Backup Windows Part 1 -- Backup and Restore

A couple of days ago was National Backup Day. Okay, we are a little late. Plus, a quick Google search will reveal several National Backup Days. Nevertheless, I was inspired to post a multi-part post on different methods for backing up Windows.

In Part 1, we will discuss using Backup and Restore. Backup and Restore is available in both Vista and Windows 7.

Creating The Backup

Backup and Restore is located here: Start>All Programs>Maintenance>Backup and Restore. Or simply type, "Backup and Restore" in the Search programs and files dialog box at the bottom of the start menu.

The first time that Backup and Restore is run, the backup must be set. Click the Set up backup button.

When the Set Backup Window pops up, select the drive that will serve as the backup drive. This must be a different physical drive from the one that is being backed up. Backing up to a different partition on the same physical disk does not make any sense. If the drive fails, all of the partitions fail and your backup is lost. You may choose a different physical disk in the same computer, a drive on the network, an optical drive, a virtual hard drive(VHD), or a USB drive. This can be changed in the future, if needed.

You will then be given a choice of weather to let Windows choose what to back up or choose yourself.

Explore the options and decide for yourself what best suites your needs.

Once the backup is set, press the Backup now button or schedule a time for backups. The time chosen for backup must be a time when the backup drive is available. Otherwise the backup will fail.

The amount of time that is taken for the backup will depend on how much data you are backing up. If this is the first backup and there is a lot of data, it can take well over an hour.

That's all that needs to be done. Just let it complete.

Restoring From The Backup

To restore a file or folder, open up Backup and Restore and click the Restore my Files button.

A window will popup that allows you to browse or search your backup for files or folders that you need. You can choose a different date to restore from as well.

Once the file(s) are selected, click Next. A new window pops up allowing you to choose weather to restore the file in it's original location or to another location.

That's it. Let it restore the files.

Backup and Restore can also create a system image. More on that in a future post.