Backup and restore help needed

[priorytrans]

Hi, I'm new here... but then again, you probably already guessed that by the fact that I'm posting this in the general discussion forum.

As I'm pretty sure this isn't the right place to ask I'm hoping someone will point me in the direction of where that is, but in case there's a quick and easy fix someone knows of I'm going to ask anyway.

I've backed up a network of, say, 6 PCs onto a NAS drive and then copy/pasted all that onto an external HDD to be kept away from the network. But how can I restore from this HDD when backup & restore doesn't appear to let me find the HDD.

Is there a way of setting up another backup to take all the stuff off the NAS and put it on the HDD or will C&P suffice?

All help gratefully received, though I totally understand if you just roll your eyes and tut, tut at the newbie.

Thanks,

priorytrans

 

[not so gray matter]

From what I can tell, C&P should be fine, although it'd be better to clone the partition using a program like Partition Wizard. Granted, it will take longer to clone the partition each time you want a backup of your backups but it will make sure that you can use the Backup files and that you don't miss anyway hidden files.

BTW, Please don't post duplicates...


MODERATOR: This is a clone of this post: http://www.sevenforums.com/performance-maintenance/78488-backup-restore-help-needed.html

 

[priorytrans]

Apologies for the duplication but I'm doing this in a bit of a hurry (boss goes away tomorrow for the week and wants to take HDD with him so I've got to get it cracked this afternoon, hence time being of the essence and the duplication, but point taken in any case).

Can you guide me through how to do a restore through C&P though? You say it should be fine but as I couldn't get it to pick up the HDD how am I likely to be able to get it to work?

Also, you mentioning cloning the partition. 'Scuse my ignorance but I wasn't aware I'd partitioned (yes, again giving myself away as an amateur newbie) so if I'm going to need to do something like that, any and all help will be gratefully received!

 

[not so gray matter]

If the backup isn't showing up then you probably can't just copy and paste. I can't find any resources on backing up a back up... frankly it just seems rediculous.

Every hard drive has a partition, even if you didn't create it. It has to have a partition to run.

To clone a partition:

Open Partition Wizard
Select a partition (drive)
Select Copy and select where you wish the copy to go.
OK > Apply

Also, I have no idea whether NAS drives will show up in partition wizard.

If you're lucky that'll preserve everything on the partition and the backup utility will recognize it as a backup.

EDIT: There are other utilities that will back up a hard drive without using the Windows feature. You'll still have to use the Windows feature to restore, but maybe it'll work, I don't know. http://www.gfi.com/backup-hm