How to back up my windows 7 partition?

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  1. Posts : 212
    Windows 7 64bit
       #1

    How to back up my windows 7 partition?


    Hi everyone im a new boy so im posting a few threads on a few issues i have, i have red through the forum and its fab so much info, just want to make sure on 1 thing tho, i keep getting a notification to back up my machine so im going to do it, i have a 500gb hd spilt into 4 partitons, they are windows on C, Apps on H, Games on J and Music & Pictures on I. I plan to back up to an external 300gb hd, my main question is do i need to back up all the partitons or just the one with windows on?
    Have not got the space for all the partitions so i thought i would go for the main one.

    many thanks everyone

    Craney
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 13,354
    Windows 7 Professional x64
       #2

    Welcome!

    All you need to back up is your main partition (C). All the rest is your choice.

    After typing that, I am unsure. I do not know how to answer that. If you backup your OS partition, that is what you can restore. Same with all the other partitions.

    Hope this helps,
    ~Jonathan
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 259
    Windows 10 Home
       #3

    In your case, if it were me, I would back up C: and H: so you would at least have a system running in case of failure.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 2,573
    Win7 Ultimate X64
       #4

    Windows backup will give you the option of what you want to backup.
    The c drive and 100MB system reserved partition are included by default ie you cant deselect them but the other partitions you can select whether to backup or not

    Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

    Hope this helps
    Last edited by Brink; 11 Jan 2010 at 16:15. Reason: added link
      My Computer

  5.    #5

    I would back up externally a Win7 System Image of C: and then backup files on all partitions by dragging them to external, or select them for scheduled backup in Backup Center.

    In case of failure of OS, you can then reimage C: from Win7 DVD Repair>Recover Using An Image.

    In case of HD failure, you can reimage C: and copy back files to partitions.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 212
    Windows 7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #6

    thanks so much everyone thats a great help! i will deffo backup my C drive for sure
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 212
    Windows 7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    I just backed up my C drive which is 70gb in size and my apps drive which is 100gb in size and after it transfered to my external HD i have a file which is liam-desktop which i take is the image and a mediaid.bin file. The image is only showing as 1.8gb is that right? and will that 1 image contain both the C drive and the app drive H in it?

    thanks again sorry for being a bit stupid
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 16,129
    7 X64
       #8

    You won't be able to see the full size as it is protected - probably to prevent people deleting it.

    From memory ( I don't use Windows backup as a rule ) you need to take ownership to see it.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 259
    Windows 10 Home
       #9

    As you go deeper into the folders you should have a folder that that is named Backup with the date and time. When you click on it you should see several .xml files, and in your case from backing up two partitions you will see two .vhd files. Those are the ones that will more closely show you how large they are.

    It may say you have to have admin rights to click on those folders, but just click it again.
    Last edited by Cato; 11 Jan 2010 at 17:04. Reason: Spelling
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 29
    Windows 7 x64 Ultimate
       #10

    craney5 said:
    Hi everyone im a new boy so im posting a few threads on a few issues i have, i have red through the forum and its fab so much info, just want to make sure on 1 thing tho, i keep getting a notification to back up my machine so im going to do it, i have a 500gb hd spilt into 4 partitons, they are windows on C, Apps on H, Games on J and Music & Pictures on I. I plan to back up to an external 300gb hd, my main question is do i need to back up all the partitons or just the one with windows on?
    Have not got the space for all the partitions so i thought i would go for the main one.

    many thanks everyone

    Craney
    From CMD (must be run as Administrator):

    wbadmin start backup -backuptarget:x: -include:c:

    where x: is the destination drive, c: is your boot drive. Enjoy.

    It creates an image of your C: drive, which, you can also mount from Disk Management. Useful if you create backups every once in a while and need to go back to one, to retrieve a file or check on something.
      My Computer


 
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