Windows backup

[1Bowtie]

I've used many backup prog's over the years and had my favorite Drive Image who was bought out by Norton for the sole reason of shutting down the competition. So i was wanting to mess with some custom theme's so before i hosed my comp i decided to try Windows own backup prog, I was amazed at how easy it was and fast. As luck would have it i managed to hose the comp, insert the disc i had made and in 5 minutes i was back up and running, not once but five times (i'm a slow learner with custom themes). My point is you really don't need a third party backup program, the one in Windows 7 work like a charm

 

[richc46]

Rep to you for sharing that. I use it all the time and it is great. So many threads from those that want more.

 

[Dinesh]

I agree 100%. I have tried Macruim and Paragon in the past but Windows Image Backup is the best.

 

[eldinv]

I agree 100%. I have tried Macruim and Paragon in the past but Windows Image Backup is the best.

I tried Windows Backup, and it works and serves it purpose.

I enjoy Macrium for its usability and for its speedy process; both in imaging and recovery.

Windows Backup simply takes forever, for each process.

It's good for users to know there are options out there and people can decide which they prefer.

 

[1Bowtie]

I agree 100%. I have tried Macruim and Paragon in the past but Windows Image Backup is the best.

I tried Windows Backup, and it works and serves it purpose.

I enjoy Macrium for its usability and for its speedy process; both in imaging and recovery.

Windows Backup simply takes forever, for each process.

It's good for users to know there are options out there and people can decide which they prefer.

I don't know what you did wrong when you say it takes forever, because it only took maybe 10 min to make the image and 5 min to install the image. I couldn't ask for anything easier with no third party software to install.

 

[eldinv]

I agree 100%. I have tried Macruim and Paragon in the past but Windows Image Backup is the best.

I tried Windows Backup, and it works and serves it purpose.

I enjoy Macrium for its usability and for its speedy process; both in imaging and recovery.

Windows Backup simply takes forever, for each process.

It's good for users to know there are options out there and people can decide which they prefer.

I don't know what you did wrong when you say it takes forever, because it only took maybe 10 min to make the image and 5 min to install the image. I couldn't ask for anything easier with no third party software to install.

Not trying to argue, but unless your doing something wrong or backing up just a few folders, IT does take longer than 10 minutes. Its still in progress and over 25 minutes, my OS partition is only 20GB.

The whole image of both OS and DATA partitions in Macrium takes about 8-12 minutes and my DATA drive has 47GB. Again, I say its up to the user to determine what works for them, Macrium has satisfied me completely.

 

[1Bowtie]

I tried Windows Backup, and it works and serves it purpose.

I enjoy Macrium for its usability and for its speedy process; both in imaging and recovery.

Windows Backup simply takes forever, for each process.

It's good for users to know there are options out there and people can decide which they prefer.

I don't know what you did wrong when you say it takes forever, because it only took maybe 10 min to make the image and 5 min to install the image. I couldn't ask for anything easier with no third party software to install.

Not trying to argue, but unless your doing something wrong or backing up just a few folders, IT does take longer than 10 minutes. Its still in progress and over 25 minutes, my OS partition is only 20GB.

The whole image of both OS and DATA partitions in Macrium takes about 8-12 minutes and my DATA drive has 47GB. Again, I say its up to the user to determine what works for them, Macrium has satisfied me completely.

This is a decussion not an argument, just for info the backup consisted of the os, data, games, etc 15.5 gig, and it did take 10 min. There are alot novice's out there that can use Win backup in lieu of the learning curve of some of the third party prog's out there. It could possibly save their bacon if they'd get used to doing backups periodicly instead of waiting till it's to late.

 

[eldinv]

It could possibly save their bacon if they'd get used to doing backups periodicly instead of waiting till it's to late.

Yes I agree that's really what is important here.

Take Care,

 

[mjf]

I'm a bit confused by some of the discussion.
Windows imaging and Windows backup (for files in Libraries & folders) are different.
Windows imaging is very quick. 50 GB in around 25 min. Comparable to my side by side comparison with Macrium Reflect. Both use vhd storage.
I find Windows backup is relatively slow for the amount of data being backed up. Uses zip files doesn't it?.

 

[eldinv]

CORRECTION EDIT MADE*** Windows Back Up Methods:

Create a system image

A system image is a copy of the drives required for Windows to run. It can also include additional drives. A system image can be used to restore your computer if your hard drive or computer ever stops working; however, you can't choose individual items to restore.

This is VERY similar to Macrium Reflect Free Edition, its just Macrium has a better compression method and is a little faster to create an image and restore. (DISPUTABLE)

Backup or restore your files

Windows has two way of Backup your files:

Let Windows choose (recommended)

If the drive you are saving your backup on is formatted using the NTFS file system and has enough disk space, a system image of your programs, Windows, and all drivers and registry settings are also included in the backup. This image can be used to restore the contents of your computer if your hard drive or computer stops working. For more information

Let Me Choose

Windows Backup won't back up the following items:

• Program files (files that define themselves as part of a program in the registry when the program is installed).
• Files stored on hard disks that are formatted using the FAT file system.
• Files that are in the Recycle Bin.
• Temporary files on drives smaller than 1 GB.

