Best backup method

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AtomicSnipe

AtomicSnipe

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Apr 6, 2017
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Hi,

So I never really backup my files and I know that it is very bad not to do so. I want an easy backup method (easier than using a hard drive and manually copying and pasting the files) that is safe and preferably automatic.

Thanks
 
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I don't recommend windows backup (at least not what is available in home user desktop environment). It is very clunky to try to recover your files after the fact, especially if you want to pick and choose.

regular backup means you copy your personal files from one drive to another. A system image is a full complete backup of the entire hard drive.
With a regular backup you can restore your files after reinstall windows/programs from a virus or windows corruption or disk failure, with a system image you can restore the OS, programs and everything.

If you modify files regularly I recommend a 2 stage approach
Syncback Free to copy you documents/desktop/photos/music folders daily or weekly depending on your usage.
Macrium Reflect free...
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t53186

t53186

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Aug 6, 2006
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Windows has back up built in, works great, easy to use, free, can back up to a removable drive or network location, can run on a schedule, not only makes a back up but can also make a system image.
Control Panel\System and Security\Backup and Restore
 
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AtomicSnipe

AtomicSnipe

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Apr 6, 2017
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Oh really! Thanks.

Two questions tho, what is the difference between a regular backup and a system image? And what is the required size for the removable drive?
 
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boosted1g

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Jun 12, 2013
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I don't recommend windows backup (at least not what is available in home user desktop environment). It is very clunky to try to recover your files after the fact, especially if you want to pick and choose.

regular backup means you copy your personal files from one drive to another. A system image is a full complete backup of the entire hard drive.
With a regular backup you can restore your files after reinstall windows/programs from a virus or windows corruption or disk failure, with a system image you can restore the OS, programs and everything.

If you modify files regularly I recommend a 2 stage approach
Syncback Free to copy you documents/desktop/photos/music folders daily or weekly depending on your usage.
Macrium Reflect free to do a system image and then do differentials once a month

If you dont change many files then just using macrium reflect will suffice

As far as drive space that completley depends on how much files you have. For the average user without a large music/picture library than a 1TB external drive will be more than sufficient. Take whatever size your C drive is and multiply it by 4-5 and that is what you should have.
 
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atljsf

atljsf

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the system image can be restored to make a system work after a major software or partition or even a hard disk disaster, but restores everything on your system, windows install, games, registry entries, viruses, everything, all that composes the target drive that usually is c:\ partition

the target backup for example, just saves your my documents folder, or your user folder, whatever you wish to backup

on some circumstances a full system backup is great to recover form a disaster but is usually done when the system is new, install is clean and will require updates to be applied again, so it is not ideal for some situations but for others is great, however when you do hardware changes it might not work

what most people usually needs is my documents, desktop, images, music and downloads backup

some people do like to make a full copy of their user folder, in the user folder is located appdata, it stores all the config of the apps you use daily, including bookmarks of your web browser, so some would like to keep a backup of that
 
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t53186

t53186

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I do a full backup and create a system image on schedule every Sunday to a removable 3TB western digital my book. As time goes by the drive fills up with backups and images that I just delete. A 1TB drive would be fine for most folks. As stated a system image includes everything needed to restore a completed trashed system.
 
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boosted1g

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Check out newest version of macrium reflect, you can specify how many backup images for it to keep and it will auto delete the oldest ones to keep your drive from filling up.
 
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