Do I need Windows backup?

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I’m using Windows 7 Home Premium. Do I need Windows backup to make a backup of my computer and/or the info on my computer or can I use something else like Macrium? Or does Macrium need Windows backup to be able to work. My plan is to put the backup on an ex HD. If so,how do I turn Windows backup off?

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You do not have to use Windows Backup. Macrium Free or Pro works just great. I use Macrium Free Edition and have restored the image successfully on several occasions. I would definitely go the image backup route, and then you can just backup your data folders if you like as well.

Unless you have already set up Windows Backup to run on a schedule, you will never know you have it on your system. If you currently have it set up to automatically backup regularly, just type Backup in the Start Menu search field, select Backup and Restore, press Enter, and click Change backup settings.

Check out the Security & Backups Forum for more threads concerning imaging and backup.

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The 3 favourite backup programs are Windows, Macrium & Acronis to mention only the most popular by members. Not all of the are suitable for certain members Operating System. Pick 1 make a backup then restore it using the Recovery Disc, then try the next one.
Remember to read the instructions first.

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Thanks for the quick replies. Each day that goes by I get closer to figuring this backup out (with the help of you fine people)

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There are a couple of older threads that show step by step instructions for both Macrium Reflectand Acronis True Image Home 2011. Check them out. There is an even older thread for Acronis 2010. All these were originally written during the old Lounge so the attachments are all grouped at the bottom.

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@ Deadeye81, When you say “click change backup settings” are you telling me that in order to turn Windows backup off I need to pick “Let Me Choose” option and then uncheck all boxes in the given list of backup options for folders so that way windows backup wont have anything to backup? Or did I miss something? Thank you.

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You do not have to turn Windows Backup on or off. It just sits there like any other app waiting for you to decide whether to use it or not. I believe Gerald was talking about if you have already set up a scheduled task using Win 7 Backup, then you can turn the scheduled backup off if you desire to.

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I do have Windows backup set to run on a schedule and the backup is stored on a 500GB HD. Thing is I no longer want to use Windows backup for my backup.

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I have never used Windows Backup. I started using Acronis with XP, when there wasn’t even a Windows Backup app. As usual, when the feature was added to Vista, it was much less interesting than the paid apps and it still is. Meanwhile, free apps, fully featured, were offered, so there is really no reason to use Windows Backup. Both Macrium and EaseUS Todo Backup are much better and they are free.

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If, when I got this computer , I knew there was another way I would have used it. I just knew I needed to make a backup of my system, went out and bought an ex HD, and used the computer to make the backup. Now that I’ve learned a bit more I realize that wasn’t the best choice and I want to make it right. My plan at this time is to use the Macrium app to do the backup after I format the ex HD but I don’t want Windows backup in the picture and for some reason I feel it has something to do with the problems I’m having with my backup attempts. I want to know how to remove it from the picture if you know what I mean. If just not using it is the way then I guess I’ll figure that out when I make the next backup. I’m gettin’ there. Thanks

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If, when I got this computer , I knew there was another way I would have used it. I just knew I needed to make a backup of my system, went out and bought an ex HD, and used the computer to make the backup. Now that I’ve learned a bit more I realize that wasn’t the best choice and I want to make it right. My plan at this time is to use the Macrium app to do the backup after I format the ex HD but I don’t want Windows backup in the picture and for some reason I feel it has something to do with the problems I’m having with my backup attempts. I want to know how to remove it from the picture if you know what I mean. If just not using it is the way then I guess I’ll figure that out when I make the next backup. I’m gettin’ there. Thanks

All you need is not to use it and it won’t affect you in any way.

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Mull, If you did set up a scheduled backup chore using Win 7 Backup, as Gerald suggested, you can stop the scheduled task. You do not need to do anything else. Win 7 Backup will just sit there as any other unused app. Win 7 Backup is a part of the Win 7 system and as such I do not believe it can be uninstalled, but once you stop the scheduled task, Win 7 Backup won’t do anything else except sit there.

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Hi Mull,

As Ted and others related, it is easy to just turn off the scheduled task and ignore Windows Backup. Since you have set up Backup to proceed on an automatic schedule, you can start Task Scheduler, locate the WindowsBackup scheduled task, and disable the task.

You can also go to Control Panel (set the view to Small or Large icons), locate and click on Backup and Restore, and then click Turn off schedule in the left column of the Backup and Restore window.

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can I use something else like Macrium?

Mull,
Hello… After reading this thread i have one caveat …The last version of Macrium Reflect that works for me (being able to burn and boot from a LINUX recovery disk) With XP-Pro, Vista Home Premium, “7” 32 and 64 bit mix. Is Version 4.2.3638… Version “5” wouldn’t boot from there Recovery disk…you can get 4.2.3638 from FileHippo Macrium Reflect If you go with Version “5” just make sure the “Boot Disk” works and when loaded “Sees” your Image (that you just made):cheers: Regards Fred

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My experience with Macrium Reflect maps to that of Just Plain Fred’s.

