Get those full system backups working!

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I got this message from JIY – and what he says is absolutely right. There is an underlying theme with all this updating, upgrading, clandestine goings
[See the full post at: Get those full system backups working!]

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This is excellent advice even if you’re not worried about being infected with Win 10.

I run a maintenance cycle every Saturday by running virus/malware scans, clean up old files and finish off by taking a complete system image backup.

I keep one copy on an internal drive for quick access, and keep another copy on an offline Seagate USB disk in case of accidents or ransomeware.

One final thing, make sure that you test your backups from time to time, no point having backups if they don’t work.

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It depends on what you use your computer for really. If you have a lot of stuff on it that you cannot afford to lose then of course it’s necessary to back that up on a regular basis, and that applies equally to home or business use.

Otherwise if there’s nothing you don’t mind losing – that might apply for example to a gamer with online games whose progress is saved server-side or offline games with progress saved both on the computer and through a game platform such as Steam on the cloud – it’s pretty much a choice between the inconvenience of making regular backups against the inconvenience of a format and reinstall if things go wrong for whatever reason. Time was when a regular system reinstall was recommended anyway because any setup tends to get cluttered and slower over time.

Many users will in any event find the whole backup concept beyond them, they simply don’t have the necessary grasp of computers which they may only use for browsing and emails, while others have too busy a life to be worrying about weekly maintenance cycles of the sort David F describes.

Backups are a must for pretty much any business use, but for home use they’re much less likely to be adopted unless the user is very computer savvy and has the time to devote to a regular maintenance cycle.

None of which alters the fact that in principle it’s good advice to make backups, it’s just that there will always be many users who don’t need or want to do it, don’t have the time to devote to it, or simply don’t understand the concept and can’t make sense of the tutorials and guides to doing it.

There have been suggestions recently that new computers should be supplied with inbuilt anti-virus and anti-malware tools to offer better protection, and perhaps there’s an argument for better inbuilt backup provision or at least better information on the use of such provision as already exists.

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What about Comodos privacy policies regarding use of their software?
I would not be happy if Comodo collected info about the content my backups, and I can’t see anything in their privacy policy that say they don’t…

[comodo.com/repository/privacy-policy.php]

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Comodo is not lily-white, as a web scan will attest.

It’s true. Their privacy policy does not prevent them from collecting info from your backups.

I’m not aware of any demonstrated problem with it. But the potential’s certainly there.

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I couldn’t agree more that backup is essential!

Many people don’t know that you can schedule a VSS-integrated System Image backup on Windows 8.1 as well. Only the UI was removed, but not the key wbadmin command.

The VSS integration makes it incremental. So not only could you do a bare metal restoral with this but also you could pick from several choices (last night’s, the night before’s, the one before that, etc.)

This is the command I’ve scheduled to run nightly, among others, to back up my critical (C:, recovery) volumes:

wbadmin start backup -allCritical -vssFull -quiet -backupTarget:G:

G: is my external MyBook USB drive.

Such a backup can not only be used to do a bare metal restoral onto like (or similar) hardware using the features built into the WinRE environment (such as what you might boot up from a Recovery disc), but can also be the source of individual data files if you use the proper software (e.g., Z-VSScopy) to look into the volume snapshots.

I also have my system do file backups to other drives using ROBOCOPY.

One need only go through the process of “can’t get there from here” with a failed system once to know that more backup is better and much more is much better. When in a pinch, you want to have OPTIONS.

-Noel

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Great advice. I do a full system backup once per month with daily personal file backups to a 3TB Western Digital external HD.

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This is a naive question: if I have a full system backup of my windows-7 computer (that is about 2 years old), if something terrible went wrong with my computer and it could not be repaired, could I use that full system backup to load up everything to a NEW computer, and keep using it as before?

