Does this look right?

[bru]

I am still a bit confused with all the back up options. I have been using Windows backup. A few hiccups along the way but I think I now have things proper. But reading tutorials I see things like "system files" and certainly much smaller numbers.

Here is what has been backed up. For data files I'm sure that is right. But what about system image? I thought it compressed things. I did have about 160GB being used for system image but selected "save only most recent image..." and then I was left with the 120GB. What would the extra 40GB have been? It couldn't have been a full image.

 

[mjf]

I believe MS/Windows use the concept of "differencing VHDs" not complete multiple images. This is probably what you have deleted. You should be left with the most recent complete image.

Personally, I only store complete images using the manual "Create a System Image" option.

 

[karlsnooks]

I second mjf's recommendation regarding making only complete images.

Choose the system image option on the left-hand side of that initial backup and restore screen and then put a checkmark for all of the drives of your system. Of course, don't include the external drive that you will be using as a backup. You can't backup to yourself.

 

[bru]

Personally, I only store complete images using the manual "Create a System Image" option.

I second mjf's recommendation regarding making only complete images.

Choose the system image option on the left-hand side of that initial backup and restore screen and then put a checkmark for all of the drives of your system. Of course, don't include the external drive that you will be using as a backup. You can't backup to yourself.

I thought that is what I was doing. I did exactly that, created the system image manually. Or am I mistaken?

I couldn't quite understand how there could be 160GB attributed to system image if the entire image is 120GB. When I looked in the backup drive I only saw the most recent image.

 

[karlsnooks]

With your external drive that you use for backups connected, follow this procedure please. This will help us understand.


HOW TO POST A SNAPSHOT OF DISK MANAGEMENT DISPLAY

Run disk management:
WIN | type DISKMGMT.MSC | ENTER
WIN is the key with the wavy flag.

Maximize the output of Disk Management:
ALT-Spacebar key combo (this pops up a menu) |
X key (selects Maximize) |
Drag the field separators (such as between Status and Capacity) to show entire field. This is very important, otherwise, needed info is not visible.

Make a snapshot:
WIN | type SNIPPING | ENTER
Click the New button.
Drag the cursor around the area you want to snip.
File | Save as | select save location and name | Save button

Post the snapshot:



thanks,
karl

 

[bru]

Diskmgmt snapshot plus others to show how I did the system image. Thanks

 

[karlsnooks]

Nice snapshots.

Actually, all looks quite normal. win 7 takes a worst case scenario when saying how much space may be needed.

If all you do is image backups without adding in folder/library backups (which you don't really need since the vhd files generated by the backup have all that info, then you end up with only the last image unless you renamed WindowsImageBackup to something else before doing the backup.

If you haven't used that external for anything else and you would like then before doing your next backup you can simply format the drive. That's the easiest way to get rid of old backups.

Have I helped or have I confused the matter?
karl

 

[bru]

Have I helped or have I confused the matter?
karl

Definitely helped. I guess with my 70+GB of data the system image is bound to be large. I think I will only keep one image so as to not take up too much space on my external. I thought a 500GB external would be fine. My last one was 160GB so I thought 500GB would be plenty but I didn't account for the space the system image is taking.

Now I need to decide if I should stick with Windows for the system image or go to Macrium. It seems some here don't think Windows system image is reliable.

I had a computer fail last year (Win XP). I had my files backed up so I was able to move them to the new computer but if something like that happens again I'd like to be able to repair the computer. I made the system repair disks and the system recovery disks when I first got this computer. Although I think I read that one or both may be redundant if you restore using a system image. Hopefully I am covered.

 

[karlsnooks]

I am a great advocate of Windows Backup and Restore.

I use exclusively Windows Backup and Restore.

Windows Backup and Restore has never failed me.

I use Windows Backup and Restore to make a complete system image of my computers.

Windows Backup and Restore has saved my bacon more than once.

Windows Backup and Restore is also one way of cleaning your computer and also making it possible to shrink a partition even more.

What one does is: Perform a complete backup. Immediately perform a complete restore (you boot from the System Repair Disc that you made).

You will find that you have more free space and that you can shrink a partition even more than before. The shrinking is desirable if you want to create another partition is the space created by the "shrink".

 

[mjf]

See the tutorial on system image creating and restoring (maybe again for dtail).
I also do the following:
(1) Rename an old image I wish to retain or
(2) Move the image to a directory within the partition or
(3) Physically delete (shift delete) the image folder before making a new image.

Like Karlsnoops Windows imaging has never failed me for basic imaging and restore even to brand new HDDs (BUT it has failed some). I also use Macrium as a safeguard and when I need a little more flexibility.

 

[bru]

Shrinking partitions is probablty getting a little beyond my comfort zone. Maybe down the road but I think for now I have plenty of space.

(3) Physically delete (shift delete) the image folder before making a new image.

Can you help me with this. If I only plan to keep the current system image I should manually delete the old one before I make the new one? In my case I would do this in the external hard drive where it is stored, but which folder? The main one in the external HDD (del1), or the folder within it (del2) or even further (del3)?

 

[karlsnooks]

The Del 1 is what you want to delete. It contains the others.

In other words, delete WindowsImageBackup.

However, you shouldn't need to do that if you are only making a system image backup without choosing to also backup libraries, folders.

Win 7 has the "feature" that the new will be given the name of WindowsImageBackup and the old will not be renamed, consequently the old is gone forever. If you want to keep the old, then before you run the backup, you must rename WindowsImageBackup. I simply add a digit so that I end up with WindowsImageBackup01, WindowsImageBackup02, and so on and so forth.

 

[bru]

OK I think I've got it. That's why there is only the current image in there even though the folder has a date of May 3.

As can be seen in one of my many images (love the snipping tool!) I do have the back up files automated to once a week. Since I will follow the advice and do the system images manually what's a reasonable timeframe? Once a week too or just when there are enough changes.

BTW I used the tutorial to make a "create a system image" shortcut. Will save me a few clicks .

 

[karlsnooks]

How frequently you perform an update is a great variable. For the ordinary home user, then I'd say once a month would be good enough.

Since I use gmail and the google reader, then much of my crucial info is on their servers. I also use Roboform which keeps the roboform data on their server. I back somethings up to SkyDrive. In case of a disaster, I'm in good shape, but I don't have tons of pictures and music. If you daily add a large quantiy of pics, and are not using google photo with Picassa, then you might want to update weekly.

 

[bru]

Thanks again. Music and photos are my two main files. 63GB of music and 5GB of photos. I think I do need some other places for storage.

BTW I love the links in your signature. I've used MBAM and CCleaner for a long time. I will be looking in to your other links.

 

[karlsnooks]

Glad to be of assistance. You will find a couple of those links to of use to you.

 

[mjf]

Just a small clarification. I'd never delete a one and only image even if making a new one.
I think at least 2 fallback images should be kept all the time on different media.
Renaming the image, make the new image then delete the old (renamed) image after the imaging process has been successful.

 

[karlsnooks]

and a very good and a very sound practice that is.

 

[bru]

Sorry to keep beating this but I still wonder if there is something not right about the amount of space being dedicated to my image. I saw this in the sticky:

The typical size of an image is approximately 50% of the data (not the partition) that is being imaged. If you have a 100GB OS partition but only 20GBs are occupied with data and 80GBs are free, your image of that partition would be 10GBs.

So knowing I have 74GB of data why is my image taking up 120GB?

 

[karlsnooks]

First I know nothing of a sticky, but I strongly suspect that the sticky says much more than your summary thereof.

2nd. What exactly is your question? I'm trying to figure out what partition(s) you are trying to backup to where. And then just exactly what do you see that you don't understand.