Win7 Backup Image Utility

[Remove the XX's]

I make backup inages via the tool that comes with Windows 7. My drive is 500GB
(with 40GB currently on it) and the drive I put the image to is 60GB.
Obviously each time I backup a new image to it the previous one is gone. But
now for a destination drive I use a 320GB. The way I figure it I should get at
LEAST 5 images on it but Windows keeps deleteing the previous one.

If I split the destination drive into 5 partitions (320/5) and each time I
back up use a different partition will those images have a good integrity for
restore if needed? I would hate to have a false sense of security.

TIA, Dennis
==================

 

[Paul]

I make backup inages via the tool that comes with Windows 7. My drive is 500GB
(with 40GB currently on it) and the drive I put the image to is 60GB.
Obviously each time I backup a new image to it the previous one is gone. But
now for a destination drive I use a 320GB. The way I figure it I should get at
LEAST 5 images on it but Windows keeps deleteing the previous one.

If I split the destination drive into 5 partitions (320/5) and each time I
back up use a different partition will those images have a good integrity for
restore if needed? I would hate to have a false sense of security.

TIA, Dennis
==================

On Windows 7, I've only used the System Image capability, rather than the
other (file mode?) backup.

I experienced the same thing. If I make a fresh image, the other one is
erased and the new one takes its place.

To stop that, I transfer the backup to any other place. Just move it
out of the way, Then run your new backup, and see what happens.

Then, for fun, run your recovery boot CD (or installer DVD), and
go to the restore menu. Did the disk scan find both images or not ?
That's the test you want to try. My experience was, there was
an extended search interval during recovery, where the software
searches for images. Maybe, it can find that image, if it is moved
out of the way. And, it should show the date the backup was made.
There's a fair amount of metadata in the folder, with the actual
image files.

Paul

 

[Remove the XX's]

On Windows 7, I've only used the System Image capability, rather than the
other (file mode?) backup.

I experienced the same thing. If I make a fresh image, the other one is
erased and the new one takes its place.

To stop that, I transfer the backup to any other place. Just move it
out of the way, Then run your new backup, and see what happens.

Then, for fun, run your recovery boot CD (or installer DVD), and
go to the restore menu. Did the disk scan find both images or not ?
That's the test you want to try. My experience was, there was
an extended search interval during recovery, where the software
searches for images. Maybe, it can find that image, if it is moved
out of the way. And, it should show the date the backup was made.
There's a fair amount of metadata in the folder, with the actual
image files.

Paul

Thanx Paul, I'll play with that scenerio. I also just split my 320GB into 5
partitions. I'm also going to play with that. One good thing is that the Image
utility is pretty quick so it's fairly easy to play around.

Dennis
===========

 

[Ed Cryer]

On Windows 7, I've only used the System Image capability, rather than the
other (file mode?) backup.

I experienced the same thing. If I make a fresh image, the other one is
erased and the new one takes its place.

To stop that, I transfer the backup to any other place. Just move it
out of the way, Then run your new backup, and see what happens.

Then, for fun, run your recovery boot CD (or installer DVD), and
go to the restore menu. Did the disk scan find both images or not ?
That's the test you want to try. My experience was, there was
an extended search interval during recovery, where the software
searches for images. Maybe, it can find that image, if it is moved
out of the way. And, it should show the date the backup was made.
There's a fair amount of metadata in the folder, with the actual
image files.

Paul

Yes. I do that. I copy previous image to a folder on the same drive.

My experience of using the recovery option was that it only found the
one in the root of the drive. So I switched to Paragon images when I
found on testing that it found all its stuff.

Ed

 

[Anthony Buckland]

I make backup inages via the tool that comes with Windows 7. My drive is 500GB
(with 40GB currently on it) and the drive I put the image to is 60GB.
Obviously each time I backup a new image to it the previous one is gone. But
now for a destination drive I use a 320GB. The way I figure it I should get at
LEAST 5 images on it but Windows keeps deleteing the previous one.

If I split the destination drive into 5 partitions (320/5) and each time I
back up use a different partition will those images have a good integrity for
restore if needed? I would hate to have a false sense of security.

TIA, Dennis
==================

For years, I've used Acronis True Image, not just because I feel
a sense of security, but because I have, more than once, actually
restored a system with it. Your heart may dwell in your mouth,
but there's nothing like actually having your computer saved.
Disclosure: I have no stake in their success. Further disclosure:
it costs money.