I am aware that there is a problem with new-build drivers or chips or something that are being manufactured now and in the future that will only handle Windows 10, so there is/will be a large proportion of equipment that inherently (it seems?) not be able to run Windows 7,

BUT if I were to buy one of the few remaining computers that come with Windows 7 before MS’s October 2016 deadline (when they will be removed from public sale),
on something like that, could I just copy my full system backup and have it work just like my old computer,
or would I still have to go through all the rigamarole of getting the new computer set up the way I like it (which takes me about a week), including a huge number of hours going through all the Windows Updates, and then just copy over my FILES to the new computer?

If that didn’t make sense, let me know and I can try to explain my confusion better.

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Agree all the way about “much more is much better”, Noel. Tough to admit, but most of the owners of machines I’ve rescued (and many more that needed rescue) don’t know the names of their “individual data files”. MRUs? What’s that?

If they can’t put it on the desktop, it’s “where did it go?” I don’t like libraries much, but I can see why MS threw that in. It’s for the “where did it go?” folks. I wonder how many (smallest sized) icons can be jammed onto a 23″ screen?

At least it’s relatively easy to help people run Malwarebytes via phone.

[For Malwarebytes, I assume they fixed their own security hole with the release of v2.2 (now v2.2.1.1043 in the free version). Can someone confirm this? Thanks.]

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I think there would be no technical limitations, although you may have to find a way to transfer the license from the old system to the new one which potentially involves a call to Microsoft. They tend to inactivate a computer if there are hard-disk changes. You may be able to continue using old licenses which would be part of the backup if the so-called disk signature is preserved. There are too many variables to make a correct prediction.
I would suggest though that the effort involved in restoring old stuff on new hardware would be better used in migrating to Windows 10 when or if you are ready for it.
I post a lot here about Windows 7 and how to block the upgrade which is mostly related to professional interest, however for my personal use I have been using Windows 10 since before the official release in July 2015, Woody has been using it even before anyone else and writing a fantastic 1000 pages book about Windows 10, so it is perfectly usable especially now after undergoing so many updates. And it will likely go better after the next major release.

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What’s the link?

I can’t believe they’re this cheap…. for an external drive, no less.

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D,

You didn’t mention much about the computer, so I can offer possibly shaky answers. I’m sure there are others here who have experience with this. It’s actually a very good question because, as you note, setting up a new system to one’s liking can take a lot longer than (essentially) cloning.

First thing is licenses for all software (including Win 7) that uses product keys and online activation. If Windows (or Office) were to deactivate (due to sensing new hardware), you’d have that issue to solve. I don’t know what those steps are.

Cloning works best if the hardware on the two systems is virtually identical. [If not, you will embark on a driver search even if you get the “new” machine to boot. The driver search is rarely fun.] I have done this on my desktops with the processor and hard drive being the only differences. The motherboard (and BIOS), video card, monitor, keyboard/mouse, optical drives, card reader, system RAM, etc. all are the same. Cloned the drive from computer A onto a new hard drive, installed it as the last step in building computer B, and voila, a ready-to-go system. Haven’t experienced a deactivation … and that was 4 years ago.

If it’s a laptop and not the same model, I wouldn’t try. Video, touchpad, function key drivers, ethernet and wifi, specialized system utilities, on and on. I’d go with getting a new computer and spending that week throwing off the advertising and trialware, then installing and updating. I’ve gone both routes and prefer the latter.

A 2-year old computer shouldn’t be a worry, unless it’s a laptop and you’ve dropped it or spilled soda all over it. At least backup your critical data files. The programs you can get back, whether on a cloned or new system.

If your email history, contacts, etc. are of importance on your computer, be sure to make backups of those files, too. I discontinued Outlook after 14 years (because it’s a crappy IMAP client). My outlook.pst file (everything is in that single file) was 2Gb at last backup.

I wonder if the OEMs will have a “Not compatible with Windows 7” sticker on the newer hardware? Maybe they already do.

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If you’re serious about backups, you’ll find yourself creating and editing a backup plan, complete with notes to yourself about why you decided to do what you did. That’s the only way to keep it straight.