Release 5’s recovery disk wouldn’t boot for me; so, even though I paid for the upgrade,
I reverted back to Release 4.

Good thing, too, ’cause some of M’Softs latest “fixes” fouled up my system; and I had to use the recovery
disk to put my latest image back on.

Dick

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Sorry for the delayed thanks but I’ve been away. Thank you all for your responses and your support to my backup troubles. I will use this info and get back to you with my progress. Thanks again. Happy Holidays

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One other piece of knowledge, burn a Boot Media for whatever version of Imaging app you use. If you have 2 different versions on 2 different PC’s, even from the same developer, burn a separate Boot Media for each. For example I have Acronis True Image Home 2010 on wife’s PC and Acronis TIH 2011 on my PC. The Boot Media from 2010 will not work on 2011 and vice versa. I needed a Boot Media for both.

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You may stop and set Windows Backup to “disable” in the services section, but do not disable or otherwise alter the “Volume Shadow Copy” service.

If you are in the process of musing about totally removing Windows Backup from the operating system then forget about it, it’s not going to happen right now.

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I use Mozey Home edition 2.0

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At a loss!! I went to backup and restore, clicked manage space, turned off the scheduled backup. Did this yesterday. At this time there is NO backup scheduled, planned or otherwise setup on this machine. Yet within the last hour or so 15 GB of space have been used up on the ex HD that is connected to the computer. I have added nothing to it. I haven’t downloaded anything or uploaded anything. As a matter of fact no one has been on the computer at all. What is being backed up??

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Make sure that system restore is not active on the drive.
What is actually taking up that 15 GB of space?

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I used Windows backup religiously for months and then came the fateful day for it to deliver… and it didn’t. I experimented around with it several times over the next few weeks, using another backup program, of course, for a, pardon the pun, “backup”. Ahem…

Windows Backup always chokes on some file and says that it is corrupted, unrestorable, or some such excuse. I stopped using it and went with another program. The other program works.

BOTTOM LINE: Always, always test your chosen backup program to see if it will indeed perform as you want in an emergency.

I recommend against relying on Windows Backup. Period.

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running Win7 home premium 64-bit on an HP pavilion elite with 8g ram, i5 cpu, I use IMAGE FOR WINDOWS from Terabyte unlimited, and love it.

it creates a full image, which I have had to restore once with no problems.
it allows me to open the image as a virtual drive, and examine/copy any file/folder; this has helped me recover files several times, in different circumstances. the partial recoveries are done under Windows, as well as the images.
I do a full image once a month, then set up a ‘changes only’ image as a scheduled job running nightly. each nightly image is individualized by date.

the full image is around 38gb for my 200gb C partition, the changes only start around 2gb. all copied to a seagate external HD.

terabyte unlimited is very helpful in providing support.

Vern

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I’m using Windows 7 Home Premium. Do I need Windows backup to make a backup of my computer and/or the info on my computer or can I use something else like Macrium? Or does Macrium need Windows backup to be able to work. My plan is to put the backup on an ex HD. If so,how do I turn Windows backup off?

Sounds like you’ve already made up your mind to use Macrium–I hope that you’ve noticed what the regular Macrium users have written about the latest version’s being unreliable. As a former Acronis True Image Home user (2010), I’m used to hearing the same about more recent versions of that app. Perhaps creating image files isn’t as easy as it used to be for third-party vendors?

In case you’re still open to other options, then, here’s a Lounge post that discusses the various file and system recovery options (including Windows Backup) that are available in Windows 7. In it I make the case for using file sync software rather than traditional backup software for backing up data to an external drive, as well as discussing how to use Windows 7’s “Restore Previous Versions” feature to easily recover past versions of individual files (and a lot quicker and easier than using any backup software for the same task). I don’t ignore imaging software, either–I just recommend it for imaging the system/app partition for full system recovery purposes (one good reason for keeping your data on a separate partition, by the way).

I’m going to have to disagree with the Windows Backup haters, though–despite avoiding all previous versions of Windows Backup, I’ve found that the Windows 7 version is perfectly capable for creating occasional system image backups (I do this only “on demand,” when I’ve made some significant change to my system configuration). When make image backups, you’re really using Windows’ “Volume Shadow Copy” service–Windows Backup is just serving as the user interface. The “real” Windows Backup doesn’t come into play until you use it for file-by-file backups. While I’ve also used Windows Backup’s file-by-file backup feature (and have had no problems recovering whole folders of files), you don’t really need it if you’re using file sync software to back up your data (which is what you should be doing weekly or even daily) and taking care of the small stuff with Restore Previous Versions.

If you’d be interested, here’s a Lounge post about my experience living with Windows Backup for making system images.

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