 

[Jason]

On Thu, 22 Nov 2012 17:23:19 -0800 "Anthony Buckland"

For years, I've used Acronis True Image, not just because I feel
a sense of security, but because I have, more than once, actually
restored a system with it. Your heart may dwell in your mouth,
but there's nothing like actually having your computer saved.
Disclosure: I have no stake in their success. Further disclosure:
it costs money.

I second that! Used it for years and it's saved my bacon a time or two.

 

[Remove the XX's]

On Thu, 22 Nov 2012 17:23:19 -0800 "Anthony Buckland"

I second that! Used it for years and it's saved my bacon a time or two.

I agree guys, done a half dozen or so 'disaster' restores over the years using
xcopy32 /c/h/e/r/k on 95, XXCLONE or Ghost on XP and now Win7's tool.

I figured out the issue...you have to go through the restore from Windows then
reboot to see the saved backups in Backup and Restore manager. I could swear I
set it to restore from Safe Mode a while back but I must be confused. Also the
Win7 recovery disk works fine too. To get around losing the previous backups
on the destination drive I just made 5-60GB Partions. I have about 40GB on my
drive so I should be good for while. In theory I should only want the most
recent but it's the paranoia factor.....

Dennis
===============

 

[BillW50]

On Thu, 22 Nov 2012 17:23:19 -0800 "Anthony Buckland"



I second that! Used it for years and it's saved my bacon a time or two.

I've been burned by Acronis for many years. It will make backups all day
long faithfully. When it comes to restoring, it can't see some USB
drives that it had saved files on for years. And this is a known Acronis
problem. And no other backup software has this major flaw.

 

[Robin Bignall]

I've been burned by Acronis for many years. It will make backups all day
long faithfully. When it comes to restoring, it can't see some USB
drives that it had saved files on for years. And this is a known Acronis
problem. And no other backup software has this major flaw.

I have Shadowprotect, possibly the most expensive backup/recovery
software. It will backup to anything writeable, but if you want to
recover your system disk you have to boot from the SP stand-alone disk
and that cannot see USB3 drives, as far as I can tell.

 

[Paul]

I have Shadowprotect, possibly the most expensive backup/recovery
software. It will backup to anything writeable, but if you want to
recover your system disk you have to boot from the SP stand-alone disk
and that cannot see USB3 drives, as far as I can tell.

Can you connect your USB3 device to a USB2 port ?

That port likely uses a different driver.

Paul

 

[BillW50]

I have Shadowprotect, possibly the most expensive backup/recovery
software. It will backup to anything writeable, but if you want to
recover your system disk you have to boot from the SP stand-alone disk
and that cannot see USB3 drives, as far as I can tell.

Those boot up disks generally use Linux or WinPE as an OS just to run
the application. And it sounds like whatever OS it is using, doesn't
have the correct driver for USB3 ports.

 

[Robin Bignall]

Can you connect your USB3 device to a USB2 port ?

That port likely uses a different driver.

I'm sure I can, but my external is an exact copy of one of my internals,
so I can always get at my backups.

 

[Robin Bignall]

Those boot up disks generally use Linux or WinPE as an OS just to run
the application. And it sounds like whatever OS it is using, doesn't
have the correct driver for USB3 ports.

Yes, it's some sort of Windows: the Vista logo comes up while booting.

Indeed, it does not have the USB3 drivers. But there's a function
called 'Load drivers' that you can run before looking for backups, and
which you can point to the USB3 drivers you need. I haven't got that to
work because of my lack of knowledge of exactly what drivers I need for
USB3.
(This is the trouble, I feel, for complex pieces of software with lots
of functions, that one uses once in a blue moon. I shall never, ever
master Paintshop Pro for exactly the same reason!)

SP is pretty clever, and will do a restore to quite different hardware
if you choose. Instead of asking for a simple restore plus setting the
target as bootable etc, you do an HIR (Hardware Independent) Restore.
Somewhere you get to load the drivers for your new hardware, and the
restore incorporates them. That works, because I've done it using the
internal backups.

 

[BillW50]

Yes, it's some sort of Windows: the Vista logo comes up while booting.

Indeed, it does not have the USB3 drivers. But there's a function
called 'Load drivers' that you can run before looking for backups, and
which you can point to the USB3 drivers you need. I haven't got that to
work because of my lack of knowledge of exactly what drivers I need for
USB3.
(This is the trouble, I feel, for complex pieces of software with lots
of functions, that one uses once in a blue moon. I shall never, ever
master Paintshop Pro for exactly the same reason!)

SP is pretty clever, and will do a restore to quite different hardware
if you choose. Instead of asking for a simple restore plus setting the
target as bootable etc, you do an HIR (Hardware Independent) Restore.
Somewhere you get to load the drivers for your new hardware, and the
restore incorporates them. That works, because I've done it using the
internal backups.

