Backing up multiple computers over network

YouAndI

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Hey,

First of all, I wasn't sure whether to post this in the drive or network board, so I hope it's okay here. Please feel free to move it if it's better off elsewhere!

I have three computers, all running Windows 7 Home Premium, that I would like to back up.

I have an external hard drive connected to one of the computers that I would like the backed up files to go to.

Firstly, how do I connect these three computers to the same network (possible via the WiFi, I assume) and have them back up their files to the external drive?

Secondly, I don't want each computer to be able to view one another's files. They need to connect to the same network without sharing data between them. Is this possible?

Thirdly, what backup program do you recommend using for the above task? I would like the backups to be automated, incremental and encrypted. If an inbuilt Windows utility isn't suitable then I'm open to paying for a program, but only a one-off fee (i.e. not annual payments).

Thank you very much for your help in advance!
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Dimension 9200
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit SP1
CPU
Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 @ 2.13GHz
Motherboard
Dell Inc. 0WG855
Memory
4.00GB DDR2
Graphics Card(s)
1024MB NVIDIA GeForce 210
Hard Drives
931GB Western Digital WDC
Hey,

First of all, I wasn't sure whether to post this in the drive or network board, so I hope it's okay here. Please feel free to move it if it's better off elsewhere!

I have three computers, all running Windows 7 Home Premium, that I would like to back up.

I have an external hard drive connected to one of the computers that I would like the backed up files to go to.

Firstly, how do I connect these three computers to the same network (possible via the WiFi, I assume) and have them back up their files to the external drive?

Secondly, I don't want each computer to be able to view one another's files. They need to connect to the same network without sharing data between them. Is this possible?

Thirdly, what backup program do you recommend using for the above task? I would like the backups to be automated, incremental and encrypted. If an inbuilt Windows utility isn't suitable then I'm open to paying for a program, but only a one-off fee (i.e. not annual payments).

Thank you very much for your help in advance!

The external drive will need to be located on the same local machine that you are backing up as you can't really back up or recover from a drive that is located on another machine. Each machine will also require it's own partition on this drive in order to save it's system image back up file.

Answer to Firstly, seriously this question is redundant because if they are all connected to the same router then they are also on the same network using the same default gateway etc. they will be on the same network.

Secondly, simply turn off Network Discovery and File and Printer sharing on each machine via the Advanced Sharing settings via the Network and Sharing Center. This will prevent any sharing between those machines.

Thirdly, I like using the built in Windows back up but there are many others such as the free version of Macrium Reflect etc. too many to name here take your pick do a search.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Home built
OS
Windows 7 Ult, Windows 8.1 Pro,
CPU
Q9650-4.275GHz, E8600 4.5GHz, E6750-3.8GHz
Motherboard
Evga 780i FTW
Memory
G.Skill PC2 9600 1200Mhz 5 5 5 15 2T
Graphics Card(s)
GTX480
Sound Card
Asus Xonar D2
Monitor(s) Displays
HannsG
Screen Resolution
1680X1050
Hard Drives
GSkill Phoenix Pro 120GB SSD
PSU
ThermalTake Toughpower 1000Watt modular
Case
ThermalTake XaserV
Cooling
Xigmatek S1283
Keyboard
Logitech G15
Mouse
Logitech G9
Internet Speed
T1
The external drive will need to be located on the same local machine that you are backing up as you can't really back up or recover from a drive that is located on another machine. Each machine will also require it's own partition on this drive in order to save it's system image back up file.

Answer to Firstly, seriously this question is redundant because if they are all connected to the same router then they are also on the same network using the same default gateway etc. they will be on the same network.

Secondly, simply turn off Network Discovery and File and Printer sharing on each machine via the Advanced Sharing settings via the Network and Sharing Center. This will prevent any sharing between those machines.

Thirdly, I like using the built in Windows back up but there are many others such as the free version of Macrium Reflect etc. too many to name here take your pick do a search.

