W7 Cdrive backup

[Datman]

I just started running W7. For years I have used Acronis True Image 11 it has almost always worked in XP and Vista 32. I had confidance that I was backed up.

It did install in W7 home 64 and it did create a image of my c drive. When I went to use it, it took 3x longer to install and it did not work, All 3 attempts windows would reboot and it would get to a “windows is preparing your desktop” screen then it would ask you to reboot and you could click to reboot either was it would end up on a blue windows startup screen and no farther.

What is a good way to backup the c drive? I have restore points but I can see them getting deleted some day. I also use the windows image backup program. I don’t really like so I’m looking for options. I would consider an updated version of Acronis.

 

[Mark Phelps]

I quit using Acronis years ago when I had a drive fail and could not restore it from any of the saved Acronis images.

I have tried recent versions but they are unable to read my USB-connected keyboard or mouse when booting from the CD.

So, instead, I switched over to Macrium Reflect. It reads my devices just fine, does the backups and restores without problems, and includes an option to install a boot recovery option to the hard drive -- so I don't have to hunt around for the Boot CD to do a restore.

 

[bigmck]

I just started running W7. For years I have used Acronis True Image 11 it has almost always worked in XP and Vista 32. I had confidance that I was backed up.

It did install in W7 home 64 and it did create a image of my c drive. When I went to use it, it took 3x longer to install and it did not work, All 3 attempts windows would reboot and it would get to a “windows is preparing your desktop” screen then it would ask you to reboot and you could click to reboot either was it would end up on a blue windows startup screen and no farther.

What is a good way to backup the c drive? I have restore points but I can see them getting deleted some day. I also use the windows image backup program. I don’t really like so I’m looking for options. I would consider an updated version of Acronis.

Macrium Reflect is very good. It is free at this location. Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download Some here prefer an external drive for their backups. I purchased another Internal HDD and use that for my backups. You can not put your backups on the same HDD as your Win 7 is on. I divided my Backup HDD into two partitions. One is for my Win 7 OS and Programs which I have on one partition and the other partition I have my Music, Pictures, etc. It backs up every week. Macrium does a complete backup each time. Your backup HDD will become full in a short while so you need to delete the older ones about every month or so. If you have any other questions, please let us know.

 

[Datman]

Macrium Reflect is very good. It is free at this location. Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download Some here prefer an external drive for their backups. I purchased another Internal HDD and use that for my backups. You can not put your backups on the same HDD as your Win 7 is on. I divided my Backup HDD into two partitions. One is for my Win 7 OS and Programs which I have on one partition and the other partition I have my Music, Pictures, etc. It backs up every week. Macrium does a complete backup each time. Your backup HDD will become full in a short while so you need to delete the older ones about every month or so. If you have any other questions, please let us know.

Very nice program, at least how it looks I'm running it now on my internet computer. I may do an image restore on it just as a test.

Thanks for the link

 

[kado897]

This tutorial will show you how to use Macrium. There is also a link to a video showing the restore process using the WinPE disk. You will want to use that rather than the Linux recovery disk as it works better. There is also a link to a pre-built iso of this recovery disk which you just need to burn to disk. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?filter[2]=Backup%20Restore

 

[Datman]

Looks like a good program the tutorial was helpful. I figured out there are both 32 and 64 bit systems requiring 32 and 64bit boot disks. On my 64bit system the boot disk prompted me to install USB and Ethernet drivers but in the end I didn’t have to. Those drivers would they be on my mobo install disc?

The other thing can I uninstall that program I had to install to burn the boot disks?

 

[kado897]

I don't think it matters what disk you use, Most computers are 64bit capable these days. If you used ImgBurn to burn the disk then you can uninstall it if you wish.

 

[Datman]

I just ran a cdrive restore it worked.

I'm not sure about the 64bit thing. My internet computer is a 64bit dual core with a 32bit OS. It downloaded and installed a 32bit version of Macrium and by defalt burned a 32bit boot disk. I had to download the 64bit version from that computer and when I burned the 64bit boot disk from my internet computer I got warnings that my system was only a 32bit system am I sure I want to burn?

 

[kado897]

You could be right, although I have used a 32bit Macrium CD to restore a 64bit system.

 

[Datman]

Just wanted to say this program has been very useful. My original problem I posted on this forum how when a few weeks ago I started running W7 64 my movie player power dvd 11 frequently locks up and the only way to fix it is restore from a backup.

There are those who say this is crappy software, it always has worked in Vista and XP perhaps it’s a 64bit thing.

So this has been useful. PDVD has been a big pain. It looks like for me to use it I have to be very careful how I install any update or do anything out of the ordinary. The computer has to be in a state when PDVD is working. I then uninstall it do all my updates and make any other changes like program installation who knows anything. Then reinstall, register and install updates to PDVD and it works. I then update my backup because almost anything will cause it to get whacked. Like when you get one of those “program is not responding” which has always happen on a daily bases with every windows OS and I think this has gotten worse in recent years.

At that point I have to revert back to the image backup. I tried just reinstalling PDVD and it remains whacked. Restore points work sometimes but the image recovery has been 100%. It take about 7 min start to finish. Perhaps some update will fix it.

I would be interested in a new player but I have a long list of must haves. It can’t down sample the audio over the analogs, it can’t be affected by Cinavia, play 3D movies to start with.