Full System Backups in Windows 7 1

[kjv1611]

So, has anyone here yet tried Acronis True Image, Norton Ghost, or any other apps with Windows 7 to back-up and actually restore their systems? I was going to install Acronis True Image Home 2010 for someone else on a new PC with Windows 7, but from what I'm reading from some sources, it's not sounding too good so far:

Reviews at Amazon

Major issues with version 2009 on Windows 7

One of the Amazon reviews (by a reviewer named KD) went into great detail, listing all the backup programs he/she tested. In the review, he mentioned this free program as being the best overall, though not perfect:
Macrium Reflect Free Edition

So, it's got me wondering - would a general user be best off with that freebie, or with True Image or Ghost?

Any thoughts/suggestions/personal experiences?

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[linney]

I have destroyed, corrupted and then restored Windows 7 several times throughout its' short life, I use products from Terabyte (Image for Windows, Image for DOS). I have so far never had a failed restore from a full backup image.

Terabyte Unlimited

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/prodgrid.html

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/image-for-windows.htm

 

[kjv1611]

Thanks, linney. I already forgot about that one - haven't tried it yet. I remember you or someone else already posting about it before in another thread. I'll have to give it a try.

And coming from someone who's already restored Seven several times, that sounds great to me!

One thing I didn't notice on the product comparison page: Does it handle incremental backups at all? That's one thing I thought the advantage of Acronis True Image would be.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[kjv1611]

It looks like you can do schedule backups or incremental, maybe, from some user reviews, but I'm still not sure. What I really need to do is install a fresh Windows 7 on one machine, install the trial of this program, and try some backup/restore operations myself to see how it goes, I suppose. If it works as good as you say, and almost all others on the user reviews say, it'd be well worth the price.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[linney]

My backups are just full images, on 50GB Partitions, it takes about 10 minutes to create an image, and about the same amount of time to restore. I do not use incremental backup so off the top of my head I can't answer your question from personal experience but the site does say "Backup Changed Data - Differential backup option allows you to backup only data that has changed since the last full backup was created.

 

[manhunter2826]

Does this mean that W7 does not have its own backup/restore image program?? That really surprises me? (Is system restore still an option on ALL editions, as it's been an absolute life saver in XP). Thanks.

 

[linney]

Windows 7 has backup programs included.

There are limitations between Windows 7 versions however.

Backup and Restore Center

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backup_and_Restore_Center

 

[manhunter2826]

Thanks linney.

 

[kjv1611]

linney,

Me again. I was looking at Image for Windows, and the only thing I found for automated backups said something about using batch files. Is that something you have to program yourself, or is it something that you can just click a couple options/boxes/whatever, and set it up via a GUI interface?

Of course, this assumes you've used any automated/scheduled options.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[linney]

I think it is only possible by using the command line interface from a batch file. I myself just run the program manually about every 10 days or so.

See if there is anything useful in the Terabyte Forum.

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/cg...blic.apps.image&key=batch&action=Search+Group

Or try Support if you are asking about a Batch File problem. You would have to create a Batch File yourself (a set of instructions to run and control the program, created in Notepad and then saved as a .bat file instead of .txt from within Notepad) and launch it via Schedule Tasks at the appropriate time (do test it manually first).

Image for Windows: Help and Support

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/support-image-for-windows.htm

 

[kjv1611]

Thanks again for the information. I really need to just break down and do what I mentioned - maybe this weekend if I can find the time - and do a test run on a spare machine!

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me