Windows 7 backup

When using windows 7 backup program, does it only backup changes to the files sine my last back up. Also when my external hard drive gets full does it delete the oldest backup or do something else.

fuzzy7139, welcome to the forums! When you use the backup program, it backs up everything, unless you specify otherwise. As far as your external drive goes, you must delete anything you don't want. If you want to, you can backup these files to another source. If you wish to do incremental backups, and save all of them, you may wish to consider a large (1TB) drive, or whatever your budget allows. I get by fine on a 160GB WD drive, but everyone's needs are different. Hope this helps.

I don't use the Windows 7 backup feature, but I'm sure it will do incremental backups. IF its like most backup programs, it will overwrite the existing file. It doesn't make much sense to keep making separate backups and fill up a hard drive.

If you can, get a copy of Macrium Reflect Free, a very good image backup program. It's very fast and does a good job.

Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - for personal use The fastest disk imaging software is now available as a free edition.
Absolutely free! No strings! The only free XP and Vista compatible disk imaging software with BartPE and Linux based recovery options.

• Create a disk image whilst running Windows using Microsoft Volume Shadow copy Service (VSS).
• Image to Network, USB, FireWire drives and DVD.
• Built in scheduler.
• 32 bit and native 64 bit versions.
• Industry leading compression levels and speed.
• Linux based Rescue CD with Network access and full GUI. Only 6.5MB in size!
• Built in CD/DVD packet writing engine. Supports packet writing to DVD DL media with Windows Vista.
• HTML log files.

Version information
Version: v4.2.2409
Date: 29th January 2010
File Size: 31.8 MB
File Name: reflect_setup_free_x86_x64.exe
MD5 Hash:e87110ce750e1280042e944a0d0b52c6
Windows Versions: XP, Vista, Windows 7. 32 and native 64 Bit.
Note: This installation file contains the 32 and 64 bit versions of Macrium Reflect. The correct version will be automatically installed.

Free Edition Screenshot Gallery Click on a thumbnail image to view the screenshot. ..............................................................................................

Nibiru, you can schedule backups with Windows Backup if you want, in fact, shortly after you get 7 going, there's a reminder to setup backups. But I only backup when I make a change to my system, like adding a program, and I always purge the old ones. I have four different Windows systems backed up to a single 160GB drive. But I plan to buy another one for this computer soon. A 500GB portable is fairly inexpensive, that's probably the size I'll go with.