Windows Backup vs 3rd party Backup solution.

[DJG]

I've been using Paragon Software's Drive Backup utility for years. I do full system image backups from the booted OS, not outside it, so it's very convenient,

I have two RAID volumes, one system and one data on different controllers. My routine is to do an image backup to the data RAID volume, which takes me about 2.5 minutes for 28GB, and data image to the system volume, which takes about 1 hour for 500GB. I then copy the images to an external simple drive for outside storage using a BAT file that asks the target drive and the image files to copy, and also copies current versions of special files like my Outlook mailbox.

This allows me to do quick restores for non-catastrophic situations, like regressing to a previous OS state after something screwed up my OS config. System image restores are done using a WIN PE recovery DVD to which I have added my RAID drivers and I can restore that image to any hardware that has the capacity.

It also has an archive explorer that allows me to restore specific folders / files from a backup image.

 

[DJG]

Anyway, having good backups of my full system has saved me many times over the years. I couldn't imagine running without a good backup system, whatever one's particular method(s) of choice might be.

Agreed

My questions though, I am still hoping to get answered.. Can you A) write backups in a non-compressed format, such that you can access those files that were backed up from another computer via explorer. and B) is it possible to append a previous backup.. ie write only changes to the previous backup that have occurred since the last backup job completed..??

musiclover7 - Not that I am trying to push the Robocopy thing... I first learned of robocopy here at the sevenforums so can't really take credit. I have spent some time since learning of its wonders figuring out how to use it though.

Robocopy does exactly what you are looking for. The files in the backup are and exact mirror of the original location. No compression or special format or file extension. A .jpg is a .jpg. a .doc is a .doc nothing changes and all are readable as the originals from any computer. After the inital backup robocopy only makes changes (mirror) you delete a file robo deletes it from the backup. You add 50 pictures from your camera robo adds 50 pictures to your backup. Mirror copy.

My backup is around 185 gigs with over 36,000 pictures and 9000 music files between 3 users and 2 computers ... after the original copy to the backup location nightly backup complete in less than 2 minutes. Robocopy checks and adds or deletes files and folders as required to keep the original and backup locations the same. I even sync a second external hard drive with the first about once a month and throw it in the trunk of the car. Offsite backup LOL

Ultraplanet, how exactly does Robocopy handle changed files? Let's say I create a file today. Tomorrow I change it. The day after I realize I goofed, and want to redtore it to its original state. Will Robocopy have overwritten the copy with the latest, or does it keep multiple versions I can restore from?

Also, is it able to handle locked files?

Thanks!

 

[SIW2]

I don't think you will be able to retrieve anything deleted or changed if you use the robocopy method as outlined.

you delete a file robo deletes it from the backup

 

[ultraplanet]

Ultraplanet, how exactly does Robocopy handle changed files? Let's say I create a file today. Tomorrow I change it. The day after I realize I goofed, and want to redtore it to its original state. Will Robocopy have overwritten the copy with the latest, or does it keep multiple versions I can restore from?

Also, is it able to handle locked files?

Thanks!

I don't think you will be able to retrieve anything deleted or changed if you use the robocopy method as outlined.

you delete a file robo deletes it from the backup

SIW2 is correct robocopy will overwrite files on the backup. It's not really a backup solution but rather copy utility used to mirror the source and destination folders and files.

DJG - That said... if you rotated your media by using different external drives or different folders on your RAID Volume you would be able to return to those backups to get you file. In my case my nightly backup just overwrites the previous nights backup. My primary reason for backup is to protect against hardware failure so this routine works for me.

Also it is not able to copy a locked file. If a file is in use it gets skipped. Again it's just a glorified copy utility.

 

[DJG]

Thank you Ultraplanet & SIW2 for the clarifications! For now I'll stick to my current backup workflow, but it's good to check out alternatives.

 

[noyb]

Ya'll may want to checkout the New Acronis H2010 .. Just released.

I've only quickly glanced thru the Users Guide so far ... (some of the 193 pages) ..
But it now supports W7 .. and you can Boot from the Backup Image file.

I'm thinking that to have Windows backup Windows ...
Is like hiring the hens to protect the hen house

 

[Zig]

nyob,
Here's the info on mounting VHD files for individual file restore (haven't tried it myself, tho)
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/24771-system-image-extract-files-using-disk-management.html

Hope this helps.
Zig

 

[tbernstein]

I've been trying the WIN7 backup system.
It seems to need an awful lot of HD space.
The problem is partly that the weekly incremental backup seems to be not incremental, but a whole new backup. My 150gb back-up partition ( on a second HD) gets eaten up by a system image and just two weekly backups. I then have to remember to delete the older one myself.
I might be digging out my old freeware backup utilities to see if they work in Win 7 shortly.

