Backing Up Computer.

April 10, 2016 | don-o

[davius]

bump

[trebb]

Now my computer runs like the Black Stallion.

Took me back to the early years as I was becoming an avid reader - Walter Farley put me in the saddle of the Black Stallion and the Red Stallion.

[ShadowAce]

[rarestia]

Sounds like you’re already doing more than most users by simply backing up your data.

Microsoft operating systems since Windows 7 have had both system state and file-level backup capabilities baked into the OS. Back up to an external hard disk at least once a week, and you’re never more than a week removed from your last stable system.

Windows 8.1 and 10 have File History and System Restore capabilities that are essentially the same as Apple’s “Time Machine.” File History uses volume shadow (copy) service (VSS) to maintain copies of your files. System Restore is a system state snapshot taken any time a change is made to your core OS (e.g. during patching/updates). You can change where these services store your data in the control panel.

I personally have two 1 TB hard drives in my system, and using Storage Spaces in Windows 8.1, I pair them to create a redundant 1 TB D drive to which I have file history dump my data. I also use BitLocker to encrypt that drive and to encrypt a specific folder on that disk where I keep personal information. It’s very fast and very effective.

I use a NAS in my home network to run regular backups using the old school wbadmin.exe that Microsoft keeps around but doesn’t allow you to setup in a GUI. Running that as a script weekly from Scheduled Tasks ensures that I’ve got all the backups I need. YMMV.

[mad_as_he$$]

Yes and you can schedule regular backups. Get a 1 terabyte external USB HD for about $80 bucks.

http://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_6?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=1+terabyte+external+hard+drive&sprefix=1+tera%2Caps%2C213

[don-o]

Thanks for the post. Here’s the latest from me.

I left the laptop running to complete backup of Win 7 using the Windows utility. This morning, I have Win 10. I had delayed the install, but forgot about it. The bad news is that the Win 7 backup I was making did not make it to my EHD. There’s a folder, but it’s empty.

[AFreeBird]

B4L8r

[Varmint Al]

I didn't see Clonezill mentioned. It will completely backup a hard disk or a partition to an external drive or to a second drive on the system. It is really easy to use of you follow the instructions. I use it to backup my Windows XP and Linux Mint KDE computers and it works fine. And it is just as easy to restore the complete image to a blank hard drive as it is to back it up. The one fault is that you can not restore a single file. You have to restore the whole 9 yards.

Here is a link to Clonezilla on SourceForge.com: https://sourceforge.net/projects/clonezilla/

Good Hunting... from Varmint Al

[rarestia]

There might be a system restore point created prior to the upgrade. System Restore should be under “Recovery” in the Control Panel. You can try that. Otherwise, if you’re content with Win10, run a new backup and go from there.

[Navy Patriot]

This morning, I have Win 10.

One of the most common complaints about Win 10.

Here's some of the latest info on Win 10: What's New in Windows 10

[Navy Patriot]

There may be a way to restore Win 7 to your laptop if you want to rollback, or save your Win 7 license and then roll forward again.

How to Uninstall Windows 10 and Downgrade to Windows 7 or 8.1

Uninstall, then follow E. Pluribus Unum's directions to find the COA, write it down, then create an install DVD.

[don-o]

I’m not finding anything to hate about Win 10 to this point.

[Navy Patriot]

I’m not finding anything to hate about Win 10 to this point.

Good, it is a fast OS, and you can turn off the excessive monitoring and background internet use by Googling what you want to do, or that "How To Geek" site.

You have one month to rollback to Win 7 if you wish to do so, and retrieve your Win 7 license, after that MS won't let you do it. Also the free upgrade you used to go to Win 10 expires in early July 2016, so you would have to go forward to 10 before then to keep 10 free.

For software you need not included in 10, Google the Win 10 forums, much has been researched and is freeware if you ask where to find it. FR too, we'll always help.

[dayglored]

Windows backup / recovery question -- FReeper tech help! ... PING!

You can find all the Windows Ping list threads with FR search: just search on keyword "windowspinglist".

[matthew fuller]

Thanks for all of that advice.

[don-o]

Thanks for pinging the list. I’ll give an update to my Win 10 experience, fwiw.

Last night, I powered down for the first time since the install. When I booted up this morning, I was presented with a wi-fi wizard. Kinda made me go “hmmm” but I proceeded.

That did prompt me to figure out how to log into my modem and monitor internet activity. So, I am still learning.

www.coffeeclub.com

Would that be from an as on a page that has been opened?

[don-o]

One more thing. When I used the “My PC” utility on Win 10, I saw 26 Gb of temp files! I just ran CCleaner a couple of days ago.

When I deleted them, the Defraggler I was running kicked into hyperspeed. It had been showing >1 day to finish.

So, is CCleaner (free) crapware or what?

[pax_et_bonum]

Newer models beep when backed up.

[MEG33]

Great informative thread, don-o. Thanks for asking!

I just bought a new Dell Laptop with 10 and have all my pictures and docs, including favorites, in a flashdrive as backup but have never backed up the whole thing.

Thanks for the ping dayglored

[don-o]

It is gratifying for an old dog to learn new tricks.

Bonus is helpful people and no snark!