Windows Image Backup.. Backup

[AndyHK]

Hiya there

New Windows 7 user here (Home Prem X64) come Directly from XP Pro. I have used the system backup tool and made a system image.. worked great big thumbs up to Microsoft on this version

The Question I have is this, can i make a backup (via normal drag and drop to another removable drive) of the 'WindowsImageBackup' folder and keep a separate backup of my backup.. if you get me. Will I be able to restore from a backup..of the backup if needed ?

Also i didn't schedule a backup (i don't like scheduled events) but used the direct ''make a system image'' command, not sure if that make a difference.

Thanks in advance for your help


Andy

 

[richc46]

Download this and put an image of your HD on an external hard drive

Free Backup Software: Paragon Backup & Recovery Free Edition - Overview

 

[AndyHK]

Thanks there Richard

Is that for real.. brilliant... and thanks

Take a click !!

Andy

 

[richc46]

Your enthusiasm for my help, made me feel so good, I am going to share other information with you.

Right now, download the software as directed. Learn how to use it and make an image of your HD and put it away and forget about it. On a regular basis use the back up that is part of Windows 7. Do it once or twice a month, so you will always have a current image. If you have a problem, you can always restore from the current.

One day you may download a virus and unwittingly make a copy of it or have a similar problem not involving a virus. Now you have no back up; what to do? Oh Yes, you have the old back up that you put away.

Good luck my friend.

 

[manhunter2826]

Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download gets good recommendations here too.

 

[edbrown]

System Image and Data File Backup

Hi there

Im not the best with computers and basically my problem is that i have a little samsung netbook with windows 7 on it and i am getting a popup message saying my D drive is full.

The breakdown of the memory Usage is Data File Back up 45.57GB, System Image 79.83GB and other files 3GB.

So i was wondering the best way to free up some space, can i just put the Data file back up on my external hard drive and delete it from the netbook. Or shall i do something with the System Image.

Thanks

Ed

 

[SIW2]

If that is Windows system image prgram - it won't store the image on your windows volume ( usually C ) so it puts it somewhere else - D in your case.

I would guess D is your recovery partition.

You can only restore a windows system image from it's original location .

It sounds like it is no use to you.

There are several free versions of commercial apps. that will be better suited to you.


There is a giveaway of one today here: Giveaway of the Day - free licensed software daily. Paragon Drive Copy 11 Pro Special Edition (English) - Paragon Drive Copy 11 Professional Special Edition. Performs any migration, no matter the source or target.

 

[edbrown]

My apologies for my lack of knowledge, but i dont know what this all means, what do i do once i have downloaded this program.

Thanks for your help.

 

[SIW2]

It is really meant as a program to migrate an operating system.

It can be used to backup as well.

Since they are giving it away - too good an opportunity to miss.

They do free one that is intended as an image backup program only.

You might find that easier to use.

Free Backup Software: Paragon Backup & Recovery Free Edition - Overview

The idea is to make an image of your operating system - with a 3rd party program like paragon - you can store that image anywhere - e.g. on an external drive.

You can also restore it from an external drive.

You can't do that with windows system image program.

Use a 3rd party app. instead for the extra flexibility.

Then you can delete all the stuff that windows is putting on your D drive.

 

[bru]

Download this and put an image of your HD on an external hard drive

Free Backup Software: Paragon Backup & Recovery Free Edition - Overview

Isn't that what "Create a System Image" via Windows Backup does? It puts the system image on an external drive. Isn't this just a different program to do the same thing?

 

[richc46]

The idea is to make an image of your operating system - with a 3rd party program like paragon - you can store that image anywhere - e.g. on an external drive.

You can also restore it from an external drive.

You can't do that with windows system image program.

Use a 3rd party app. instead for the extra flexibility.

Then you can delete all the stuff that windows is putting on your D drive.

I must admit that I am confused. Microsoft suggests that you do not keep your image on the same hard drive as the OS (I think this is good advice). Now, you are saying that you cannot use that external to restore to the original hard drive with the OS.
Mind you, I am not saying that you are wrong. I truly dont know. I never had to use the image. I do want to know in case I need to use the image one day.

 

[bru]

The idea is to make an image of your operating system - with a 3rd party program like paragon - you can store that image anywhere - e.g. on an external drive.

You can also restore it from an external drive.

You can't do that with windows system image program.

Use a 3rd party app. instead for the extra flexibility.

Then you can delete all the stuff that windows is putting on your D drive.

Windows System Image stores a copy of your entire system on an external drive. Yes it is more than just the OS but it certainly does include it.

The image has to be able to be restored from the external drive. That is the whole point.

 

[richc46]

Yes, the Image must be able to be restored from the external drive, and I always assumed that it could. That is the reason that MS says that it is best not to store the image on the drive with the OS.

 

[bru]

The programs mentioned are just other ways to accomplish basically the same thing that the Windows System Image does.

 

[richc46]

I certainly agree with that statement, but SIW2 says

You can also restore it from an external drive.
You can't do that with windows system image program.

 

[whs]

Download this and put an image of your HD on an external hard drive

Free Backup Software: Paragon Backup & Recovery Free Edition - Overview

Isn't that what "Create a System Image" via Windows Backup does? It puts the system image on an external drive. Isn't this just a different program to do the same thing?

If you are lucky it does that. And if you are lucky again (but only on Sunday mornings), you may even be able tp restore from that image.

But seriously. I have seen too many people having problems with Windows imaging and I also had my own share of that - so it is difficult for me to recommend Windows imaging as a viable solution.

If you want to use Windows facilities, use the Wbadmin command, that is safer.

 

[richc46]

TY Wolgang, I have lost 8kb of clusters on my drive. Not a lot on a 640GB drive, but probably an indication of what is to come. I have back up on an external using Macrium and System Image. I back up once a week now. Every time I change or make a new doucment, I copy on to a USB drive. Im in no rush to buy a new HD, but if Im forced to, Im ready; I hope.

 

[bru]

If you are lucky it does that. And if you are lucky again (but only on Sunday mornings), you may even be able tp restore from that image.

But seriously. I have seen too many people having problems with Windows imaging and I also had my own share of that - so it is difficult for me to recommend Windows imaging as a viable solution.

If you want to use Windows facilities, use the Wbadmin command, that is safer.

Your experience and the few others you mention notwithstanding, if there was such a major problem with a major part of the Windows Backup program wouldn't it's faults be known more widely?

There are probably millions of people sitting with System Images created by Windows on their external drives. So all of us will be in for a rude awakening when we try to restore them?

And if there really is a problem wouldn't MS had made some chages to B&R as they do with any other programs that have problems?

If you want to use Windows facilities, use the Wbadmin command, that is safer.

OK so assume there is a problem with a major Windows component, how do I use this command?

 

[whs]

OK so assume there is a problem with a major Windows component, how do I use this command

Wbadmin

 

[mjf]

You can only restore a windows system image from it's original location .

In my experience this is not actually correct. But it depends on what is meant by "original location".
If you move a Windows image anywhere within an existing partition and/or rename it, you have no problems. You need to move it back and rename if appropriate to "WindowsImageBackup" located in the root directory of a partition.
When you make one off images (not shadow difference images) you are fine.
I do it all the time. Note: moving within partition boundaries does not involve a physical image move.

When you move images across partition boundaries you are physically moving the image folder (lots of GBs!). Not practical but should work subject to the above one off image constraints.

From practical usage I fully support Macrium Reflect as well.