System Backup Clarification

Jackman33

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When a software company says "Create System Backup" just what are they saying? Does that backup include the operating system or just all your settings and data files? In order to do a system recovery after a complete crash, wouldn't you need to reload your OS and then use the "system backup" you had created?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 64bit
System Images are also backups. A system image is an entire copy of your system as it is at the time you created the image, restoring that image will bring you back to the point your computer was when you made the image, a complete mirror image. Any documents etc made after that will not be included if they were saved to the drive, after you made an image of said drive.

In reference to your question It would depend on the software/company, if you mention which software/company people may understand better what they may mean.

A system restore point, will restore the computer back a few days, weeks etc, and eliminate certain changes you have made since creating a restore point. However, any documents etc you created and saved onto that drive will remain intact.

For instance, creating a system restore point before drivers are updated will enable you to go back to before you installed those new drivers if there is an issue with them. System specific files will be backdated.

This part I am not too clear on -
There are also basic document backups, a backup of your personal data, data you have stored in your "My Documents" folder etc, and user specific settings, I think, like your libraries, desktop, contacts and favorites. I don't make them so I am not sure. This backup can be found by pressing Winkey + S and searching for "File History" (If I am correct)

I hope I didn't confuse the issue.
 

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Sorry I should have been more specific. I have been reading about the CMS Ultimate Backup and it has the option of System Backup. This is where I get confused! Does that mean if you have a crash you can restore the operating system besides all of your settings and data? I assume this is the same as making an Image. Would this make it possible to boot from the Image and/or System Backup without first installing the operating system? I am aware of the Windows System Restore since I have used that.

Thanks!!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 64bit
Yes, that would of saved me some time. :dinesh:
Are you referring to CMS software backup solutions? The company CMS?
I have no idea sorry. You have posted in the performance and maintenance forum, CMS is a 3rd party software, there is a Software & Apps forum. Maybe you could request your post to be relocated.
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
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    System Manufacturer/Model
    0i812
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 4770K LGA1150
    Motherboard
    Asus Maximus VI Formula
    Memory
    Corsair 32GB (4x8GB) DDR3 CMY32GX3M4A1866C9 1866MH
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    2 x Crappy GeForce GT 640 2GB DDR3
    Sound Card
    I haz lollies ..
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    2 x LG / 2 x Samsung 21 Inch
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    Crispy
    Hard Drives
    2 x Samsung 250GB SSD 840 EVO (OS / Other)
    1 x Kingston 120G HyperX SSD (Swap)
    3 x Seagate SATA III 2TB Barracuda (Data Drives)
    1 x Seagate SATA III 1TB Barracuda (Media to XBox)
    1 x W/Digital SATA II 300G VelociRaptor (Image)
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Yeah, I am not sure about it jackman. What I do understand from the little I read. The "Ultimate" backup version initiates a backup, that will restore your system just like an image would, its benefits however are that it will make incremental backups in real time, meaning if you change or add something that wasn't included in your backup, it will adjust the original backup as needed. This could be a benefit or a mistake, depending on what you add or change. I am sure there is an option to disable this.

I am going to assume being the ultimate version, you will have multiple choices and backup settings

Image backup
Documents/File system backup
Having the advantage to create individual jobs etc

So, at the end of the day, depending on what type of backups you set to run, you could basically have a choice depending on the failure you have.

Accidentally deleted a document? Restore from file backup
System crashes and can't be retrieved? Restore image. etc

It seems like a good backup solution. Personally I am happy with Win 8 image backups. Everything else I have setup on secondary drives separate from my OS drive. In some cases I have backups for the secondary drives.