The peace of mind is worth it. In addition to your own sanity, think of those who care about you. Having not so long ago taken care of my father’s estate, I can say that it will be invaluable to your executor if you leave a clearly identified copy for him or her, without its being vulnerable to thieves and hackers.

General requirements, according to my research:

—One backup to an external hard drive onsite protecting against computer failure, and for convenient access to old copies of files,

—one backup online, protecting against onsite crises including theft, fire, flood and other disasters; and

–one other readily accessible backup, protecting against a problem at the online provider (think bank vault, a friend, of some other safe place).

My online research indicates that this rule of three is generally recognized. I have found it easy to implement. A little attention once a month is sufficient.

To the point discussed above, the third backup should be a complete image of the computer(s).

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http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00Y0R9D6G?ie=UTF8&tag=pric097-21&linkCode=xm2&camp=1634&creativeASIN=B00Y0R9D6G

£44.50

Which works out at:

$64.40

I use Pricespy for a lot of stuff – I sourced a Lexar Jumpdrive P20 – USB3 – 64gb for £24.99 ($36.16) and that’s for one of the fastest flash drives on the planet (In fact I bought 2 but she doesn’t need to know that…)

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Thank you, that is very helpful.

I am talking about a laptop (and I would replace with a laptop).

Due to your explanation, I can see how it wouldn’t work to copy the entire system of the old laptop onto the new laptop.

In terms of protecting my current machine, I do have a full system image from when my current laptop was just purchased, after I had fixed everything the way I like it. I am sure that it would behoove me now to make a new full system image of how it stands today.

Since then, I have occasionally (admittedly not nearly often enough) made copies of my files (duplicating on 2 external harddrives).

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While I can see the practicality of going to Windows 10, my heels are dug in pretty firmly about not using it.

My concern is not the usability, but rather the privacy issues, vulnerability of the uni-update to mistakes, advertising, cloud requirements, etc.

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Well, you all have convinced me it’s time to get a USB Hard drive, and do more than simply back up my files (meager as they are).

If this is the same unit mentioned above, it’s available from Best Buy as well for 59.95 free shipping…

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/wd-elements-1tb-external-usb-3-0-2-0-portable-hard-drive-black/9291106.p?id=1219011381217&skuId=9291106&lsft=ref:212,loc:1&ksid=4d266181-fd4c-46d1-af5d-44947997e883&ksprof_id=8&ksaffcode=pg129&ksdevice=c&ref=212&loc=1

Also available in-store, at least in my city.

Woody, if it’s not the same, feel free to yank this reply, lol.

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I paid about $450 for my first 40Mb (yes, Mb) hard drive that went into a heavily (as in with a 286 card) modified IBM-PC portable, my first computer.

Had that amber CRT internal display. Even with ATI’s EGA Wonder making Lotus look really 4-color on an external monitor (which also cost $450), you couldn’t beat the interlaced flicker. Curbside weight for that “portable” was about 45 lbs. It was like hauling around a pickup truck tire. I think the IBM must have outweighed the Compaq.

Got the thing in the overhead bin a few times, but wouldn’t want to try now.

Thanks for the memories.

Backups can rectify many ills, self-induced or otherwise.

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Looks the same to me. It’s all about price!

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I understand very well your concerns about different aspects not so clear about Windows 10, see my post about Tor in reply to one of your other posts.
Here I tend to agree with the idea that Microsoft has a huge number of corporate clients and would not endanger this revenue stream by being in breach of any privacy legislation, at least not knowingly so. It is true that there are aspects which are either not covered in legislation or impossible to account for but nothing is perfect. At the end of the day Windows 7 is an operating system tuned almost at perfection now after 7 years from release and supported until at least 2020 so it largely a matter of preference for each Windows user what to use.
In regards to the cloud requirements, I was under the same impression until recently, using a Microsoft account at outlook.com to sign in. I realised in fact that a regular local account is equally as acceptable and there is no obligation to subscribe to any of the cloud related services although there are certain functional advantages in doing so. This is similar to accessing Google services being signed in or not.

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Good advice Woody & I’m taking it.

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Thanks!

