Question about system images

[Layback Bear]

If their is anything on a computer that one doesn't want to loose, one needs a external backup. That has been preached by many on this Forum for a long time; because it is true.
Their are two realistic choices.
1. External hard drive
2. External SSD.
3. Choose #1 or #2 or both.

 

[jonnyhillow]

I agree, the more devices a person has for backup redundancy the better ...
Having said that, in my experience HD failure is not the primary reason I need to restore ...

99.99 % of the time I RESTORE is to undo some change I made ...
Usually some program I installed, caused issues, I didn't like it, whatever.
Maybe some "configuration change" I read about and tried, and it "was a bad idea" for me ...
Maybe Patch Tuesday updates broke my system.

In my years with PCs I've had 1 HD failure.
I can't count the number of times I recovered from my playing around ...

Restoring from a partition on the Same HD as the OS works for me 99.99%
It is just another backup location ...
I recommend having ANY (including the same HD) backup, rather than NO backup available at all.

I have been using my laptop and have been computing for approx two years , I have very little on my computer and it's always been this way , I have no interest to fill up most of the hard drive, this is how it works for me.


Why not use system restore instead of backups if you want to return to a previous state , I always thought that was it's function, maybe not.

 

[jonnyhillow]

If their is anything on a computer that one doesn't want to loose, one needs a external backup. That has been preached by many on this Forum for a long time; because it is true.
Their are two realistic choices.
1. External hard drive
2. External SSD.
3. Choose #1 or #2 or both.

Maybe for most people but not all , I will never come close to filling up more than a 1/4 of drive C . Should I never make backups or just reformat if I have an issue?

 

[whs]

Why not use system restore instead of backups if you want to return to a previous state , I always thought that was it's function, maybe not.

This is OK as long as system restore works and the restore points are being kept. Problem is that the restore points are controlled by the system and they can disappear for a variety of reasons - and then system restore does not work.

If you make images, you control the images and not the system. Then you always have a safe haven to which you can go back.

Creating a seperate partition on the system drive for the images is OK as long as you realize that this does not protect you against failure of the disk. Disk failures are rare, but they do happen. Another disadvantage with such a setup is that the image takes a longer time to be written because of the disk arm contention. But that is OK too if you use free Macrium for imaging. With Macrium you can continue working whilst the image is being written. Nothing bad happens because Macrium freezes the image at the beginning and any changes that you make during the imaging time do not affect the image.

 

[DavidE]

whs is spot on with everything ...

I'll just add, a Restore Point is NOT a complete backup of the System, a System Backup Image IS a COMPLETE/TOTAL copy of the "OS Partition".
So, using a restore point may NOT fix a problem because it did not restore "everything".
You can browse many threads here in SF to see where using a Restore Point did not fix the issue.

If you ever get hit with Virus/Malware, restore points can't be trusted.
They may be infected.

I don't know if "online" Backup images can be infected and still be restored, but I wouldn't trust them.
I do know offline Backup Images and data backups can't be compromised ...

Some people like to reinstall Windows periodically.
I'm not one of them, I like being able to recover everything to my "Latest Backup" ...
If you understand and are willing to start from scratch - reinstalling the OS, Programs, all configuration changes, all user data, ... if and when any catastrophe happens, that's fine, your choice.

i.e.
I've been hit with a bad Security Program DB Update that deleted system files and made my system unusable/un-bootable ...
Many other people got hit with this ...
I quickly/simply restored my latest Backup Image and was up and running in less than 30 minutes.
Others without a backup, weren't so lucky ...

 

[SIW2]

Save yourself a lot of mucking about and use Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7 Free Backup and Restore Software

from your first post:

if If I get into trouble with malware

If you are interested, MS do this free tool:

Microsoft?s Free Security Tools ? Windows Defender Offline - Microsoft Security Blog - Site Home - TechNet Blogs

It does d/l the whole pe thing and makes bootable iso for you. It is recent. 2014 version.

I may have a look at extracting that and adding it to aomei backupper winpe, so you have them in one, together with windows recovery options ( which aomei winpe already includes).

NOTE: If you are using 32 bit, it is easier to use eset (free tool from them is 32 bit coded )

 

[Layback Bear]

If their is anything on a computer that one doesn't want to loose, one needs a external backup. That has been preached by many on this Forum for a long time; because it is true.
Their are two realistic choices.
1. External hard drive
2. External SSD.
3. Choose #1 or #2 or both.

