Is the built in backup program of any use?

[mohab]

I have read in this forum that many people here use third party backup software like Macium Reflect, if so then is Windows 7 built in backup software any good? Can it produce a rescue media that can restore the hard disk if Windows won't start?

 

[Britton30]

I have no use for the w7 backup, but here is a tutorial explaining how it works.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/675-system-image-recovery.html
The user has no control of what it does and it brings along unneeded file such as the page file.

Macrium is the favored way I think and has never failed me.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html#post648001

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I have read in this forum that many people here use third party backup software like Macium Reflect, if so then is Windows 7 built in backup software any good? Can it produce a rescue media that can restore the hard disk if Windows won't start?

Any good?

By most accounts it works if you understand its peculiarities and know exactly what it is doing. But if you just dive into it, you might find it confusing and be in for some surprises at exactly the wrong time. Its not particularly intuitive or flexible when compared to competing products.

 

[bigmck]

I agree with Britton30 that Macrium is the way to go if you need an Image Backup.

 

[BJB]

... is Windows 7 built in backup software any good? Can it produce a rescue media that can restore the hard disk if Windows won't start?

You create a System Repair Disk in Windows Backup, that is your rescue media. Despite the abuse that is regularly poured on Windows Backup it is in fact perfectly usable and reliable, though third party programs are faster, more flexible and produce smaller backups. The main drawback I find with it is that it can be cumbersome to keep more than one system image on the same backup drive due to the need to rename the previous backup first, and to have to reverse the process in order to restore a backup other than the last one.

For myself I like to have more than one backup system so I do use the built-in system to complement Macium Reflect.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

X4 for Macrium Reflect Free (here is a good tutorial on how to use Macrium Reflect).

 

[mohab]

Thank you all for your insightful answers. Looks like I;m sticking with Macrium's Reflect for the time being.