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Woody and the original poster JIY had a great idea when raising this issue. This post got me motivated to set my Windows 10 backup and noticed that the backup setup started failing with an error related to the LLDP driver. This is a known issue since Windows 8.1 and there are various Google ‘solutions’ in relation to complex changes to the service permissions or resetting permissions on one of the system folders or a bunch of services other than the main one which matters in the first place.
It was much easier than that, the Windows Backup service was simply disabled. I don’t understand why but it seems to be widespread out of the box. Check the Windows Backup service first when troubleshooting the so called ‘Back up and Restore (Windows 7)’ in Windows 10. It should be on Manual.

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Yeah, they have become amazingly inexpensive. I bought a 2 TB WD My Book USB 3.0 backup drive for $100 from Tiger Direct a couple of years ago. I use it to maintain 3 generations of continuous backups of all files.

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“see my post about Tor in reply to one of your other posts.”

I am afraid I have found no easy way to go back and find the comments I have made here, to see if anyone has replied to them.

I resort to trying to remember an unusual phrase that I may have used in a particular post, like “up shi* creek”, to do a search for a particular prior comment.
I made the bad decision to call myself a username that does not lend itself to searching!
I will do a search on the word “tor” to see if I can find your comment.

“Microsoft has a huge number of corporate clients and would not endanger this revenue stream by being in breach of any privacy legislation, at least not knowingly so. It is true that there are aspects which are either not covered in legislation or impossible to account for but nothing is perfect.”

One, you have more faith in their integrity/sensibleness than I do.
Two, the excuse of “nothing is perfect” is a bit feeble in the face of MS’ deliberate actions (and even “mistakes”) in the past year that have undermined customers’ privacy, choice, consent, and unimpeded use of their own belongings as they see fit.

“I realised in fact that a regular local account is equally as acceptable and there is no obligation to subscribe to any of the cloud related services although there are certain functional advantages in doing so.”

Are you sure that Windows 10 never uses the cloud for ANYTHING unless the user “subscribes” to it?

Not that I have studied Windows 10 closely, because I am 1000% against it, but my impression was that there are some things they suck up into the cloud with no choice given to the customer.

“This is similar to accessing Google services being signed in or not.”

Actually, I don’t do this, because I block Google pretty comprehensively (via blocklists on Peerblock and firewall rules) unless I wish to let them through (e.g., the once in a blue moon that I will wish to watch a youtube clip).

Just because it’s a daily occurrence for billions of people around the world, it doesn’t mean that I am going to be blase about it, or say, well, it’s all equivalent and much-of-a-muchness, it seems I’ve lost my privacy already, so why not just let them into my life with open arms. No.

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In Australia we have pretty low volume limits on our home internet connections, so for us, full system online backups are a total no-no.

What would you recommend for offline (to USB hard disk) image backups?

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I use Comodo, but others here will have different recommendations. There are several cheap (or free) alternatives.

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This Lexar Jumpdrive P20 looks more like an SSD hard-drive if the performance claims from the manufacturer are real. I noticed that there is now a 128 GB cheap version which appears suitable for running Windows 10 on an external USB. This is supported for certain versions and possible with third-party tools for all other versions.

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I maintain two external backups of all of “my work”, so no problem there. A system image backup is also easy to do and I have one.

But if I ever need to use that system backup, or any other, by first booting from a “rescue disk” DVD, then I am in deep trouble because HP decided that their customers should NEVER be allowed to do that. I have found no way (despite many attempts using your advice and that of other experts) to get around that barrier. HP says to boot from “our” internal SSHD and no other!

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Good discussion on Backups, perhaps the most neglected PC tool and at the same time, one of the best methods of PC rollback for recovery from and repair of many undesirable scenarios.

I use Cloning and (full-HDD) Imaging for my OS HDD PC Backup activities.

For my daily backup of those “can’t lose” items, excel spreadsheets, *PST files, etc, I use a combination of unattended automatic backups to a continuously-connected portable USB HDD and 2-3 Flash Drives, connected only during the copy process.