Maybe for most people but not all , I will never come close to filling up more than a 1/4 of drive C . Should I never make backups or just reformat if I have an issue?

-----------------------------

It's simple.
If you have absolutely nothing on your drive that is worth saving in your mind; then a back up will have no use for you. Just do a Clean Install of Windows 7 and be a happy computing person.
How full your C drive is has nothing to do with anything concerning back up need.
If you C drive is 1/4 full of data you want to save and protect then back up to a external media of your choice. A drive does not need to be full to create a back up.

You have asked for our thoughts and suggestions on Backing Up your computer. We have answered your request and posted.

We cannot make your decision for you.
You will have to decide to do backups or not do backups and what method to use.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Why not use system restore instead of backups if you want to return to a previous state , I always thought that was it's function, maybe not.

I assume you realize that System Restore does NOT return your personal data to a previous state???

It has no affect on your personal data and is useless as a backup for it. It affects Windows files only.

If you have your personal data backed up through some other method and are able and willing to reinstall Windows and applications when you have significant problems, there's no particular reason to use System Restore or imaging. You should be able to do that regardless if necessary.

Considering how easily it's done, I'd think you should seriously consider imaging. It's up to you evaluate the downside of the 2 methods: putting an image on a second partition on your only hard drive doesn't protect you if the drive completely fails and buying an external drive for imaging purposes might cost you $75 or $100.

 

[jonnyhillow]

Sounds like an external hard drive is the best option. I can't seem to make system images unless I have one , the dvd option takes way too many discs.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Well, you might use an internal drive instead of an external.

Advantages: quicker since you don't have to negotiate the USB port of an external. Possibly cheaper as I've seen internals as cheap as $30 in smaller capacities. That might be suitable for you if you have little data and intend to use it only to store images. Less clutter on your desk.

Disadvantage is that they are not portable. You'd have to have an internal bay to accommodate a second drive.

I use a second internal myself for all data----which I periodically back up to yet another internal and also through an external dock to another internal.

 

[jonnyhillow]

I should of stated that I only have a laptop, no room for an internal as I recently replaced the drive , I should of bought an SSD but I use a dvd burner quite a bit.

 

[jonnyhillow]

Until I pickup a external hard drive can I store backups on a free cloud based program?

 

[whs]

Until I pickup a external hard drive can I store backups on a free cloud based program?

That is not practical. It will take days to upload it because images are quite big. My images are on average 30GB.

 

[DavidE]

Do you have another PC ?
If you do maybe you could map a Network drive and save an image there as a temp solution ?

 

[DavidE]

Using Acronis (paid) I can create a backup image of my PC1 drive on my PC2 [D] drive. It's a lot slower than I'm use to, 1 hour for apx. 19 GB Image file, create and validate image. Your SF specs show a desktop, so if you still have the desktop and enough free space, might work as a temp solution to backup your laptop.

 

[Tews]

I just got a 4 bay docking station USB 3.0 and it makes all the difference in the world!

Mediasonic ProBox 4 Bay Dock for 2.5" / 3.5" HDD - USB 3.0 & eSATA (HFD1-SU3S2)

 

[whs]

I just got a 4 bay docking station USB 3.0 and it makes all the difference in the world!

Mediasonic ProBox 4 Bay Dock for 2.5" / 3.5" HDD - USB 3.0 & eSATA (HFD1-SU3S2)

Now all you need are some SSHDs.

 

[Tews]

Believe me, that is definitely the next step. Right now I have one 126mb SSD and a 1TB spinner..

 

[whs]

Here is some performance comparison I made - HDD, SSHD and SSD.

 

[DavidE]

I think it's great all the possible solutions offered.
Backup has so many options, both hardware and software.
I think it's great Johnny knows he should have a backup and is looking for a solution.
I read so many threads here about a "catastrophe/emergency" and think, if that person had a System Backup Image, they could be up and running quickly - problem solved...

For starters the OP should answer how much ($) can be spent on a solution, and how soon?

I "guessed" the OP was looking for a free temp solution until funds are available for a permanent backup from post #52:

Until I pickup a external hard drive can I store backups on a free cloud based program?

Anyway, in this thread I learned I can backup from PC to PC over a local network.
I don't need this myself, but it could be useful for people I help remotely ...