. Still, if you don't mind DiscWizard and the fact it does not offer any scheduling options then have at it.

2. Paragon Backup and Recovery Free 2011 is also excellent and offers scheduling. However, I find the recovery boot disc to be problematic on my current machine because it just won't recognise my Logitech wireless mouse, and I end up having to control + tab around like crazy to get anything done with it. It has become a real nuisance to me, taking hours to make a simple image that used to take it 5 minutes, and I'm now on the verge of tossing it in the dumpster.

3. I just downloaded and used EaseUS's free Todo Backup 2.5.1 tonight and tried it out. It worked perfectly and restored perfectly too, requiring 25 minutes to make the image but only 11 minutes to restore it from the Linux boot disc. This is a nice slick program and allows scheduling, as well as the ability to restrict the number of backup images it will store--a feature that is very hard to find on free imaging programs and will save you a lot of space on your back up disc.

There you go. Good luck and let us know how it goes for you!

 

[whs]

Use anything suggested above (Acronis, Macrium, Paragon) but NOT the built in Windows imaging. It has no function, you never know what it does and gives you nothing but headaches. There are some experts that seem to get along with it, but they are far and apart.

 

[essenbe]

Use anything suggested above (Acronis, Macrium, Paragon) but NOT the built in Windows imaging. It has no function, you never know what it does and gives you nothing but headaches. There are some experts that seem to get along with it, but they are far and apart.

I agree with WHS. System image has not been reliable for me. I use Westwen Digital's version of Acronis (free) and free Macrium. Probably the fastest and simplest imaging program is Macrium. It has a simple easy to use interface and is very quick. To show you, I did a backup last night with Macrium.


It will restore using a linux CD that also has a simple interface and takes only a couple minutes longer. It has saved me several times.

 

[scr]

For what it's worth a free copy of Easeus Todo Backup Pro v2.5 is available here:

EASEUS Todo Backup Professional 2.5 Review & Giveaway

From the linked site:
"EASEUS Todo Backup Professional cost $29 for a single copy. It isn’t expensive for this great backup and recovery tool, but Freebiest will bring to you a chance to grab it for free."

Downloaded, installed and working as described.

While I'd prefer to use Macrium it could not see my external USB WD drive for recovery.

 

[whs]

While I'd prefer to use Macrium it could not see my external USB WD drive for recovery.

Was that a USB3 drive?

 

[scr]

While I'd prefer to use Macrium it could not see my external USB WD drive for recovery.

Was that a USB3 drive?

No, it's a WD USB 2

 

[Todd Sauve]

For what it's worth a free copy of Easeus Todo Backup Pro v2.5 is available here:

EASEUS Todo Backup Professional 2.5 Review & Giveaway

From the linked site:
"EASEUS Todo Backup Professional cost $29 for a single copy. It isn’t expensive for this great backup and recovery tool, but Freebiest will bring to you a chance to grab it for free."

Downloaded, installed and working as described.

While I'd prefer to use Macrium it could not see my external USB WD drive for recovery.

Hi scr,

I downloaded and installed this Pro version you linked for us. Thank you for the link!

During the install I looked at the licensing agreement and it was talking about it being a 15 day trial. Hopefully this is not the case. What it seems to be is a version of the program they have ceased to offer for sale any longer. In fact, it looks like it is the immediate predecessor of their new totally free Todo Backup program because it is called version 2.5 while the current free one is 2.5.1.

I have it doing a backup right now, so I'll get back to you on how well it works, and whether it is missing any features the free 2.5.1 version is now sporting.

 

[scr]

For what it's worth a free copy of Easeus Todo Backup Pro v2.5 is available here:

EASEUS Todo Backup Professional 2.5 Review & Giveaway

From the linked site:
"EASEUS Todo Backup Professional cost $29 for a single copy. It isn’t expensive for this great backup and recovery tool, but Freebiest will bring to you a chance to grab it for free."

Downloaded, installed and working as described.

While I'd prefer to use Macrium it could not see my external USB WD drive for recovery.

Hi scr,

I downloaded and installed this Pro version you linked for us. Thank you for the link!

During the install I looked at the licensing agreement and it was talking about it being a 15 day trial. Hopefully this is not the case. What it seems to be is a version of the program they have ceased to offer for sale any longer. In fact, it looks like it is the immediate predecessor of their new totally free Todo Backup program because it is called version 2.5 while the current free one is 2.5.1.

I have it doing a backup right now, so I'll get back to you on how well it works, and whether it is missing any features the free 2.5.1 version is now sporting.

I hope it isn't a 15 day trial offer as well. according to the linked website:

"In cooperation between Freebiest and CHENGDU YIWO Tech Development Co., Ltd., we offer for all you can enjoy EASEUS Todo Backup Professional 2.5 free totally with Freebiest full version edtion (no license code is needed)"

I guess I'll know for sure in 14 days.

 

[Todd Sauve]

OK, this Pro version seems to be identical to the Free one, except it allows you to backup to a FTP site. The backup itself took 34 minutes versus the free version's 26 minutes. The recovery disc seems to be the identical Linux boot CD as the free one uses.

Those are the only differences I can see. Still, this is a terrific program for the cost of nothing at all!

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
This actually looks quite good too -- The Stand alone (Bootable) version also works on a SERVER (W2K3) -- just tried it.


I think you will have a problem with ESATA drives however -- but if you haven't got any then this isn't a problem.

This program seems to be the best freebie so far -- I do NEED ESATA capability however but if you don't this program should answer all your needs.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Todd Sauve]

Hi there
This actually looks quite good too -- The Stand alone (Bootable) version also works on a SERVER (W2K3) -- just tried it.


I think you will have a problem with ESATA drives however -- but if you haven't got any then this isn't a problem.

This program seems to be the best freebie so far -- I do NEED ESATA capability however but if you don't this program should answer all your needs.

Cheers
jimbo

Actually, when I did the recovery of the image of my C drive, using the free Todo version, it was stored on my external Samsung 1 TB eSATA disc. The Linux boot disc allowed me to navigate to the stored image file on the correct partition without any problems. So maybe it is just what you need.

 

[scr]

Hi there
This actually looks quite good too -- The Stand alone (Bootable) version also works on a SERVER (W2K3) -- just tried it.


I think you will have a problem with ESATA drives however -- but if you haven't got any then this isn't a problem.

This program seems to be the best freebie so far -- I do NEED ESATA capability however but if you don't this program should answer all your needs.

Cheers
jimbo

Actually, when I did the recovery of the image of my C drive, using the free Todo version, it was stored on my external Samsung 1 TB eSATA disc. The Linux boot disc allowed me to navigate to the stored image file on the correct partition without any problems. So maybe it is just what you need.

Actually the creation of a WinPE recovery Disk is what I needed to see my external drive. I didn't try the Linux boot disc as it didn't work with Macrium. This option is available in both offerings of Todo.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
The Linux stand alone disc works fine and sees an Esata device.

In general the Linux distros tend to support new devices often quicker than windows -- advantage of "Open Source Devlopement" of course vs traditional methods of proprietary Software development.

Not only that -- if you are a little bit adventurous you can of course compile your own kernel. !!! however that's a bit extreme for most users.

However back to the point -- this definitely works "exactly as it says on the tin" so grab it while its free.

BTW it actually INSTALLS fine on W2K3 sever (I'm running a W2K3 VM) -- and runs fine so the statement on the website that says "Doesn't support a Server" seems to be a load of "Little round objects".

Cheers
jimbo