I run a ‘copy’ script when copying items to my Flash Drives to eliminate manual copying (copy/paste – drag/drop) and to minimize the time that the Flash Drives are connected to the parent PC.

With my Desktop PC, I use a couple of these items. They’re often referred to as “Hot Swap” SATA Trays, which allow for HDD insertion and removal in the same way as optical media discs.

If you have a couple of 5.25″ expansion slots available in your Desktop Tower, they are a convenient way to Clone (or Image) the Source to the Target HDD using internal SATA transfer speeds.

http://www.amazon.com/Kingwin-3-5-Inch-Internal-Trayless-KF-1000-BK/dp/B00126U0VA/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1458562456&sr=1-1&keywords=kingwin+kf-1000-bk

I use this Docking Station for Cloning my Laptop PC. It has an eSATA port as well as USB capability. It’s also good for
using internal HDD’s to backup specific files/folders.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001A4HAFS?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00

My PC backup routines:

– Clone OS HDD every 2 weeks, rotating 2 HDD’s for my Target HDD’s. I use this for my short-term HDD rollback path.

– Image HDD occasionally to provide HDD-recovery redundancy.

– Run a twice-daily unattended automated specific-item backup (using “Acronis” backup tool) to my continuously-connected portable USB HDD.

– Run my ‘copy’ script to a couple of Flash Drives as needed.

A lot of great posts here. Here’s a couple that stood out for me:

“David F” posted “..test your backups”.

That’s very important and it’s a good “peace of mind” activity to simulate a full-HDD recovery activity. I do this every 4 months or so, using my bootable recovery media.

I’ll use a spare unallocated HDD, install it in my PC, boot into the backup media, select an Image (or Clone to the HDD). Then I’ll boot up into the OS and run it for a few minutes, checking the main programs, browser launch, my Office programs, etc.

By doing this, I’m confident that the recovery path is reliable from bare-metal HDD to working Windows OS.

I do the same with my Cloned Target HDD’s but not as often, checking the bootup/Windows OS every 4-5 Clone processes. I used to check every Cloned HDD but the process (for me) is very reliable that I only check periodically now.

“Noel Carboni” posted “..you want to have options..”. Great advice. This, along with redundancy, are the 2 most important backup items to implement, my opinion.

If you encounter a corrupted Image or one that doesn’t recover correctly, you can select another Image if you have multiple Images available to choose for a HDD recovery activity.

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I just replaced a regular SATA disk that was my C: drive that had all the operating system and software with a Solid State Drive. To do that, I used the free version of Macrium Reflect to clone my old to my new drive. Then I installed the new drive as my C: Dive. Very easy.

A fair number of the software programs asked that I re-enter activation codes, username, and password, name of my first born unto the fifth generation, and so forth. I use a wallet program to store passwords and had made a section for Software and activation information there. Made the restart with the new disk very easy. Worth doing along with a back up plan.

I also got a little box that turned my old hard drive into a usb drive. That’s my new back up clone.

And I use Backblaze for natural disaster/ransomware backup. It’s offsite, backs up everything and isn’t very expensive. I have confidential client files, so I use EncryptOnClick to encrypt them from the cloud service or software makers of any kind.

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Hi Woody,

I do backup, but I have not encountered any recommendation on your site for the backup product I use – Veeam endpoint backup: https://www.veeam.com/endpoint-backup-free.html

We use ‘Veeam B&R’ at work for VMware backups, and last year ‘endpoint backup’ was released free for standalone backups.

They’ve got a new release just hit the streets I’ve not tried yet, though if it’s as quick for backup and restore as the existing version I use I can firmly recommend it.

thanks

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Am I the last man standing here who does monthly backups of my systems before updating (running MS Updates)?

Every time I do extensive updating, I run full file system scans with three independent virus scanners, and then clean up (disk cleanup four times a year, otherwise just Glary Utilities and CCleaner) and defragment (every two to three months) mechanical drives, or Trim SSD or other flash storage drives. (I know, Windows is supposed to Trim automatically, but I prefer to make sure it gets done on my schedule.)

