Backup query for Windows 7 Home premium.

[Skelly6]

Hey guys. I was wondering...

Let's say I didn't make a System Image, but instead used the Backup feature on the Windows 7 backup and restore facility , and I backed up everything including program files.


Let's also assume I have a Windows restore disk.


If by some stroke of bad luck, I lost all of my data and got hit by trojans etc. If I restored my laptop to factory settings using my restore disk, would I be able to restore my data to the exact way it was the moment I backed up my data, effectively yielding the same result as the System Image Restore facility?

 

[Tews]

Probably not.. why not just image your disk and store it to a spare drive/partition??

 

[ignatzatsonic]

If I understand you correctly, I think this is what would happen:

The Windows restore disk would restore the laptop to the way it was on delivery--the system would be intact, but you would have no data.

You could then drag your personal data files back from the backup.

I doubt if dragging your program files back would work as that alone would not cause the registry to change.

You would end up with data as it was at the moment of the backup, but your programs would be as of the day you received the laptop. You could presumably then reinstall your programs.

 

[Skelly6]

Cheers.

Probably not.. why not just image your disk and store it to a spare drive/partition??

My portable harddrive which has 350gb capacity isn't allowing me to save a system image on it because it isn't NTFS.

Is there anyway to make my portable harddrive NTFS?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Here are general instructions assuming you have FAT partitions now:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11106-convert-fat-fat32-volume-ntfs.html

But I don't know if your drive or laptop has some other limitations. Generally speaking, conversion is not an issue.

 

[Skelly6]

Thank you very much you lovely people, I made a system image and used it to see if it worked.

It worked amazingly. XD

 

[pparks1]

Great to hear. The included "system image" for all flavors of Windows 7 was a nice add-on by Microsoft. While some of us like the added functionality of 3rd party software, many users simply don't need the extra sophistication, but instead can rely on the basic functionality to get them out of a bind.

 

[whs]

Just a couple of comments:
1. Any disk (except USB sticks) working with Vista or Win7 should be formatted in NTFS
2. User data belongs into a seperate data partition. Here is how you do that.
3. Backup or image your system and your data seperately. That gives you the most flexibility.
4. The built-in Windows backup/restore and imaging functions are not very reliable. I would not use them. Free Macrium is a better choice and much easier to understand. Here is how to use it.

 

[pparks1]

4. The built-in Windows backup/restore and imaging functions are not very reliable.

I disagree. For a single hard drive setup, with only one operating system (which covers most of the home market), it works just fine. I've used it tons at home and at work and haven't ever had an issue putting it back on the same drive or a different drive (as long as it was same size or bigger).

 

[whs]

4. The built-in Windows backup/restore and imaging functions are not very reliable.

I disagree. For a single hard drive setup, with only one operating system (which covers most of the home market), it works just fine. I've used it tons at home and at work and haven't ever had an issue putting it back on the same drive or a different drive (as long as it was same size or bigger).

OK, I believe that it can work. But I was not that lucky nor were a few others I have seen report about it. And system restore from a shadow can be a real pain. In Vista, I once had about 20 shadows. The system presented 4 or 5 to chose from and only one worked. A 20:1 score is not all that good. Since then I use either Ghost or Macrium. But that may be a personal preference and the logo below your posts apply - lol.

 

[pparks1]

OK, I believe that it can work. But I was not that lucky nor were a few others I have seen report about it.

But those are nerdy people like us with multi-boot systems and different partitions and we want to restore to a different partition when we lay it back down, etc. That''s not the typical home user experience.

And system restore from a shadow can be a real pain. In Vista, I once had about 20 shadows. The system presented 4 or 5 to chose from and only one worked. A 20:1 score is not all that good.

For me, I only really want 2 images. 1 right after basic install, hardware good to go and activated. And then 1 that is current with my apps. I'll either jump back to start and reload apps or go back to where I was. I don't have strong feelings of hitting any point in the middle.

 

[whs]

For me, I only really want 2 images. 1 right after basic install, hardware good to go and activated. And then 1 that is current with my apps. I'll either jump back to start and reload apps or go back to where I was. I don't have strong feelings of hitting any point in the middle.

That is a good strategy when you have a lot of time on your hand. But last time I reinstalled from a "basic" image, it took me 3 days to have everything back in order. Yes there is some learning incentive along the way, but it is work. Now I take images about every second day. System and data partitions together and seperate and to 3 different disks (internal, external connected all the time, external disconnected when not in use). Here in FL you have to be always prepared for power problems.

 

[pparks1]

That is a good strategy when you have a lot of time on your hand. But last time I reinstalled from a "basic" image, it took me 3 days to have everything back in order.

Wow, I'm glad I don't have that many applications to worry about. I only use about 10 apps and they are all pretty small and quickly installed. Plus, all of my data is stored on my file server...so my data is always intact. I just reimaged my work desktop back to plain vanillla the other day and I think I was totally back in business in about 45 minutes with all of my apps installed

 

[whs]

But what do you do when you get a lightning strike in your backyard. I have the floor ful of powerstrips inclusing an APC surge protector with backup battery and a central surge protector where the power comes into the house. But when you get hit that close, nothing helps - only off-line storage. And yes, I have over 22.000 files and 2700 folders in my program folder - and I have deleted a lot of stuff that came with the system (e.g. all games).

 

[pparks1]

But what do you do when you get a lightning strike in your backyard. I have the floor ful of powerstrips inclusing an APC surge protector with backup battery and a central surge protector where the power comes into the house. But when you get hit that close, nothing helps - only off-line storage. And yes, I have over 22.000 files and 2700 folders in my program folder - and I have deleted a lot of stuff that came with the system (e.g. all games).

Well, I don't get lightning strikes in my backyard. My computers (wife's laptop, my 2 desktops and my server) are all connected to APC UPS's...and they all shut down automatically before the battery dies.

My backup plan consists of 2 physical hard drives in my server which are synchronized a couple of times each day. In addition, I attach 2 different external USB hard drives about once per week and run a robocopy job which keeps my server and my externals the same. Then I keep 1 of those external drives offsite just in case of robbery or fire or other disaster. And my critical data like pictures and documents are burned occasionally to a DVD and kept off site.

The C:\Program Files directory on my work machine has 3,469 files and 414 folders and the C:\Program Files (x86) directory has 14,872 files and 828 folders

 

[whs]

Nice setup. Stowing the data off-site is not a bad idea. I have never done that but my bank's safe deposit box is just across the street. Maybe I should deposit an occasional copy there.

 

[pparks1]

Nice setup. Stowing the data off-site is not a bad idea. I have never done that but my bank's safe deposit box is just across the street. Maybe I should deposit an occasional copy there.

Absolutely. Having 2 copies of the data is a good idea, but having those 2 copies in 2 different locations is the best plan. You can never be sure that your house won't get broken into or some other type of fire or other catastrophe. With so much of our lives being in digital formats...it's very important to keep backups of this data.