Choosing between a file backup and a image backup...

[MultiCat]

I've recently upgraded to a 1.5TB external hard drive for video production work, which has left me with a 500GB drive which is no longer needed.

I'm thinking of using it as a backup. Is Windows backup sufficient? Or should I be looking at specialist software?

Also, I'm probably just going to back up files; is there any reason for me to do an image backup of Windows, or would that just take up extra space? I understand that I would have to reinstall Windows should anything go wrong with my system then, but I do have recovery software pre-installed by the manufacturer. Is this sufficient?

Thanks.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I'm thinking of using it as a backup. Is Windows backup sufficient? Or should I be looking at specialist software?

Also, I'm probably just going to back up files; is there any reason for me to do an image backup of Windows, or would that just take up extra space? I understand that I would have to reinstall Windows should anything go wrong with my system then, but I do have recovery software pre-installed by the manufacturer. Is this sufficient?

Windows backup is sufficent, but not necessary. There are simpler alternatives.

No reason to make an image if you are willing to reinstall Windows manually whenever you might have to. An image of Windows would take up about half of the occupied space on C.

You should make recovery disks with the recovery software regardless of any decision on imaging.

 

[MultiCat]

I'm thinking of using it as a backup. Is Windows backup sufficient? Or should I be looking at specialist software?

Also, I'm probably just going to back up files; is there any reason for me to do an image backup of Windows, or would that just take up extra space? I understand that I would have to reinstall Windows should anything go wrong with my system then, but I do have recovery software pre-installed by the manufacturer. Is this sufficient?

Windows backup is sufficent, but not necessary. There are simpler alternatives.

No reason to make an image if you are willing to reinstall Windows manually whenever you might have to. An image of Windows would take up about half of the occupied space on C.

You should make recovery disks with the recovery software regardless of any decision on imaging.

I have recovery disks too.

What are the simpler alternatives? Drag and drop? How can I get that done automatically on all my files each day?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Simpler alternatives:

Imaging: Acronis and Macrium

Personal file backup: Second Copy, Karen's Replicator, Synctoy, and more. These are one-trick ponies that do what they do very well after considerable development. Windows backup is more of a one-size-fits-all app that isn't particularly easy to use or flexible. It works, but....................

 

[MultiCat]

Simpler alternatives:

Imaging: Acronis and Macrium

Personal file backup: Second Copy, Karen's Replicator, Synctoy, and more. These are one-trick ponies that do what they do very well after considerable development. Windows backup is more of a one-size-fits-all app that isn't particularly easy to use or flexible. It works, but....................

Thanks. I'll have a look into those.

 

[kado897]

Please remember that if you don't do an image backup you will not only have to re-install Windows and all its updates but also every other program you have installed now and you will also lose most of the setup and configuration you have done within Windows and any other installed programs.

I would recommend that you do take at least one image after you have everything set up the way you want it and update that image when you have major updates to the system.. if your data and System are reasonably separated on different volumes this will not be particularly large.

My own set up with most of my data on other drives and just a small amount on the c: drive gives an image size of around 32MB using Macrium. I also back up my data files separately using differing cycles depending on how frequently it changes.

 

[MultiCat]

Please remember that if you don't do an image backup you will not only have to re-install Windows and all its updates but also every other program you have installed now and you will also lose most of the setup and configuration you have done within Windows and any other installed programs.

I would recommend that you do take at least one image after you have everything set up the way you want it and update that image when you have major updates to the system.. if your data and System are reasonably separated on different volumes this will not be particularly large.

My own set up with most of my data on other drives and just a small amount on the c: drive gives an image size of around 32MB using Macrium. I also back up my data files separately using differing cycles depending on how frequently it changes.

Ah, ok. I never even thought about my system settings and such. I'm having trouble with Realtek HD Audio Manager at the minute, so once I've fixed that I'll definitely do an image backup.

I'll check out Macrium too. Thank you.

 

[kado897]

You are welcome Multicat. Please let us know how it goes.

 

[MultiCat]

You are welcome Multicat. Please let us know how it goes.

Just looked at Macrium and it's a trial system for 30 days. Is there something similar that's free?

 

[kado897]

There is a free edition of Macrium which only does image backups. You can get it here. Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download

 

[MultiCat]

There is a free edition of Macrium which only does image backups. You can get it here. Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download

Brilliant! Thank you.

 

[seavixen32]

A system image backup will mean you can restore your system from the backup with no worries about activation, losing your Windows disc, can't find drivers etc. etc.

I think it makes sense to create a system image and then backup your personal data separately on a regular basis. As to which software you use, it's your choice. Acronis and Macrium are good, but I've got on fine with the Windows 7 backup software.

 

[Ich]

Try Paragon backup 2011 (freeware).

You can create the base image of your system on an external drive & following that you can do differential backups on a daily or weekly basis if necessary which are very small, only a few Mb's on a daily basis, taking into account any editing you may do on documents, images etc. A good all round backup application!

 

[kado897]

Yes. That's one of the advantages of free Paragon over free Macrium. I didn't suggest that because I had more problems with the Paragon recovery disk than i did with Macrium but that may just have been my set-up. Quite frankly neither Linux disk was ideal at finding my backup drives but others have had no problems. You just need to try it for yourself. Eventually I upgraded to Macrium Pro and the WinPE recovery disk works just fine.

 

[Ich]

kado
Luckily for all the years I have used Macrium & Paragon freeware backup I have never at any time had problems with the Linux recovery disks. Both apps have performed admirably.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Any Macrium user should test the recovery disk to assure the PC will boot from it and to confirm that the image file can be located and recognized. Boot from the disk and go several steps into the restoration procedure.

It isn't a foregone conclusion that the boot disk will work.

The last time I made a Macrium boot disk, my PC would not boot from it. I had to use one of the other two available modes of making the disk (debug mode?) before I could in fact boot from it and locate the image file.

 

[kado897]

Any Macrium user should test the recovery disk to assure the PC will boot from it and to confirm that the image file can be located and recognized. Boot from the disk and go several steps into the restoration procedure.

It isn't a foregone conclusion that the boot disk will work.

The last time I made a Macrium boot disk, my PC would not boot from it. I had to use one of the other two available modes of making the disk (debug mode?) before I could in fact boot from it and locate the image file.

I couldn't agree more. Any recovery disk should be tested in the environment it is going to be used.

 

[mjf]

I'm thinking of using it as a backup. Is Windows backup sufficient? Or should I be looking at specialist software?

With Windows "Backup & Restore" you need to be aware that it includes 2 totally separate programs:
- a file/folder backup program (uses zip files)
- Windows own imaging software (uses vhd files)

Windows imaging can be used on its own.
I use Windows imaging (primarily) and Macrium imaging just to be extra sure in case one fails.