How does win 7 backup program do incremental backups?

[Caramelo]

I've done a system image with the win 7 backup program to an external hd.
I would now like to schedule it to do periodic backups of just the new files/folders or the data that has been changed since the last backup.
Will these incremental backups be appended to the system image I already have or will they be separate files?

 

[Darryl Licht]

It doesnt do incrementals... just new images.

 

[karlsnooks]

I've done a system image with the win 7 backup program to an external hd.
I would now like to schedule it to do periodic backups of just the new files/folders or the data that has been changed since the last backup.
Will these incremental backups be appended to the system image I already have or will they be separate files?

Caramelo,

Please read the following tutorials.
Win 7 Backup and Restore does offer the capability you desire.

I've used Win 7 backup and restore in this fashion.

I've also used Win 7 Backup and Restore for image backups which produces VHD files.
The data backup of Win 7 B & R produces Zip files.

I personally use the image backup capability but use either Robocopy or SyncToy for data backups.

Robocopy comes with your Win 7 and is very powerful and flexible and also has a learning curve, unless you stick to the basics.

SyncToy is easy to learn to use and is a Microsoft product.

Here are links for you:

Download Details - Microsoft Download Center - SyncToy 2.1

Backup User and System Files
How to Backup User and System Files in Windows 7

Backup User and System Data Files - Enable or Disable
How to Enable or Disable to Backup Data Files in Windows 7

Backup Complete Computer - Create a System Image Backup
How to Create a System Image Backup in Windows 7

 

[mjf]

Windows imaging when run from within a backup schedule stores differencing VHDs in shadow copy storage. This way you are in principle able to pick an image date.

I personally don't think it's robust and make single images using the "Create a system Image". Then delete, rename or move old images.
I would suggest some of the paid 3rd party imaging software for incremental or differential imaging.

 

[Caramelo]

Thanks to all for your answers.

Karlsnook: Whew, lot's of reading there. Probably the easiest thing for me to do is as mjf suggests; make a new image every once in awhile.

 

[karlsnooks]

I agree. Simply making a new full image isi the simplest way out.

 

[bigmck]

Thanks to all for your answers.

Karlsnook: Whew, lot's of reading there. Probably the easiest thing for me to do is as mjf suggests; make a new image every once in awhile.

What I did was to buy a 500 GB hard drive just for backups. It was only about $50. I use the free Macrium Reflect for my backups. I have part of the hd reserved for my Win 7 and part for my docs. I backup the Win 7 every week and the docs every day. All you have to do is check the hd every few weeks and if it is getting full just delete the old ones and keep a few of the new ones on the HD.