Resolved Best Windows7 Backup methods

I have a 500GB hard drive on a notebook and a 1TB USB external backup drive. I used Windows 7 Backup and Restore to backup the 500GB drive on the 1TB.

The problems:
1) The backup included a System Image, then left inadequate space to do a scheduled backup a week later.
2) The backup time took too long (22 hours).

Questions:
1. If I uncheck the Backup System Image for the subsequent backup, will the first System Image still be there?

2. It seems that subsequent backups will create additional backup copies, instead of using incremental backup method. But I just want to backup new and changed documents (all under Library of a user, and the Public). What is the best way and quickest way to do this intended backup everyweek?

3. If Windows7 Backup and Restore is not a good choice for 2. above, which software can do it, (economically)?

 

http://downloads.zdnet.com/abstract.aspx?docid=2141879&tag=nl.e530

or this

http://www.educ.umu.se/~cobian/cobianbackup.htm

Both are FREE

 

Thanks Mr Bill.

The HDClone looks similar to Ghost and every time it backups the whole disk (new and unchanged old contents).

Cobinan... version 10 for 64-bit may worth a trial. But I still want a software to do incremental backup for changed and new contents.

 

You are welcome. I know that quite a few people use both. Best part about them is the price...

 

I use acronis home ant home, and acronis workstation at work for all machine on the network. when I had a machine failure, it restored to a new and different machine with no problems. Did have to go find a few drivers, but loved it. Went from old compaq to newer but used dell

 

Thanks icepik. I have an impression that acronis works for hard disk cloning. Can it backup "only new or changed files and folders" of C:\Users\IvanH and C:\Users\Public on schedule, and automatically keep 2 latest backup versions for recovery?

 

Hello,

You could use https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp it highly recommented by lot of people. And it's free. I personally use the in-build Windows backup.

Hope this helps,
Captain

 

I find that Acronis can do it all, however you want it. just bear in mind if you are doing an image backup to a USB device, it will be slower than the second coming. at work I do a full image backup about every 6 weeks, on all machines. I then do differentials on each machine which is stored on a USB drive, done late at night. I used to use Cobian, but after trying Acronis, I liked it. There are lots of other packages available, but I like Acronis and the price is right.
good luck

 

HI Captain, Thanks for your info. From their web, the software looks like a hard disk cloner. But in my case, I need to backup only one-third of the 500GB (<200GB) onto the 1TB external HD. And I want to retain at least 2 versions of backup for recovery.

Hi icepik, I wanna try Acronis. See if I can find a trial version.