Is Windows 7 backup any good? Are there better free alternatives?

[gregrocker]

A good file backup method to another HD is always SyncToys working with the Task Scheduler. It is a direct Sync, or you can choose another setting like "Contribute" which adds but doesn't subtract any changes to keep a full archive backup. Schedule SyncToy to Run Automatically With Task Scheduler in Windows 7 - How-To Geek

I found the best solution to keep all of my files sync'd between machines via the cloud and wrote it up in Sync, Backup and Store your Files to the Cloud with Skydrive - Windows 7 Forums.

Each one of my machines that is sync'd this way also has a copy of the files on board, so the set which lives in MS Cloud is there mainly to provide the Sync master and access if ever needed via my Hotmail acct.

 

[Night Hawk]

Windows 7 Backup is fine, though too limited in what it will do. I strongly suggest that you avoid Paragon and Acronis, which IMHO are little more than camouflaged gateways to tech support hell. They do not work properly, they do not work as documented, and they will not make you happy.

Hello there! bcgirton Welcome to the Seven Forums!

I can't say I've used the Paragon program but have been working with both the 7 option for creating a full image as well as Acronis and have been finding both as reliable as ever! That includes using Acronis on other machines running older versions of Windows and needing to restore images folliowing drive replacements and found everything was back up and running with ease!

I tend to favor how Acronis will tend to compress data a bit more to end up with smaller images however over the backup tool in Windows. With the Backup & Restore options however you can start up the restoration of an image while still booted in Windows however for the convenience since you won't need the repair cd or Win 7 installation media present. The system will automatically restart and load into the recovery state as the drive is wiped and image is unpacked as the replacement.

Acronis is also one program with a long time great rep as was Norton Ghost. Paragon sees favorable independent reviews and would be another consideration here to try out when going to replace the 2010 Acronis True Image Disk Director suite here if not simply going for the 2013 or newer version when out.

 

[gregrocker]

Acronis is the best I've tried. I use their 2010 and their free WD or Seagate apps, which always work great to get the job done.

However Universal Restore isn't always offered when changing hardware and I've wondered why. But since I have Paragon Adaptive Restore CD which does the same thing flawlessly I don't mind.

 

[Night Hawk]

That was SkyDrive page there. The Paragon page for that is seen at Paragon Paragon Adaptive Restore - Overview That is geared more for Win 2k/server application however on Paragon old page seen there.

A Tale About Adaptive Restore is their own blog to look over about this however with their most recent being the 2012 version. After several sites were screened I ended up back at Paragon Drive Backup page however. Paragon Drive Backup - Disk Backup Software

 

[gregrocker]

The link is to the original PAR CD freeware download of my own since I can't find it any longer and think it was discontinued. I believe it's now merged into their imaging software like with Acronis.

The latest Paragon Adaptive software has also had its free offer expire but I found a link to a trial version: Paragon Virtualization Manager Professional Download - Softpedia. This is an installed version needing to be run from another OS to adapt the new one.

 

[Night Hawk]

One page showed it as an addon while I suspect they now have it rolled into their main software just like the Acronis full version Disk Director suite sees drive erasing and other utilities packaged there. The first link there shows the original 2k/WinServer 2003 version in their docs.

The Acronis software disk is a live cd with option to burn another live cd for live tools as well as image restoration. The trial version download for Paragon latest would likely reveall a prepackaged replacement for the other.