I run virus scans and clean up my system after updating, but also just before making backups of anything to any external location. Nobody wants to find out we made a backup of a virus! That means I scan and clean about twice a month. That takes very little time, as most of the operations can be set up and then run while I do something else. Staggering Linux and Windows operations makes it possible to use one OS while the other OS is being maintained.

Virus scanning can be scheduled, or started and then left to run unattended, unless some infection or other issue shows up during a scan. These issues are dealt with after each scan finishes.

Cleaning and disk cleanup make excellent times to evaluate if there are programs or browser add-ons, or any of the new MS Store Apps, which I am not using and which should be removed. I use Geek Uninstaller Free to do this job, as it removes orphaned folders and Registry Entries, which may be of marginal help in maintaining a stable Windows system. Also, geek uninstaller can remove (force remove) programs whose uninstallers fail or leave garbage behind.

I use one portable external hard drive per device, keeping each device’s backups separate at this stage.

For Windows I use Macrium Reflect Free, and I also have up to date USB or CD WinPE 10 rescue media, tested that they boot. I use Macrium Reflect simply because I have used this software forever and am very familiar with its ins and outs. No better reason. The program also updates its rescue media and program from within the application’s main screen menu options. It also has a Windows Boot Menu Option, in case Windows won’t boot, but the internal hard drive is still uncorrupted and working.

Also, MR has a WinPE interface which can be resized, a real plus when using the rescue USB stick on a tablet whose 10-inch screen crops the WinPE screen if it’s stuck at full size.

(Hello, EaseUS ToDo v.6 with Win PE 5! The links to the Recovery Options could not be seen or clicked in their WinPE Rescue Media environment on my tablet.)

Then I copy the backup archives to two desktop-sized (31/2-inch) drives per OS. This means I can take my Windows 10 PC and the tablet and store their archived copies on the same two drives.

I also run Linux in a dual-boot with Windows 10, and Clonezilla Live makes great and reliable backups of that system. Very essential if you change driuvers or like to test out new software in Linux, as things often get very wonky. A ten-minute rollback sure beats resinstalling and reconfiguring Linux!

For any OS, my data backups are simply direct copies of important files. These include photos and email message archives. (Backing up email archives is one reason I prefer Thunderbird or Linux programs to Outlook. The mailboxes can just be copied or exported/imported, unlike Outlook .PST Files.) I also from time to time back up browser customizations for Firefox with the FEBE Extension. Chrome Browser is on its own, but I keep a list of Extensions, Themes and all my Application Program s, as well as many notes about settings, all stored in list formats inn document files.

Data I back up about once a week, while I back up my systems only about once or twice a month.

Since I separate data from the OS and its programs, my system backups rarely take more than ten to twenty minutes each to initially create and check. From there onwards, it’s like any data copying operation, and if I had a lot of devices I could automate the rest of the process.

I am not using Windows File History yet, but that would automate most data backups for Windows. Backing up File History to multiple locations isn’t hard to set up either, so everything can be greatly simplified that way.

This all looks when reading about it like a lot of time and hard work. But it isn’t. Linux data backups can get a bit involved, as the Home Directory contains a mix of user data and system data, but for Windows it’s a matter of a few minutes each time. Setting up the secondary copies takes only a few minutes, and setting up a system backup (once the first instance of that backup has been defined and saved to an XML Definitons File — easy to do in Macrium Reflect Free) is onnly a matter of updating the Comments section, then letting the program run.

For Linux, data backup is more involved, but running Clonezilla Live is only a ten to fifteen minute operation, followed by unattended file and archive copying.

While file or system backup and archiving operations are running, I can do anything else I want to do, and with staggered system maintenance schedules, while one device is being maintained, I can be using another device. Linux is almost always available, as its maintenacne doesn’t rely on the kind of Patch Tuesday schedule used by Windows devices.

Again I ask, am I the last man on earth who takes this kind of care about system and data backups?