 

[eldinv]

I agree 100%. I have tried Macruim and Paragon in the past but Windows Image Backup is the best.

I tried Windows Backup, and it works and serves it purpose.

I enjoy Macrium for its usability and for its speedy process; both in imaging and recovery.

Windows Backup simply takes forever, for each process.

It's good for users to know there are options out there and people can decide which they prefer.

I don't know what you did wrong when you say it takes forever, because it only took maybe 10 min to make the image and 5 min to install the image. I couldn't ask for anything easier with no third party software to install.

I want to apologize, I was in fact doing something WRONG, I was using the back up files option, and that really does take FOREVER.

As far a just doing a system image using Windows it only took 5 minutes to image my OS partition which is 20GB. Macrium Reflect was only seconds faster, good to know!

Thanks!

 

[mjf]

When you select "Let me Choose" you have the option to create a system image in addition to a file backup. I always untick this and create an image when I decide to using the "Create a system Image" option over on the left not in "Backup".
If you create just a file backup which is stored as something like "your PC name". Dig inside there and the large data storage files are a number of *.zip files.
You can create an image along with (in addition to) your regular file backup if you so choose and this is what windows will generally do when you select "let windows choose". The image lives in the (again protected) folder called "WindowsImageBackup". Dig inside here and you will typically find one *.vhd file per partition imaged.

Just seen the response above which perhaps makes this redundant.

 

[1Bowtie]

I tried Windows Backup, and it works and serves it purpose.

I enjoy Macrium for its usability and for its speedy process; both in imaging and recovery.

Windows Backup simply takes forever, for each process.

It's good for users to know there are options out there and people can decide which they prefer.

I don't know what you did wrong when you say it takes forever, because it only took maybe 10 min to make the image and 5 min to install the image. I couldn't ask for anything easier with no third party software to install.

I want to apologize, I was in fact doing something WRONG, I was using the back up files option, and that really does take FOREVER.

As far a just doing a system image using Windows it only took 5 minutes to image my OS partition which is 20GB. Macrium Reflect was only seconds faster, good to know!

Thanks!

No apologize's nessecary, it was a learning experience for me also. Glad it worked and hopefully people who don't use any backup will read this and learn from it. Backup, backup, backup, when your computer fails for whatever reason, your minutes away from being back up and running like nothing ever happened.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi all
I've been doing backups ever since Windows 95 and have tried most packages.
Even today IMO Acronis is the fastest and most reliable - especially if you are backing up to external HDD's or even Tape devices since it will span volumes where necessary and restores can be done also from bootable media making a Bare Metal recovery simple.

I don't like Windows recovery since it has a problem with "spanned devices" (multiple volumes) and is not very good at single or selective DIRECTORY restores when needed.

Most people's data is probably worth a lot more than the computer it's on so IMO paying a small amount of money -- around 45 USD-- for a FAST commercial program like Acronis is well worth it.

The other advantage this type of software has is that you can do Incremental backups say during the week and a full one once a week --all scheduled automatically too.

The stand alone bootable media (acronis) can also backup your LINUX partitions too.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Tews]

I agree with Jimbo on this one... Acronis is my backup program of choice... That being said, the most important point that seems to be overlooked here is that more and more users are finally taking imaging seriously. It never fails to amazes me how many users ( novice and experienced alike ) fail to make this simple, and IMO, most important step part of their backup policy. It only takes minutes to completely restore a backup image, and once you have, you'll be a convert! Well done everyone!

 

[whs]

I think this is a good discussion. But what counts at the end of the day is that the user uses backup and imaging at all. I am a Macrium fan and have a lot of trouble with the win7 imaging, but if that works for someone, that is just as good. Acronis, Paragon, Norton Ghost ( which I used for a long time with Vista) and a few more are excellent options too. Just make sure you use any - and frequently. At least once per week.
I have programmed Macrium to take an image every morning when I boot the system. It takes a minor amount of work to manage the images once per week, but at least I can always set back to a very recent state.

 

[1Bowtie]

Everybody has their favorate backup program and you all have valid opinions, at the end of the day if we can make a strong enough point that PEOPLE NEED TO MAKE BACKUP'S on a regular bacis. The work on this forum would be cut in half, because they would have the means to get back to a running computer

 

[karlsnooks]

very true.

 

[Maxxwire]

I store both Macrium Reflect and Windows System Image backups on my 3 1TB and 2TB backup drives. I keep more Reflect backups because they are 1/3 the size, but I do Windows backups each week. I find both of these Backup Programs to be very fast as well as easy to use.

~Maxx~
.

 

[karlsnooks]

Maxxwire,
Interesting graphic.

Since you are knowledgeable in the ways of backups and restores, you might want to consider taking a look at SyncToy.

SnycToy will give you very fast, simple, straightforward Folder backup.

I've switched over to using Win 7 Backup And Restore for Image backups and using SyncToy for data backups. However, everyone's needs and objectives are different. Just an idea to take a gander at and see what it can do and can not do.

Download details: SyncToy 2.1