Solved 2Q's 1:Can I delete useless partition? 2:Best backup software?

[Robwan]

Hi, 2 questions if I may, regarding storage/data

1: Ages ago i stupidly put a windows 7 dvd into my computer already running on win 7 (to test whether the dvd was ok). It automatically made a 100mb partition on my hdd. Its been there for a long time and I've just left as it does no harm, Can i deleted it though? or is it safer just to leave it now as its only 100mb.

2: I just got another sata hdd which i'm using in an usb enclosure for back up purposes. Apart from the normal method of copying my files over every week or so, do you have any recommendations on free software which is more efficient for my backup needs?

Thanks guys!

 

[Bongo]

#1
See if this tutorial will help you out https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/209885-bootmgr-move-c-easybcd.html

#2
I use SyncBack Free - freeware version of the ultimate data backup software the free version is about a third of the way down the page and can be set up in many different ways.
Jerry

 

[AddRAM]

Post a shot of disk management. The 100 MB partition was made when windows was originally installed . Leave it alone and if it has a drive letter it shouldn`t.

 

[DeaconFrost]

1. I would leave it for now, as it is only 100 MBs. In the future, you don't have to create it during the install. None of my drives have it.

2. I still consider SyncToy the gold standard for free syncing apps. It's very simple to use, gives you plenty of options, and can be scheduled.

 

[kado897]

I liked FreeFileSync so much I did a video on how to use it. Backup With FreeFileSync - YouTube

 

[Robwan]

Thanks guys, some really helpful tips here i'm gonna check out some of those programs.

And sorry i probably didn't explain the 100mb partition issue properly, basically its not from my install of win 7. I already had win 7 installed on my machine for like a year or something with no partitions. Then one day a friend was having trouble installing his win 7 on his machine, so he asked me to test the dvd. Upon putting it in my machine, the normal screen appeared (Autoplay with the 'run setup option') but then it just went ahead and started creating a 100mb partition so i stopped it.

I put a screen shot of it

I liked FreeFileSync so much I did a video on how to use it. Backup With FreeFileSync - YouTube

Nice tut, u should do one of how get the invisible taskbar, thats awesome!

 

[kado897]

Thanks guys, some really helpful tips here i'm gonna check out some of those programs.

I liked FreeFileSync so much I did a video on how to use it. Backup With FreeFileSync - YouTube

Nice tut, u should do one of how get the invisible taskbar, thats awesome!

Thanks Robwan. Invisible taskbar?

 

[DavidE]

Hope I'm not off topic or missed something, but i think it's worth noting...

I haven't seen any mention of backup imaging the OS and Programs in this thread.
That is different than backing up personal data.

The day a system will not boot, or does not work correctly, having a backup image can be a life saver and save many hours of frustration.
System Restore points may fix an issue, but a backup image is a better option to have available.
A backup image is a complete restorable "copy" of the OS, restore points are not.

An image can restore the OS and programs in < 1 hour without needing to re-install/re-configure/re-activate the OS and programs.
If you re-install Windows and all programs regularly, then you may not need or want backup images.
If being able to recover from an HD fail, Windows fail, etc. is important, then you should consider imaging.

A couple of tutorials about this:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html?filter
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?filter

 

[kado897]

Quite right +1.

 

[patio]

For a paid solution for Disk Imaging apps i recommend and use Acronis True Image...

For a Free solution out of all those i tested the top 2 would be Macrium Reflect or CloneZilla...

 

[Robwan]

OK cool I'll look into image backup, sounds good. Many thanks guys

Thanks guys, some really helpful tips here i'm gonna check out some of those programs.

I liked FreeFileSync so much I did a video on how to use it. Backup With FreeFileSync - YouTube

Nice tut, u should do one of how get the invisible taskbar, thats awesome!

Thanks Robwan. Invisible taskbar?

Oh my bad haha, it looked like your task bar was completely invisible, kinda like this Windows 7 Invisible Taskbar by ~4tyn on deviantART

 

[SIW2]

Did you ever look at disk management before?

If you didn't - you would not have seen the 100mb.

You can't see it in windows explorer.

 

[kado897]

OK cool I'll look into image backup, sounds good. Many thanks guys

Thanks guys, some really helpful tips here i'm gonna check out some of those programs.