Yes that disk is using WinPE v2. v1 has an XP logo and v3 uses a Windows
7 one. And WinPE usually always allows adding a driver.

And two more backup utilities that I know of will also restore to
totally different hardware.

Acronis calls it "Restore to Dissimilar Hardware"
Paragon calls it "Adaptive Restore"

And it is pretty simple how they work. Basically they replace the
drivers with generic drivers. The same drivers that Windows install
uses. And the first time you boot Windows for real, Windows replaces
them with the correct drivers. Now it is locked into that hardware.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

For years, I've used Acronis True Image, not just because I feel
a sense of security, but because I have, more than once, actually
restored a system with it. Your heart may dwell in your mouth,
but there's nothing like actually having your computer saved.
Disclosure: I have no stake in their success. Further disclosure:
it costs money.

I am a fan of the similar product Macrium Reflect, which can also be had
in a less flexible free version.

I've used EaseUS Todo Backup, which is free but, IIRC, is also available
in a paid version. It works OK.

Both of the above do image backups or clone backups, your choice. In
fact I often[1] do one of each type.

[1] Here, "often" means "a large percentage of backups"; I don't backup
often enough

 

[charlie]

I have ATI 2009, which I don't really like.

That aside, I'm trying to "shoehorn" the contents of a 300G boot drive
into a 240G SSD. The Win backup utility will work with a smaller to
larger or the same drive, but not to a smaller, even when the original
drive has more than enough free space to account for the difference in
size between the drives.

Macrium "Free" supposedly has a similar issue, and the pubs claim that
the buyit version doesn't.

Any suggestions?

 

[Paul]

I have ATI 2009, which I don't really like.

That aside, I'm trying to "shoehorn" the contents of a 300G boot drive
into a 240G SSD. The Win backup utility will work with a smaller to
larger or the same drive, but not to a smaller, even when the original
drive has more than enough free space to account for the difference in
size between the drives.

Macrium "Free" supposedly has a similar issue, and the pubs claim that
the buyit version doesn't.

Any suggestions?

The simplest answer (but not the best), is to shrink the source
partition. Windows 7 has a built-in shrink, available either
in Disk Management, or via diskpart command line. It is
limited in shrink capability, by virtue of an inability to
move all metadata files. If you have an originally prepared
300GB, the smallest you can make it via Windows 7 built-in is
150GB. If you have some other partition management product,
you can do better than that (until you're down to the
size needed to hold the actual file content). There is a
certain defragmenter, that if you run it, it moves the
metadata to the left, and then the Windows 7 built-in
shrink would be able to go below 150GB. But that's purely
of academic interest.

Paul

 

[Ken Springer]

The simplest answer (but not the best), is to shrink the source
partition. Windows 7 has a built-in shrink, available either
in Disk Management, or via diskpart command line. It is
limited in shrink capability, by virtue of an inability to
move all metadata files. If you have an originally prepared
300GB, the smallest you can make it via Windows 7 built-in is
150GB. If you have some other partition management product,
you can do better than that (until you're down to the
size needed to hold the actual file content). There is a
certain defragmenter, that if you run it, it moves the
metadata to the left, and then the Windows 7 built-in
shrink would be able to go below 150GB. But that's purely
of academic interest.

And that defragmenter would be ???????

--
Ken

Mac OS X 10.6.8
Firefox 17.0
Thunderbird 17.0
LibreOffice 3.6.3.2

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

I have ATI 2009, which I don't really like.

That aside, I'm trying to "shoehorn" the contents of a 300G boot drive
into a 240G SSD. The Win backup utility will work with a smaller to
larger or the same drive, but not to a smaller, even when the original
drive has more than enough free space to account for the difference in
size between the drives.

Macrium "Free" supposedly has a similar issue, and the pubs claim that
the buyit version doesn't.

Any suggestions?

Sorry, no suggestions, since I have no knowledge - I've only backed up &
never tried restore.

Which is a dangerous situation...

 

[Anthony Buckland]

... I've only backed up &
never tried restore.

Which is a dangerous situation...

Yup. The last time I upgraded ATI, the first thing I did was to
make a backup with the old version, make sure I had two recovery
CDs, install the new version, backup with _it_, and then restore
with it. Then I knew I had confidence in the new version. If the
restore had failed, I would not have had confidence, but I could
still restore with the old backup, losing nothing. Note: I don't
make every suggested upgrade with a program that vital; I need
a good reason.

When you restore with no option to back out, you end up with one
of two things: a restored system, or a really underweight boat
anchor.