Hey, thanks for the response.

So just to be clear, I need to have an external drive for all three computers? There's no way of just backing up through the network to one drive?

Would it be different if I was just backing up data such as docs/imgs/videos/etc rather than the whole system?
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Dimension 9200
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit SP1
CPU
Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 @ 2.13GHz
Motherboard
Dell Inc. 0WG855
Memory
4.00GB DDR2
Graphics Card(s)
1024MB NVIDIA GeForce 210
Hard Drives
931GB Western Digital WDC
The external drive will need to be located on the same local machine that you are backing up as you can't really back up or recover from a drive that is located on another machine. Each machine will also require it's own partition on this drive in order to save it's system image back up file.

Answer to Firstly, seriously this question is redundant because if they are all connected to the same router then they are also on the same network using the same default gateway etc. they will be on the same network.

Secondly, simply turn off Network Discovery and File and Printer sharing on each machine via the Advanced Sharing settings via the Network and Sharing Center. This will prevent any sharing between those machines.

Thirdly, I like using the built in Windows back up but there are many others such as the free version of Macrium Reflect etc. too many to name here take your pick do a search.

Hey, thanks for the response.

So just to be clear, I need to have an external drive for all three computers? There's no way of just backing up through the network to one drive?

Would it be different if I was just backing up data such as docs/imgs/videos/etc rather than the whole system?

Well for backing up anything else you can easily move any file to another drive on another machine but for system images etc. it's typically required to have the drive located on the local machine for back up's or recovery's. There may be a way around this using a Windows server or something else which I'm not familiar with.

Or you could move the drive from one machine to the next and back up each image to a separate partition.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Home built
OS
Windows 7 Ult, Windows 8.1 Pro,
CPU
Q9650-4.275GHz, E8600 4.5GHz, E6750-3.8GHz
Motherboard
Evga 780i FTW
Memory
G.Skill PC2 9600 1200Mhz 5 5 5 15 2T
Graphics Card(s)
GTX480
Sound Card
Asus Xonar D2
Monitor(s) Displays
HannsG
Screen Resolution
1680X1050
Hard Drives
GSkill Phoenix Pro 120GB SSD
PSU
ThermalTake Toughpower 1000Watt modular
Case
ThermalTake XaserV
Cooling
Xigmatek S1283
Keyboard
Logitech G15
Mouse
Logitech G9
Internet Speed
T1
If you do not want to move your external drive to each computer to back it up, you could set it up as a share on your network off of one of the computers. From there just point the backups to that location.
 

My Computer

Computer type
Laptop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Alienware
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64
CPU
Intel i7-3840QM
Memory
16GB
Graphics Card(s)
Geforce GT 650M
Hard Drives
512GB SSD
Antivirus
Malwarebytes Premium
Browser
Firefox and IE
Yes you should be able to save a system image to a network location, the directions for this in the following link.
How to create a Windows system image in Windows 7 and Windows 8

Although I've found that recovering from a system image that is located on another networked machine does not always work as you would as it should but according to the directions in the following link it should be possible by using the advanced recovery option.
How to use System Image Recovery in the Windows 7 and Windows 8 Recovery Environment
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Home built
OS
Windows 7 Ult, Windows 8.1 Pro,
CPU
Q9650-4.275GHz, E8600 4.5GHz, E6750-3.8GHz
Motherboard
Evga 780i FTW
Memory
G.Skill PC2 9600 1200Mhz 5 5 5 15 2T
Graphics Card(s)
GTX480
Sound Card
Asus Xonar D2
Monitor(s) Displays
HannsG
Screen Resolution
1680X1050
Hard Drives
GSkill Phoenix Pro 120GB SSD
PSU
ThermalTake Toughpower 1000Watt modular
Case
ThermalTake XaserV
Cooling
Xigmatek S1283
Keyboard
Logitech G15
Mouse
Logitech G9
Internet Speed
T1
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