I have many drives. They call me "The Overkill"
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    0i812
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 4770K LGA1150
    Motherboard
    Asus Maximus VI Formula
    Memory
    Corsair 32GB (4x8GB) DDR3 CMY32GX3M4A1866C9 1866MH
    Graphics Card(s)
    2 x Crappy GeForce GT 640 2GB DDR3
    Sound Card
    I haz lollies ..
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x LG / 2 x Samsung 21 Inch
    Screen Resolution
    Crispy
    Hard Drives
    2 x Samsung 250GB SSD 840 EVO (OS / Other)
    1 x Kingston 120G HyperX SSD (Swap)
    3 x Seagate SATA III 2TB Barracuda (Data Drives)
    1 x Seagate SATA III 1TB Barracuda (Media to XBox)
    1 x W/Digital SATA II 300G VelociRaptor (Image)
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Windows 8.1 System image backup

Capture.PNG
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    0i812
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 4770K LGA1150
    Motherboard
    Asus Maximus VI Formula
    Memory
    Corsair 32GB (4x8GB) DDR3 CMY32GX3M4A1866C9 1866MH
    Graphics Card(s)
    2 x Crappy GeForce GT 640 2GB DDR3
    Sound Card
    I haz lollies ..
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x LG / 2 x Samsung 21 Inch
    Screen Resolution
    Crispy
    Hard Drives
    2 x Samsung 250GB SSD 840 EVO (OS / Other)
    1 x Kingston 120G HyperX SSD (Swap)
    3 x Seagate SATA III 2TB Barracuda (Data Drives)
    1 x Seagate SATA III 1TB Barracuda (Media to XBox)
    1 x W/Digital SATA II 300G VelociRaptor (Image)
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    Case
    NZXT Phantom 820 White Full Tower
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    Noctua NH-D14
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    This one time at band camp ...
I figured some of you may be board so I drew a follow the line, I was going to add 3. Each going to a different option but my wife threw a backup drive at my head and complained about me leaving things laying around. Ive just regained consciousness, only to find that I must of pressed reply before adding the other lines.

Thats my story. I'm darn well sticking to it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    0i812
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 4770K LGA1150
    Motherboard
    Asus Maximus VI Formula
    Memory
    Corsair 32GB (4x8GB) DDR3 CMY32GX3M4A1866C9 1866MH
    Graphics Card(s)
    2 x Crappy GeForce GT 640 2GB DDR3
    Sound Card
    I haz lollies ..
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x LG / 2 x Samsung 21 Inch
    Screen Resolution
    Crispy
    Hard Drives
    2 x Samsung 250GB SSD 840 EVO (OS / Other)
    1 x Kingston 120G HyperX SSD (Swap)
    3 x Seagate SATA III 2TB Barracuda (Data Drives)
    1 x Seagate SATA III 1TB Barracuda (Media to XBox)
    1 x W/Digital SATA II 300G VelociRaptor (Image)
    PSU
    Silverstone 1500w
    Case
    NZXT Phantom 820 White Full Tower
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D14
    Keyboard
    Logitech G19
    Mouse
    Logitech G700 / Logitech T650 Touchpad Thingy
    Internet Speed
    ADSL 2+ (Australian version ... lol)
    Browser
    All of them
    Antivirus
    Nortons IS
    Other Info
    This one time at band camp ...
What did you decide jackman, you taking the money or the box mate? Windows default backup options are free with windows. Albeit some say file history isnt the same as in win 7 as "apparently" you cant add your own extra backup requirements. (It apparently takes what it thinks you need and backs it up) However, I find the system image 2nd to none.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    0i812
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 4770K LGA1150
    Motherboard
    Asus Maximus VI Formula
    Memory
    Corsair 32GB (4x8GB) DDR3 CMY32GX3M4A1866C9 1866MH
    Graphics Card(s)
    2 x Crappy GeForce GT 640 2GB DDR3
    Sound Card
    I haz lollies ..
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x LG / 2 x Samsung 21 Inch
    Screen Resolution
    Crispy
    Hard Drives
    2 x Samsung 250GB SSD 840 EVO (OS / Other)
    1 x Kingston 120G HyperX SSD (Swap)
    3 x Seagate SATA III 2TB Barracuda (Data Drives)
    1 x Seagate SATA III 1TB Barracuda (Media to XBox)
    1 x W/Digital SATA II 300G VelociRaptor (Image)
    PSU
    Silverstone 1500w
    Case
    NZXT Phantom 820 White Full Tower
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D14
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    ADSL 2+ (Australian version ... lol)
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    This one time at band camp ...
Noice Edwin, noice
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 x64
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    System Manufacturer/Model
    0i812
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 4770K LGA1150
    Motherboard
    Asus Maximus VI Formula
    Memory
    Corsair 32GB (4x8GB) DDR3 CMY32GX3M4A1866C9 1866MH
    Graphics Card(s)
    2 x Crappy GeForce GT 640 2GB DDR3
    Sound Card
    I haz lollies ..
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x LG / 2 x Samsung 21 Inch
    Screen Resolution
    Crispy
    Hard Drives
    2 x Samsung 250GB SSD 840 EVO (OS / Other)
    1 x Kingston 120G HyperX SSD (Swap)
    3 x Seagate SATA III 2TB Barracuda (Data Drives)
    1 x Seagate SATA III 1TB Barracuda (Media to XBox)
    1 x W/Digital SATA II 300G VelociRaptor (Image)
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    Other Info
    This one time at band camp ...
Edwin,