Nice tut, u should do one of how get the invisible taskbar, thats awesome!

Thanks Robwan. Invisible taskbar?

Oh my bad haha, it looked like your task bar was completely invisible, kinda like this Windows 7 Invisible Taskbar by ~4tyn on deviantART

Afraid not. It is white and as transparent as windows will set it.

 

[Robwan]

Hope I'm not off topic or missed something, but i think it's worth noting...

I haven't seen any mention of backup imaging the OS and Programs in this thread.
That is different than backing up personal data.

The day a system will not boot, or does not work correctly, having a backup image can be a life saver and save many hours of frustration.
System Restore points may fix an issue, but a backup image is a better option to have available.
A backup image is a complete restorable "copy" of the OS, restore points are not.

An image can restore the OS and programs in < 1 hour without needing to re-install/re-configure/re-activate the OS and programs.
If you re-install Windows and all programs regularly, then you may not need or want backup images.
If being able to recover from an HD fail, Windows fail, etc. is important, then you should consider imaging.

A couple of tutorials about this:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html?filter
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?filter

My hdd is 500gb and my backup external is also 500gb. ive got about 150gb free on my main hdd, so i will be making an image backup of 350gb to the external correct?

After Ive copied the image backup to the external hdd can i use the remaining 150gb for anything i like, such as backing up more recent word documents etc, since i don't want to be doing a new image backup everyday lol.

Thanks

 

[Robwan]

Did you ever look at disk management before?

If you didn't - you would not have seen the 100mb.

You can't see it in windows explorer.

Yea you've got a point actually, it was so long time ago, but i seem to remember being sure that it was not there before..I'll probably just leave it though and play safe.

 

[kado897]

Hope I'm not off topic or missed something, but i think it's worth noting...

I haven't seen any mention of backup imaging the OS and Programs in this thread.
That is different than backing up personal data.

The day a system will not boot, or does not work correctly, having a backup image can be a life saver and save many hours of frustration.
System Restore points may fix an issue, but a backup image is a better option to have available.
A backup image is a complete restorable "copy" of the OS, restore points are not.

An image can restore the OS and programs in < 1 hour without needing to re-install/re-configure/re-activate the OS and programs.
If you re-install Windows and all programs regularly, then you may not need or want backup images.
If being able to recover from an HD fail, Windows fail, etc. is important, then you should consider imaging.

A couple of tutorials about this:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html?filter
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?filter

My hdd is 500gb and my backup external is also 500gb. ive got about 150gb free on my main hdd, so i will be making an image backup of 350gb to the external correct?

After Ive copied the image backup to the external hdd can i use the remaining 150gb for anything i like, such as backing up more recent word documents etc, since i don't want to be doing a new image backup everyday lol.

Thanks

Yes you can use the rest of the disk for anything you like. The image file will be smaller if you use a third party backup like Macrium Free and is likely to be quicker as well. Whatever you chose don't forget to create the appropriate rescue disk and test that it will boot and can see your image file.

 

[Robwan]

Yes you can use the rest of the disk for anything you like. The image file will be smaller if you use a third party backup like Macrium Free and is likely to be quicker as well. Whatever you chose don't forget to create the appropriate rescue disk and test that it will boot and can see your image file.

Awesome! I just watched the tuts on it. I'm gonne give macrium a go then. One last question, sorry, I take it its a good idea to make a backup image regularly, will this just involve deleting the old one every time and simply making a new one?

thanks

 

[kado897]

Yes you can use the rest of the disk for anything you like. The image file will be smaller if you use a third party backup like Macrium Free and is likely to be quicker as well. Whatever you chose don't forget to create the appropriate rescue disk and test that it will boot and can see your image file.

Awesome! I just watched the tuts on it. I'm gonne give macrium a go then. One last question, sorry, I take it its a good idea to make a backup image regularly, will this just involve deleting the old one every time and simply making a new one?

thanks

Yes you can do that or if you have the room you can keep more than one. I guess that in your case you won't have the room so just delete and rerun the backup. A single backup however is always a risk so if you can get a cheap HDD it would be worth the investment.

 

[Robwan]

Ok got it,Thanks, i really appreciate all your help with this