Windows 11 backup and restore questions

[peterw]

If I use the inbuilt windows 11 backup programme to make a complete system backup of my 3 HDDs and then do another say a week later, is the second backup an incremental one or another full one (just thinking about the time & space it would take every time) ?
Secondly if I make a full system backup can I select specific drives or folders/files to restore or do I have to do a complete system restore even though I might only have "lost" one of my 3 hard disks?

Would I be better off with a commercial programme?

Any help much appreciated

 

[Grizzly]

Are you talking about the "Backup and Restore" function?? If that is the case, you should know that this feature is very unreliable and is a remnant from Windows 7 (I wonder why they have not removed that yet).

Better solution is an external app like Macrium reflect, which I use, or Acronis true image and others. Just make sure you backup on a hard drive, not an SSD as I have experienced data errors when trying to restore even though I always verify my backups after creating them.
This will also take care of all your other questions...

 

[peterw]

which is "better? acronis or macrium?

Peter

 

[Grizzly]

I have an old version of Acronis which I sometimes use (2014 Version). The newer versions are known to mess up on occasion, so I have heard.
I am using, as mentioned before, Macrium in the free version which has already been discontinued, yet is still available (its the Version 8.0 not 8.1 which is trialware). The last free version is 8.0.7783 . you can download it here:

https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/macrium_reflect_free_edition.html

 

[mahoneycutt]

I've installed over 100 copies of Acronis True Image and use it for my personal backups. Like so many companies, Acronis wants everyone to pay an annual subscription to use their backup programs. There is a non-subscription version, but it is buried on their website. True Image /CyberProtect works well, but has the worst error messages in the industry (insider tip: 9 out of 10 times, the backup drive is not connected to the computer). With that said, I'd recommend going with Macrium Reflect.

No matter what program you pick, make sure you understand how to restore files/folders as well as the entire system in case of catastrophic hard disk failure.

 

[Xploit Machine]

Windows internal backup, specifically using the File History feature, can perform incremental backups. An initial full backup is created, and subsequent backups only copy the files that have been changed since the last backup, whether it's a full or incremental backup. This saves storage space and time, as it only backs up the differences.

How it works:​

1. 1. Full Backup:
   The first backup performed captures all selected files and folders, creating a full copy.​
2. 2. Incremental Backups:
   Subsequent backups only back up the files that have been modified or created since the last full or incremental backup.​
3. 3. Efficiency:
   This method is efficient as it only backs up the changes, saving storage space and time.​
4. 4. Restoring:​
   To restore, you'll need the full backup and any subsequent incremental backups. The system will piece together the changes from all backups to restore the complete state.
   
   ​

Using Windows Backup:​

• File History: Windows File History (found in Settings > Update & Security > Backup) is a built-in feature that can be used for incremental backups.​
• Set up: Connect an external drive and select the folders you want to back up (Desktop, Documents, Pictures, etc.).​
• Schedule: You can schedule automatic backups to occur regularly.
  
  ​

Important Considerations:​

• Full Backup Required:
  For full recovery, you need the initial full backup and all subsequent incremental backups.​
• Storage:
  While incremental backups save space, the total space needed for full and incremental backups should be considered.​
• Backup Software:
  Other backup software like Arcserve ShadowProtect SPX also offer incremental backup capabilities, often with more features.​