Does the B&R utility backup programs, etc?

[jeremyleroy96]

Call me a noob, but I have never heard of this utility before!

My question is simple! I am in a position where my HD needs to be formated. My install is perfectly fine (its my other install thats the problem!). So can I do a backup and it will restore EVERYTHING? Like all of my programs and their necessary components in C:\windows? Or will it just backup a select few files? Or will it backup program files (x86 and normal) but most will break because of the necessities in windows?

I am curious to see if its that useful!

Also, if it isn't all that good (which i am expecting it not to be), what is your best recommendation for imaging the whole partition?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

My question is simple! I am in a position where my HD needs to be formated. My install is perfectly fine (its my other install thats the problem!). So can I do a backup and it will restore EVERYTHING? Like all of my programs and their necessary components in C:\windows? Or will it just backup a select few files? Or will it backup program files (x86 and normal) but most will break because of the necessities in windows?


Also, if it isn't all that good (which i am expecting it not to be), what is your best recommendation for imaging the whole partition?

Windows backup includes 2 functions: an image of the whole partition and file by file backup.

The image will contain "everything", including installed programs and it can be restored to a new hard drive.

The file by file backup is intended to recover your personal files. The image is designed to backup up your Windows installation, although it would contain your personal files if they are on the imaged partition.

It works, but is far from foolproof. You shouldn't bet on it working.

It isn't the favorite program around this forum. The preferred imaging programs here are likely Macrium Reflect Free Edition or Acronis True Image. Neither does file by file backup. For that, you would need something like Microsoft Synctoy, Cobian, or Second Copy.

 

[jeremyleroy96]

Thanks, very helpful.

I think I might use macrium reflect and windows backup utility to make sure I don't loose my data!

As of Macrium Reflect. I plan on doing some different partition sizing on my drive. How would it feel if I restored my (right now) 450gb partition (not all used maybe 200 of it used). To a smaller, lets say 300gb partition. Would it work right off the bat? Require startup repair? Or what

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I think that would work. I'm not positive as I have never restored with Macrium. I think you are OK because 200 is less than 300. But I would get confirmation on that. There is something about not being able to restore to a smaller partition, but I think that refers to occupied size (200 in your example) rather than 450. A 200 gig partition would normally result in an image file of about 100 gigs in size, give or take a bit (50% compression).

No startup repair is required if it "works". Note that you MUST use a Linux boot disk to do the restore. You make that boot disk within Macrium.

 

[whs]

With free Macrium, you cannot restore to a smalle partition. If you want to do that, I suggest to shrink your 450GB partition to the desired size before you image it. Then it will work for the shrunken size.

If you are not familiar with Macrium, here is a video tutorial I made which also shows you how the recovery works: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?ltr=I

You have to image all partitions individually (free Macrium is not a disk cloning program). And do not forget the hidden 100MB active partition. But as I said, you have to restore them individually to your new prepartitioned disk.

In addition, I would also make an image with the Windows7 imaging and try that first. But as Ignatz said, you cannot rely on it. The advantage though is that Win7 images the 100MB hidden active partition automatically with the C partition. So you do not have to make any special arrangements for it - if it works, which it sometimes does.

Also, do not forget to burn the CDs with the recovery programs. That should be the first job, They need to be loaded from the cd reader (change the BIOS boot sequence) and contain the programs that pull the image(s) back in.

 

[jeremyleroy96]

Thats bad news for me because I can't shrink my partition anymore.

But thanks for your help! I can handle it from here

 

[whs]

How come you cannot shrink your partition - is it full. It may not be possible with Disk Management because it cannot move the MFT, but there are programs that can do that.

 

[jeremyleroy96]

How come you cannot shrink your partition - is it full. It may not be possible with Disk Management because it cannot move the MFT, but there are programs that can do that.

Yeah true, its MFT. But thats not your problem

I have one last question (I promise)

Does the windows utility backup drivers? Those were fun to to get I remember!

 

[whs]

When you make an image, the whole system is backed up. When you restore the image, your system looks exactly like it was when you took the image - system, drivers, pograms, settings, data - the whole 9 yards.

PS: you may ask as many questions as come to mind. That's what we are here for.

 

[jeremyleroy96]

Well thanks for the help!

It seems that there is actually two separate tools a system image creator and a backup utility. I think the backup utility makes a system image but I will do both just to be on the safe side.

Thanks for the help!

Edit: Okay I am an idiot, i don't have enough room for these two backups, so I have to choose the System Image that windows made, or the "Backup" that windows made?

Also, if I use the image you think I still need to shrink partition before backing up?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

You should be able to use a free third party tool like Partition Wizard to get around the MFT problem.

Most imaging tools will NOT allow you to restore to a smaller partition---so yes, you have to shrink the partition if your destination partition is smaller than the original. Your alternative is to find a program that doesn't have that limitation and as far as I know all of them cost money.

Most would advise you to go with Macrium or maybe Acronis rather than the Windows tool. But you still have to shrink the partition if you intend to restore to a smaller one---as WHS originally said.

If you use a dedicated backup tool (not an imaging tool), you can certainly have it back up your drivers directory---or any other directory. That kind of flexibility is a very important.

 

[whs]

The backup is for files, the image is for the whole system.

Also, if I use the image you think I still need to shrink partition before backing up?

If you plan to restore to the same size or bigger partition, there is no need to shrink the partition beforehand. If, however, you want to dump the image into a smaller partition, you must first resize the originating partition to the size of the target partition (at least with free Macrium). I think free Paragon can deal with dumping into a smaller partition. But I myself have not tried that yet.

 

[jeremyleroy96]

Alright, I have heard too many unsuccessful attempts with the windows utility. I will not use it

Okay, I'll check out partition wizard.

Thanks for the help guys!