Now this is strange....
After I wrote the above I realised it was approaching the time that the backup would start. So I looked at it again.
I turned off the system image option, because it already has a good one and there's no point creating another ( probably poorer) one.
That's all I changed. And left it alone.
And the data backup seems to have worked as it should, not creating a second backup file.
I don't understand this at all. It does not inspire confidence.

Terry.

 

[SIW2]

If you are quick , you can get this.

It is only free till 19th Jan 2010 .

It includes the ability to make a bootable backup capsule:


Paragon Backup & Recovery Compact Free registration

Paragon Backup & Recovery 10 Compact [32-bit]

Paragon Backup & Recovery 10 Compact [64-bit]

 

[ignatzatsonic]

SIW:

Thanks for freebie link. Downloading it now.

I am trying to settle on 2 free imaging apps: Macrium Reflect Free and one other.

Win 7 app rejected out of hand.

I need a well-done interface, RELIABILITY, and flexibility re exactly what and to where, but no incrementals or scheduling. Did I say RELIABILITY? I don't want any surprises.

Where do you rank Paragon Backup and Recovery Compact compared to Acronis (WD free version)? Any notable shortcomings/differences? Using Acronis/WD now, but it has not been put to the test (restoration). No boot disc needed for restoration on Paragon?

I already have Paragon and Partition Wizard free partitioning apps, but have not had to use them. Hope to keep it that way.

 

[SIW2]

Paragon is very solid and reliable. Not especially fast ( speed is reasonable for a normal priority setting - but there is no high speed setting ).

You will find if you set Macrium on High priority - it outpaces everything else.

The big advantage of Paragon ( particularly the BR 10 Compact is the huge number of features - file and folder backup as well - you don't get any of that on any of the others ).

Paragon can also flip itself into it's own recovery environment to restore - still with any of these apps. - make sure you run off the cd and that it boots up and recognizes everything - just to be safe.

Also Paragon boot disc has a lot of great stuff - file transfer wizard , boot corrector - fixes bcd entries , and can be used to correct drive letters in the system registry, etc .

If you just want to make partition/disk images - no differentials, no file and folders backup, and no extras - the Macrium is much more efficient than Acronis.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Aye aye and ten four.

 

[Zig]

Weekly backup

I turned off the system image option, because it already has a good one and there's no point creating another ( probably poorer) one.
That's all I changed. And left it alone.
And the data backup seems to have worked as it should, not creating a second backup file.

It doesn't work that way for me, and my full backup takes over 2 days!! I also have the WMP Network Sharing Service disabled, as someone else suggested.
In any event, I don't know how to change the schedule for the complete backups; I'd like to do an incremental daily, and a complete monthly, but only the incremental seems settable.

Zig

 

[pbarnhardt85]

I'm trying to do a backup to external hard drive. Sometimes works o.k. Other times I get "There was a failure in creating a directory on the backup storage location. Access is denied".

Any iedas on how to correct?

 

[Zig]

I have just posted the following message to the Microsoft technical support forums; I believe it might be useful for this discussion as well:

Dear Divya,

I believe that your answer was (unintentionally) not fully responsive to Eckerlin's questions. I understand the differences between "image," "full" and "incremental" backups; please allow me to state some observations I have made, and please respond if they are correct or incorrect. I have been trying to make a (rather large) full backup on a less-than-weekly basis, accompanied by my daily incremental backups. I am using an external 2 TB USB drive.

1. When the "Back Up Now" button is pushed, the program makes a full backup, as defined in the user settings.
2. Incremental backups are then performed on a daily basis, or as otherwise scheduled by the user.
3. Another full backup is performed one week after the initial full backup, at the exact time that initial backup was run.

I understand how to set the schedule for the incremental backups in the program dialog, and this setting also appears to be available in the Windows Task Scheduler under the AutomaticBackup key; however, I'm unclear on how to modify or set the schedule for the (currently weekly) full backup. ? Is this setting hardcoded into the backup program, or is it accessible through the Windows Task Scheduler at a different place? I would like to set the full backup frequency to monthly, inasmuch as I do a "file backup" of my entire computer when I perform a full backup. I believe that the daily 3 AM incremental backups will suffice for most changes I might make during that interval, though I realize that periodic pruning may be necessary.

If possible, please respond to my bullet points individually with your comments, as well as directly answering my question as to full backup scheduling.

I don't intend to put you on the defensive by being so concrete, but I feel that some of the "party line" documentation for Windows Backup is in error, or otherwise inadequate. Of course, it's possible that there are bugs or other limitations in the program as currently written, to be addressed at a later date; if so, a third-party program might be more useful until such time.

Thank you in advance for your help,
Bill Zigrang