I never had Windows 7 so I never had any experience with the File Manager/System Image Backup feature, however, shortly after getting my new PC (8.0) and immediately upgrading to 8.1 I read about the feature and tried it out. I successfully created a backup to an external HDD and noticed it also created an entry in the System Restore section. ( See Attached Image) I even created a second image just to be sure. My questions are:

Is this typical functionality?

Am I to assume that this is a valid Restore Point that could be used if my external HDD were connected and I selected one of these backups as my Restore Point as opposed to a reloading the full system image?

How would you delete older System Image Backups that were no longer wanted? Can these be deleted directly off the external HDD or is there a way to delete through Windows.

I have not paid much attention to this feature as my primary Backup Utility is Macrium which I have used for quite a while.

Thanks

Screenshot (32) copy.jpg
 

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System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1 64, LT -Windows 10 Home 64
    Computer type
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    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP 500-075 Desktop + HP 15-f018dx Laptop
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@ gator2013:
The creation of a Restore Point is normal when you create a System Image. Restore Points allow you to choose, (if you have more than one), and allow you to scan for affected programs. Older restore points get deleted as space fills up to make room for new ones.
Restoring from a System Image recreates the drive, programs and files etc. exactly as they were when you created the image, even if you've re-partitioned the drive in question. Older System Images get overwritten as new ones are created.
The process demonstrated in the vid was without File History turned on and only the System was imaged.
 

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    Windows 7 Home Premium
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    HP Pavillion
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    Tablet - Windows 10 Home
Edwin,

Thanks for your reply.

What I want to know is if I create another System Image to my external HDD will it overwrite the current system image and if so, is it not possible to save multiple System Images in the same manner as I do with Macrium or other 3rd party programs.

File History is off on my system is off as well. I am referring to the System Image utility at bottom left on File History page.

I fully understand system imaging and restore functions. As stated earlier, I use Macrium Pro as my System Image tool and keep multiple system images on my external HDD at any given time but I am just considering using the windows built-in System Image tool as a secondary backup.

I have plenty of extra space on my internal HDD so I generally keep a lot of restore points just for the heck of it. With Macrium you have the option of including or excluding the restore point files when you create a system image.

Thanks Again
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1 64, LT -Windows 10 Home 64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP 500-075 Desktop + HP 15-f018dx Laptop
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 3470 Ivy Bridge 3.2 GHz Quad Core/ LT - i3-4030U 1.9 GHz
    Motherboard
    Foxcon Joshua-H61-uATX
    Memory
    8 GB/ LT - 6GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD (DX10.1)
    Sound Card
    Integrated IDT 92HD73E
    Hard Drives
    1T HDD, 16G Sandisk Cache Drive, 2T Seagate 3.0 External
    Keyboard
    Wireless
    Mouse
    Wireless
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Norton 360
    Other Info
    CyberPower UPS, Macrium Backup, Revo Pro, Malwarebytes Premium
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