Backup Program for Win7 - Looking for a Good Solid One?

[gumboman]

I'm looking for a good/solid Backup Program for Win7. I currently have Acronis TrueImage Backup, but am having major problems with it. I'm looking for other "Solid" Backup Programs options.

Would appreciate any insights and recommendations!

Thanks in advance.

Charlie

 

[Ranger4]

I use Macrium Reflect, as a lot of others on the Forum do. I use it for doing a weekly back up image of my Windows 7 hard drive to an external USB hard drive.

 

[gumboman]

Thanks for the Info, does it allow you to restore individual folders and/or files - and not just the whole system?

Thanks, looking forward to more info as I need to replace my current backup program!

Charlie

 

[RolandJS]

Yes, however, I think you have to have MR pay-for version 6 or version 7 to restore individual files or folders.

 

[SIW2]

Aomei Backupper standard ( free) has file and folder backup as well as drive/partition imaging.

AOMEI Backupper: Data Backup and Restore Software for PC, Laptop and Server

Thanks for the Info, does it allow you to restore individual folders and/or files - and not just the whole system?

Thanks, looking forward to more info as I need to replace my current backup program!

Charlie

 

[gumboman]

Yes, however, I think you have to have MR pay-for version 6 or version 7 to restore individual files or folders.

Thanks Roland - will look into Macrium Reflect.

Charlie

 

[RolandJS]

AOMEI Backupper free version can do folder and file restoration -- according to many sources

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

For backing up the System (OS and programs), imaging with Macrium Reflect Free can't be beat (unless you get the paid version of Macrium Reflect but, for most people, the free version is fine).

However, for backing up data files and folders, a folder/file syncing program, such as FreeFileSync, is much more efficient. When set to Mirror mode, it will compare your data drive, partition, or folders to your backup drive, then copy new and changed files on your data drive, partition, or folders to the backup drive and delete files on the backup drive that have been deleted form the data drive, partition, or folders. FreeFileSync also has the option to send deleted files to a versioning folder or drive. That will help protect you from data loss due to accidental deletion and allow you to recover earlier versions of files.

When using imaging and folder/file syncing, it is best to segregate your data files from your System files by having them on separate drives or partitions.

 

[gumboman]

Macrium Reflect - Need Help in Setting up Backup!

Thanks all for your replies.

I downloaded and installed Macrium Reflect, and need a bit of help in setting up a backup - can't quite figure out how to set it up! Below is an outline of what I want to do:

I have an Internal hard drive and an External hard drive and I normally backup files and folders from one to the other. I'm trying to setup a backup of the External hard drive to the Internal hard drive, but want to eliminate one folder on the External drive from the backup (the folder containing the Internal hard drive backup which is on the External drive).

So, exactly how do I do this on this program - I could not quite figure out how to set it up.
Thanks for your help with this - I need to get my backups going again.

Charlie

 

[SIW2]

Are you trying to make an image of the external drive, excluding one folder?

Of the well known imaging programs, only Paragon can do that. Pretty sure the free version can also. Will check when I get a moment.

 

[mjf]

Thanks for the Info, does it allow you to restore individual folders and/or files - and not just the whole system?

Even with the free version of Macrium you can copy out files and folders.
- mount the image by double clicking on it
- go to the file/folder and then drag & drop copy ( I would recommend to a temporary area initially). Don't fiddle with the mounted image beyond looking or copying.
- Right click the mounted volume and unmount

 

[SIW2]

Example: Backup Drive R:, while excluding the giant WindowsImageBackup folder. I used Paragon 14 free version.











Click APPLY at top left of Paragon main window



Job done

 

[gumboman]

I'm trying to backup all my Folders on one drive to another drive, except for one folder I want to exclude from the backup. I was doing this with Acronis TrueImage Backup for a long time, but start having problems with TrueImage updates and decided to try another backup software.

 

[SIW2]

If it is just folder backups ( with exclusions), try this great little program.

View attachment ptreplicator-setup.zip

File Backup - How to Back Up Your Computer Files Using Karens Replicator (Freeware) - YouTube

Karens Replicator - YouTube

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

If you are backing up only data (not the OS and programs), FreeFileSync has a provision for you to exclude (filter) specific files and folders.

 

[Drumming Pete]

I use Macrium Reflect, as a lot of others on the Forum do. I use it for doing a weekly back up image of my Windows 7 hard drive to an external USB hard drive.

That friggin program can't create a rescue-usb without needing to download all kinds of things. Even if you have a boot.wim and drivers.

Aomei backupper will use your systems .wim to create a winpe rescue usb no problem. I also used to create images of my ssd disk. But can't tell if will actually restore correctly.

Why must software be such a friggin pain.

 

[Ranger4]

Pete, yes you do need to download one large MS file, but that is necessary to be able to boot a hard drive in the event of a catastrophe. It's really a very straight forward operation & when completed & tested it does at least work, which is essential in a recovery.

Getting a reliable back up & recovery system might be a small pain, but it is much less a pain than a full reinstall of Windows & then finding & downloading all needed other software, as well a very likely risk of losing all you own data files.