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Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows Vista and 7 => Topic started by: premi on August 12, 2013, 06:43:29 AM

Title: Windows 7 full system back up
Post by: premi on August 12, 2013, 06:43:29 AM
I have done a full system back up to a portable drive, 1tb.
I'm not sure now how to programme a regular update ?
Would any up date be incremental ?
Help appreciated
Premi
Title: Re: Windows 7 full system back up
Post by: soybean on August 12, 2013, 08:00:02 AM
More info needed.  What software did you use for the backup? 
Title: Re: Windows 7 full system back up
Post by: premi on August 13, 2013, 11:42:59 PM
Thanks for the reply

I used MS Windows 7 Home Premium 6.0.1 SP1. Control panel. Backup & restore. Create a system image.
Save on a hard disk. Directed to Seagate Backup Plus. drive E:   931gb. free space 821 gb.

Premi
Title: Re: Windows 7 full system back up
Post by: jason2074 on August 14, 2013, 12:06:04 AM
While waiting for a reply from soybean, do you use the Seagate Backup Plus?

About Seagate Backup (http://www.seagate.com/external-hard-drives/portable-hard-drives/standard/backup-plus/)
Title: Re: Windows 7 full system back up
Post by: premi on August 14, 2013, 07:38:33 AM
Yes. The Seagate Backup Plus. Portable Drive 1TB. USB 3.0
Title: Re: Windows 7 full system back up
Post by: soybean on August 14, 2013, 08:57:24 AM
I have done a full system back up to a portable drive, 1tb.
I'm not sure now how to programme a regular update ?
Would any up date be incremental ?
As nearly as I can determine from browsing through http://superuser.com/questions/60554/does-built-in-windows-7-backup-perform-differential-incremental-backups and http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-performance/windows-7-how-to-perform-an-incremental-back-up/a7d49307-21ec-4658-918d-8528a4b92912d, Windows Backup and Restore does incremental backups.  However, I found no comments in either reference about having any flexibility to set exactly what gets included in an incremental backup.  I also could not get a clear understanding of how full and incremental backups can be managed.  In other words, how do I identify incremental updates and manage them?  And, how do remove a series of incremental backups and do a new full backup? 

So, I think I'd rather use a third-party software such as EASEUS ToDo Backup Free (http://www.todo-backup.com/products/home/free-backup-software.htm) or EASEUS ToDo Backup Pro (not free). 
Title: Re: Windows 7 full system back up
Post by: jason2074 on August 14, 2013, 11:33:13 PM
The Macrium Knowledge Base has made a documentation. Take note that only paid versions have these backup features but research more to compare as I could be wrong. EASUS, Acronis, Macrium, Paragon are the most popular and tested softwares AFAIK. The seagate Backup plus is more on Cloud base which is generally more expensive as subscribers would need to renew a yearly plan.

The benefits of differential and incremental backup (http://kb.macrium.com/Print50143.aspx)
FAQ Seagate Backup Plus (http://knowledge.seagate.com/articles/en_US/FAQ/004442en)
Title: Re: Windows 7 full system back up
Post by: jason2074 on August 15, 2013, 11:37:43 PM
Just wanted to add also this http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,139491.0.html which was bookmarked from my browsers months ago.
Title: Re: Windows 7 full system back up
Post by: premi on August 21, 2013, 12:27:38 AM
Thanks for the reply

The USB hard drive came without insructions I didn't format it
It would seem the way to go is to use a third-party software, such as EaseUs, Acronis, Macris, Paragon, as forum, and your comments are not encouraging regarding Windows 7 and incremental backups; and my understanding of the operation.
And the software would need to be user friendly for me to operate it. That's why I thought the Windows 7 program was the answer!
Some questions.Would the use of one of these require me to remove the full backup I have done already, and to start over?
Or would I need only the information on incremental back up operation?
Having done a full backup and incrementals why would one need to later do a new full backup. Or identify the incrementals ?
Is it possible that the Windows 7 program does all of the requirements such as full backup and incrementals as an automatic process; with no need to do any thing more after doing the full backup? just a thought