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@rc primak

That’s a good Backup plan

I’m guessing you’re not alone regarding coordinating HDD backups with Windows Update install’s.

I also backup my HDD before installing Windows Updates.

Although my 2-week HDD backup routine is on a schedule, I’ll change the schedule when a Windows WU “Patch Tuesday” date occurs on a particular week.

I usually clone the HDD, then install my WU’s aferward on the weekend following the Tuesday WU deployment.

Regarding malware/virus scans, good idea. I’ve been running daily unattended overnight AV and antimalware scans since installing Win 7.

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Cloning or imaging is always the question for those of us who do regular system backups.

In my case, I have Linux and Windows on the same physical internal Hard Drive. So cloning is not a good solution, due to filesystem differences. Hence my reliance on imaging.

On my tablet, I can’t get cloning to work due to WIMBoot issues. So Macrium Reflect does imaging, and I think some partitions are done sector by sector, so that the WIM is properly handled, as well as the EFI Boot partition. In any event, this is also imaging, even though the device is all Windows in a single (active) partition. Data backup from internal flash storage to SD cards and hard drives is fast and easy, and not much data live on the tablet.

Scheduling the pre-MS Updates backups will be harder for those of us on Windows 10, as the Patch Tuesday tradition is beginning to spread out into streaming updates throughout the month. This will present challenges moving forward.

What I do for Linux, where patching is already continual, is I just don’t let too many patches accumulate before running Clonezilla Live. That way if I roll back due to a disaster of any kind, there will be only a limited number and variety of updates to reapply. As long as my data are backed up continuously, I lose very little if anything at all.

As for AV scanning, I am in favor of automating and scheduling that. It’s the lengthiest part of maintenance, and it usually can run entirely unattended, with any issues being dealt with after the AV run is completed. Personally, I prefer third-party scanners over Windows Defender, so I run three free products on a rotating schedule.

As long as AV scanning is going to happen overnight, I opt for full filesystem scans each and every time, with all the heuristics bells and whistles cranked up full-blast. This makes for some false-positives to deal with, but better safe than sorry.

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Sounds a lot like what I did when replacing my old, slow laptop hard drive with a newer, faster model. I did use a dock for cloning, but Macrium Reflect can also do the trick.

Whenever cloning, I also keep handy partition image backups and data backups, just in case. I also have driver backups, but for transferring an OS to new hardware, this would probably not be an option.

If the new device comes with an OS, then using Double Driver or another drive backup utility before making changes could be useful.

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Woody, I am looking for an easy to use reliable backup software for home on Windows 10. I am currently trying the built-in tool and I may have to combine it with File History to simulate an incremental backup without using excessive disk space. You suggest using Comodo for this purpose. Is this about the free Comodo backup or one of the paid versions? Are there any advantages in using Comodo against the Windows Backup?

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I’d be interested in learning how well the built-in Windows full-disk backup works for you. In mytests, for the book, it worked fine – but much has changed since then.

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I haven’t done a restore yet, it should work like in Windows 7 if there are no new bugs introduced.
A full disk image restore is inconvenient though for laptops, especially when having a larger C: drive – currently Samsung EVO 850 480 GB for me – not partitioned and with all the files on it. I am experimenting with moving the user files Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Music, Videos and other files currently on C: on a Data D: partition in which case the system drive becomes manageable and more suitable for a full image. This all takes time and I will report back with what I found.
Using a NAS for file sharing resolves much of the issue, but it can become inconvenient on wireless or when many of the files need to be on the laptop most of the time.

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I consistently get error “0x81000037” running W7 backup, creating image backup(s) of my c: SSD boot drive & file backups of most of my HD data drive, Z: onto a USB drive, X:

When I run
dir /AL /S | find “junction”
on every drive, nothing is displayed.

I have no drives mounted as directories.
My 4 libraries are each set to point to directories on my Z: drive, and my wallpaper is all in a directory on the Z: drive.

sfc /scannow & chkdsk’s show no errors.

Why doesn’t Windows 7 Backup work?

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