Is Windows 7 Backup Even Worth Using?!

I'm not a fan of the built in backup software.  It doesn't fully backup the entire hard drive either.  I use Acronis True Image and do complete hard drive backups (all partitions to a second hard drive).  There is a freeware program you can look at, "Macrum Reflect" that is getting some attention.  Click Me

Thanks, Fireberd-

I may just part with the $45 and give Acronis a spin. Yesterday I downloaded the free Easeus Todo, which seems solid, but is very basic. It doesn't seem to be able to view and restore individual files from the partition backup. I loved the old Powerquest Drive Image, and would like to find something similar.

Rob

I have no idea why this was said "It doesn't fully backup the entire hard drive either", but Windows 7 Ultimate does have the capability to do image backups and restores.  Read "Back up and restore: frequently asked questions" in Help and Support.  What you can't do is a selective restore from a image backup, however you can do a file backup in addition to an image backup. 

I thought that was an awesome feature ... until I recently tried to set it up.  The image backup finishes successfully (it says), but then the WindowsImageBackup folder on my external drive shows as 16K in size.  When I open Image Backup, it says it has a backup for that date/time, but when I open the Restore from Previous Image, it can't find it (which makes sense, since the folder is 16K).  Just a little disappointed that it doesn't seem to work, as nearly everything else about 7 is stellar.

msgale- You are correct, at least as far as what it's supposed to be able to do, but it is very temperamental, to put it nicely. No matter how I configure, I continue to get the 0X80070002 error (selected file not found....). It's just not worth the hassle to troubleshoot this cow when there are so many good imaging programs out there that actually work, and have far more useful capabilities.

Rob

It always work for me.  I have however for other reasons switched to use Backup Exec 12.5 Enterprise Edition from Symantec.

Beware, there are may unhappy people using Acronis True Image Home 11. The previous version was way better but you can't buy it from Acronis now.

Rob

Beware, there are may unhappy people using Acronis True Image Home 11.

The previous version was way better but you can't buy it from Acronis now.

I didn't use this toll but i am using norton ghost instead of all these backup tools and its really great specially for the drive you installed your OS on. I suggest you to use it once then you see the abilities of this software.

Rob, you can still get a brand new boxed version of Acronis True Image Home 2010  from somwhere like ebay but not from Acronis itself. It should  cost you around $30.

If you go down this route, don't install the program from the cd but register it @Acronis and then download the latest version for installation.

I have the 2011 version and I'm not having any problems with it.  However, as I previously noted I only do full backups, not incremental and I don't use many of the extra features. 

I would suggest you try the free version of Macrium Reflect.  I've used it under XP, Vista, and Win 7 64-bit, and it has worked very well.  

I also use Win 7's image backup--mostly successfully.  I've run into some permission issues sometimes when trying to recover specific files/folders from the image backup.

I know these posts are old and that your issues might of been resolved already but just for accuracy and assistance with this thread.

The Error you encountered is most likely due to the fact that your backup service is disabled.

Try running "Services" from your search bar.

Locate "Windows Backup".  Right click it and select Properties.

Ensure that the "Startup Type" drop down menu indicates (Automatic) or (Automatic Delayed Start) at least.

Hope this helps future users.

See if this helps, I have been testing the latest version of Dell Backup and Recovery out, the free version:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/dell-backup-and-recovery/

I have been doing this with a clean install. So for the first part, DBAR should be installed and the recovery partition should be already present. You should update DBAR to the latest version before proceeding.

Thank you for the Update.  Reliable and properly functioning backup and restoration is one of the most important aspects of computer use, and yet it seems that it is not being explained clearly and properly anywhere in the computer universe.

I just got a new Dell tower Win 7-64 Professional and while it prompted me to start the installed Dell Back Up and Recovery, it didn't present clear information.  It clearly needs a PDF instruction sheet or manual presented at that juncture to help customers, especially less tech savvy ones, to do successful and restorable back-ups.

The relative lack of information can be demonstrated by the Dell web pages that promote upgrading to the Premium version without presenting a chart clearly indicating what the two versions can and can't do.

Regarding my new Dell tower, when I try to execute creating a MS Win 7 restore disc, the facility seems to be disabled.  Isn't that totally unexpected!  So this customer has no choice but to turn to an alternative software such as Dell's additional software.  In researching what else is available, Norton Ghost for Win 7 is no longer available, and the other products all seem to be only about 75% reliable or written in bad and confusing language and/or attended by manuals that fail to clarify how to do the simplest chores that are absolutely essential to saving ones bacon when the drive and/or system does become inoperable.

If Dell can ever offer a basic Back Up and Restore for the OS, and for individual partitions, and for files, with an offline info sheet or manual, that indeed would satisfy an enormous market need who don't need tremendous flexibility, but only 100% reliability.  It would also cut down on needed tech support and customer grief.

On Dell's earlier Win WP systems, Norton Ghost was dirt simple, fast, and always reliable.  Nowadays, back up software doesn't even begin to clarify that Win 7 is different and that system files are no longer necessarily scooped up by a traditional backup of the C Drive.

If I'm familiar with PC technology and find this necessary task suddenly becoming unreliable and Byzantine, what about Dell's much larger customer base?  Isn't this a good market opportunity for Dell?