I want to build a PC. I've browsed around the 'net looking for information on
Complete PC Backup. The only thing that I've found on the 'net explains how
to do a backup & restore. I've browsed around the Microsoft Vista discussion
groups & found out that it is possible to do incremental (I wish that it
would do differential instead of incremental backups.) as well as full
backups.
So, here are my questions.
Can I give the backup files names or does Windows? For example, before I
install certain software can I give the backup a file name such as "before
installijng XYZ software"?
The way I understand it with incremental backups, the full backup has to be
restored first & then the incremental backups are restored next starting with
the oldest & proceeding to the latest. Since the Complete PC Backup does
incremental backups, does the Restore wizard restore the incremental backups
in order?
Thank you.
David
You're still confused. System Restores and Backups are different
animals.
Windows has a build-in feature called System Restore (Type 'System
Restore' at the start button, then click) that creates Restore points.
These are system snapshots that copies critical files that allows you
to rollback your system to a prior time and if everything goes well
restore your PC to a point before it/you did something that prevents
it from working properly. Vista will automatically make Restore points
on it's own, plus you can make your own anytime. Older Restore Points
may get removed automatically depending on how much hard drive space
is set aside for them. They can take up lots of hard drive space. It
makes sense to create a Restore Point BEFORE you make any hardware
change or install new software or when you fiddle with your system.
Vista will generally make Restore Points on it's own when it deems it
necessary without asking. That way if something goes wrong, you simply
rollback to a prior point in time and things are as they were BEFORE
you did whatever you did that messed something up.
There are all kinds of backup methods the two most popular briefly
summarized below.
Disk Imaging
Many people like this method, but it has it's own problems, mainly you
won't know if it works until you need to use it, then if it doesn't
work it's too late to try to correct it. Disk Imaging typically
creates a giant image file which is a snapshot of an entire partition
or even your entire system spanning multiple hard drives. This is a
sector by sector copy so in theory if something goes wrong, you should
be able to restore your system byte by byte. This image file is stored
on another partition or better a different hard drive or burned to a
series of CD's or DVD's. While this can be effective, it can be time
consuming and is useless unless you do it on a regular basis to stay
current.
Terms like full backup and incremental backup refer to how the backup
is made. A full backup copies everything, while a incremental backup
only copies things that have changed since the last backup. Unless
you're smart about it, you can waste a lot of time and effort making
endless copies of the same thing, like repeatedly copying your
installed software and system files, rather than simply copying your
data.
Copying verses Imaging
In my opinion a superior method. You use software that scans what you
have already backed up, it creates a list of what hasn't been backed
up and what was backed up that you've now deleted and no longer have
original files for. You then folder or folder or file by file decide
how to proceed and it will delete the backups for original files now
deleted and backup files you haven't yet got backup for yet.
This method is best used when you only backup data, which is the
preferred method and what most professionals do since there is really
no need to back up installed software if you have install CD's,
whatever to install them from again if the need ever comes up.
As far as using the built-in backup that comes with Vista, I wouldn't
touch it with a ten foot pole. Simply not reliable. There are many
good third party backup packages out there. The important thing is get
into the habit of doing it faithfully otherwise it is pointless. A
sloppy hit or miss backup procedure is just as bad an not backing up
at all.
